# NTSB DFW06CA050: Cessna T210, N5279A, Midland, TX, January 5, 2006 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: January 4, 2006, 19:30 local (Jan 5, 2006, 01:30 UTC) - Place: Midland, TX - Coordinates: 31.833333, -101.933334 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=31.8333&lon=-101.9333&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report May 30, 2006 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FSDO, Lubbock, TX, Continental Aircraft Engines, Inc. - NTSB case key (mKey): 63067 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DFW06CA050 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/63067/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DFW06CA050 ## Probable cause The loss of engine power due to a connecting rod failure. Contributing factors were the dark night conditions and the lack of suitable terrain for the forced landing. ## 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, cruise - normal - engine assembly,connecting rod - failure (cause) - light condition - dark night (contributing factor) - Forced landing, descent - emergency - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, emergency landing - terrain condition - none suitable (contributing factor) ## Analysis While in cruise flight at an altitude of 6,500 feet, the 1,150-hour commercial pilot noticed a rise in engine oil temperature. The pilot opened the cowl flaps and increased the mixture control, which reduced the EGT and the CHT. Approximately 5 minutes later, the engine started "running rough and sparks appeared from the cowling with loud bangs." The pilot shut-down the engine and extended the landing gear for a forced landing on a road. The airplane was unable to make the road and during the night forced landing in a mesquite covered field, the airplane sustained structural damage. An examination of the engine revealed that several of the engine's connecting rods had failed and the number one piston was found to be eroded. ## Factual narrative While in cruise flight at an altitude of 6,500 feet, the 1,150-hour commercial pilot noticed a rise in engine oil temperature. The pilot opened the cowl flaps and increased the mixture control, which reduced the EGT and the CHT. Approximately 5 minutes later, the engine started "running rough and sparks appeared from the cowling with loud bangs." The pilot shut-down the engine and extended the landing gear for a forced landing on a road. The airplane was unable to make the road and during the night forced landing in a mesquite covered field, the airplane sustained structural damage. An examination of the engine revealed that several of the engine's connecting rods had failed and the number one piston was found to be eroded. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N5279A](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5279A-2007-10-25), registration cancelled 2007-10-25, S/N 21063344, built 1979 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna T210 - Registry model: [Cessna T210N](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-t210n) (registry code 2073456) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental TSIO-520 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-tsio-520-series) (registry code 17040, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 21063344 - Airframe hours: 2319 - Engines: Continental TSIO-520-R reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Positioning, Part 91 - Registered owner: Basin Aviation, Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, November 1, 2005 - Departed: SAT, SAN ANTONIO, TX - Destination: Midland, TX - Flight plan: Company VFR ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 20; injuries: none; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; last flight review September 1, 2005; seat: left; flight hours: 1,150 total, 37 in this make and model, 900 as pilot in command, 300 in the last 90 days, 100 in the last 30 days, 7 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/dark - Wind: 0° at 0 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Temperature: 43 °F, dew point 18 °F - Altimeter: 30.21 inHg - Observed at: MAF, 12 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 20060104000049A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20060104000049A), Jan 4, 2006: Cessna T210N, Midland, TX, Substantial damage. (-23) On January 4, 2006, the pilot of N5279A, a Cessna T210 aircraft, experienced a loss of power and subsequently made an emergency landing in a field 16… 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.