# NTSB DEN99LA174: Cessna P210N, N999KM, Santa Fe, NM, September 5, 1999 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: September 5, 1999, 10:10 local (16:10 UTC) - Place: Santa Fe, NM - Coordinates: 35.740829, -105.85987 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.7408&lon=-105.8599&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report November 2, 2000 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 47815 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN99LA174 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/47815/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN99LA174 ## Probable cause A non-mechanical total loss of engine power for reasons undetermined. Factors were maneuvering to avoid oncoming vehicles, and the rough and uneven terrain. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, climb - to cruise - reason for occurrence undetermined (cause) - Forced landing, descent - emergency - Nose gear collapsed, landing - roll - maneuver to avoid obstructions - intentional, pilot in command (contributing factor) - object - vehicle (contributing factor) - terrain condition - rough/uneven (contributing factor) ## Analysis The airplane was equipped with a Rolls Royce (Allison) 250-B17F turbine engine. All the fuel tanks (wings, tips, fuselage) were topped off with Jet-A fuel (about 147 gallons) and Prist, a fuel additive. During the first attempt to start the engine, N1 reached about 30% with no temperature rise, so the pilot stopped the start sequence. After waiting about five minutes, a second start attempt was successful. Peak turbine outlet temperature (TOT) was 707 degrees C. Taxi, runup, and takeoff were normal. About 10 minutes after departure, as the airplane was climbing through 12,000 feet msl, 'the engine stopped, the generator light came on, and the torque needle went to zero.' An inflight restart was attempted but was not successful. The pilot made a forced landing on Highway 16. Oncoming traffic forced the pilot to depart the side of the road shearing off the nose wheel at the fork. The wings flexed during the off roadway excursion, causing the spar web and cap to buckle downward. The engine was later functionally tested successfully. ## Factual narrative On September 5, 1999, approximately 1010 mountain daylight time, a Cessna P210N, N999KM, was substantially damaged when it collided with terrain during a forced landing 10 miles west of Santa Fe, New Mexico. The private pilot, the sole occupant aboard, was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and an IFR flight plan had been filed for the business flight being conducted under Title 14 CFR Part 91. The flight originated at Santa Fe approximately 1000. The airplane was equipped with a Rolls Royce (Allison) 250-B17F turbine engine. The pilot said that in preparation for his return flight to San Jose, California, he had all the fuel tanks (wings, tips, fuselage) topped off with Jet-A fuel (about 147 gallons) and Prist, a fuel additive. He said that on his first attempt to start the engine, N1 reached only about 30% with no temperature rise, so he stopped the start sequence. After waiting five minutes, a second start attempt was successful. Peak turbine outlet temperature (TOT) was 707 degrees C. Taxi, runup, and takeoff were said to be normal. The pilot said about 10 minutes after departure, as the airplane was climbing through 12,000 feet msl (mean sea level), "the engine stopped, the generator light came on, and the torque needle went to zero." An inflight restart was attempted but was not successful. The pilot made a forced landing on Highway 16. Oncoming traffic forced the pilot to depart the side of the road, shearing off the nose wheel at the fork. Damage was originally assessed to be minor and the mishap was classified as an incident. Subsequent examination disclosed negative buckling of the spar web and cap caused by the wings flexing during the off roadway excursion. According to Allison, a Federal Aviation Administration inspector "motored" the engine at least 3 times without verifying the amount of fuel in the lines and filters. The engine was shipped to National Airmotive for testing. On October 5 and 6, the fuel control was tested. After being reattached, the engine was started and stabilized at idle. Shortly thereafter, TOT began to rise and oil pressure dropped slightly. The engine was shut down. Two other engine starts were aborted due to high TOT. The next two engine starts were normal but the gearbox pressure was high. The engine was again shut down. On October 7, two engine starts were made. The first ended in a premature shutdown when "test stand hysteresis" caused the test cell throttle linkage to move to the OFF position. The second start was successful and performance calibration was completed. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N999KM](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N999KM), registered now, S/N P21000387, built 1979 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna P210N - Registry model: [Cessna P210N](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-p210n) (registry code 2073454) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental TSIO-520 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-tsio-520-series) (registry code 17040, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: P21000387 - Airframe hours: 2992 - Engines: Allison 250-B17F/2 450 horsepower turbo prop - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: David E. Liddle - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, April 2, 1999, 15 hours before - Departed: SAF, NM - Destination: SJC, SAN JOSE, CA - Flight plan: IFR ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 54; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 695 total, 357 in this make and model, 614 as pilot in command, 5 in the last 90 days, 5 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 20° at 7 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 66 °F, dew point 37 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: SAF, 11 nm away ## 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 19990905040259A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19990905040259A), Sep 5, 1999: Cessna P210N, Sante Fe, NM, Substantial damage. (.4) The airplane was equipped with a rolls royce (allison) 250-B17F turbine engine. All the fuel tanks (wings, tips, fuselage) were topped off with jet-a fuel… 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.