# NTSB DEN90LA193: Cessna 310J, N3132L, Colorado Spring, CO, September 24, 1990

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: September 24, 1990, 15:54 local (21:54 UTC)
- Place: Colorado Spring, CO
- Coordinates: 38.880668, -104.829612 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.8807&lon=-104.8296&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious, 1 minor
- Status: Completed, report December 14, 1992
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 17995
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN90LA193
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/17995/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN90LA193

## Probable cause

THE LOSS OF POWER ON ONE ENGINE DUE TO EXCESSIVE FUEL PRESSURE AND THE PILOT'S FEATHERING OF THE WRONG PROPELLER. FACTOR(S) WERE: OPERATION OF AIRCRAFT WITH KNOWN DEFICIENCIES BY PILOT AND OPERATOR.

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Loss of engine power(total) - mech failure/malf, takeoff - initial climb
  - fuel system - pressure excessive (cause)
  - operation with known deficiencies in equipment - continued, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - operation with known deficiencies in equipment - continued, company/operator management (contributing factor)
  - wrong propeller feathered - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause)
- Forced landing, descent - emergency
- Gear not extended, landing - flare/touchdown
  - terrain condition - none suitable

## Analysis

WHILE ON INITIAL CLIMB, THE LEFT ENGINE QUIT. THE PILOT MADE A GEAR UP LANDING IN A FIELD, COMING TO REST ONE-HALF MILE FROM THE END OF THE RUNWAY. THE INVESTIGATION SHOWED THAT THE LEFT PROPELLER HAD NOT BEEN FEATHERED, BUT THE RIGHT PROPELLER SHOWED EVIDENCE OF BEING FEATHERED PRIOR TO IMPACT. AN ENGINE RUN OF THE LEFT ENGINE SHOWED THE UNMETERED FUEL PRESSURE WAS SET TOO HIGH AT IDLE, RESULTING IN ROUGH RUNNING AND ENGINE STOPPAGE. EVIDENCE FROM THE AIRCRAFT LEFT ENGINE LOGBOOK INDICATED A HISTORY OF HARD STARTING, MIXTURE RELATED PROBLEMS AND ROUGH RUNNING. THE OPERATOR HAD KNOWLEDGE OF THESE FAULTS. HE TOLD THE PILOT TO START THE LEFT ENGINE WITH THE MIXTURE LEVER RETARTED TO NEAR IDLE CUTOFF.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N3132L](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N3132L-2002-09-12), registration cancelled 2002-09-12, S/N 310J0132, built 1965 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 310J
- Registry model: [Cessna 310J](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-310j) (registry code 2074226) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental I0-470 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-i0-470-series) (registry code 17027, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 310J0132
- Engines: LYCOMING IO-470-U 260 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Fire: On-Ground
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Cahrles Matson
- Registered owner: Unknown
- Last inspection: Annual, April 1, 1990, 90 hours before
- Departed: COS, COLORADO SPRING, CO
- Destination: COS
- Airport: COS, Colorado Springs

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 23; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; flight hours: 488 total, 52 in this make and model, 334 as pilot in command, 200 in the last 90 days, 90 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 280° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 65 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: -0 °F, dew point -0 °F

## FAA reports on this event (1)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 19900924042209A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19900924042209A), Sep 24, 1990: Cessna 310J, Colorado Spring, CO, Substantial damage. Left engine quit on climbout. Landed gear up off airport. Had feathered wrong prop. Mixture too rich on left engine

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

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