# NTSB ERA10LA146: Cessna P210N, N731DS, Carthage, NC, February 18, 2010 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: February 18, 2010, 15:00 local (20:00 UTC) - Place: Carthage, NC - Coordinates: 35.235832, -79.38639 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.2358&lon=-79.3864&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Initial climb: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report April 12, 2011 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: Teledyne Continental Motors, Inc., FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 75386 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA10LA146 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/75386/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=75386 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA10LA146 ## Probable cause A total loss of engine power during the initial climb after takeoff for undetermined reasons. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Not determined](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000): Not determined › Not determined · Unknown/Not determined (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna P210N, 11 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md?model=2073454), [All aircraft, 2,247 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Initial climb: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna P210N, 20 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=2073454), [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md) - [Emergency descent: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440); cases with it: [Cessna P210N, 16 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=2073454), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Cessna P210N, 31 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=2073454), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis During the initial climb after takeoff, as the airplane climbed to an altitude of approximately 50 to 60 feet, it experienced a momentary loss of engine power, which was followed by a total loss of engine power. The airplane subsequently touched down on a grassy area located beyond the runway and encountered a ditch. The airplane's nose gear separated and the left wing was substantially damaged. Examination of the engine did not reveal any catastrophic mechanical malfunctions and fuel was present in the fuel system. Postaccident examination and testing of the airplane's fuel system did not reveal any mechanical malfunctions that would have resulted in a complete loss of engine power. The airplane had been operated for approximately 8 hours since its most recent annual inspection, which was performed about 1 month prior to the accident according to the airplane's maintenance records. ## Factual narrative On February 18, 2010, about 1500 eastern standard time, a Cessna P210N, N731DS, was substantially damaged during a forced landing, after it experienced a total loss of engine power during the initial climb after takeoff from Moore County Airport (SOP), Carthage, North Carolina. The certificated private pilot sustained minor injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan had been filed for the personal flight that was conducted under 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. The pilot reported that the engine started normally, and did not experience any discrepancies during pretakeoff checks. He subsequently departed from runway 23, a 5,503-foot-long, by 150-foot-wide, asphalt runway, with the intention of remaining in the local area to practice approaches, and touch and go landings. As the airplane climbed to approximately 50 to 60 feet above the ground, the engine "coughed" and seemed to experience a loss of power for about 10 seconds. Shortly thereafter, the engine experienced a total loss of power. The airplane subsequently touched down on a grassy area located beyond the runway and entered a ditch. The airplane's nose gear separated, and the left wing contacted the ground which resulted in spar damage to the outboard 3 to 4 feet. The airplane was equipped with a Teledyne Continental Motors TSIO-520-P6B series engine. Examination of the engine by a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector did not reveal any catastrophic mechanical malfunctions. Examination of the fuel system did not reveal any contamination; however, fuel was observed in the air pressure line to the engine driven fuel pump. The fuel servo assembly, engine drive fuel pump, manifold assembly and fuel injectors were removed for further examination. The fuel system components were subsequently examined and tested at Teledyne Continental Motors, Mobile, Alabama, under the supervision of an FAA inspector. The examinations did not reveal any discrepancies which would have resulted in a total loss of engine power. An unidentified residue was noted on the fuel manifold screen and fuel nozzles. According to an NTSB Chemist, energy dispersive spectroscopy revealed that the residue was aluminum oxide. It was noted that the only aluminum component in the fuel system was the fuel manifold valve itself, and the amount of residue observed was not of sufficient quantity to affect fuel flow. Review of maintenance records revealed that the airplane had been operated for approximately 8 hours since its most recent annual inspection, which was performed on January 26, 2010. In addition, the engine had been operated for about 190 hours since it was overhauled during May 2006. The pilot reported 4,850 hours of total flight experience on his most recent application for an FAA third-class medical certificate, which was dated June 24, 2009. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N731DS](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N731DS), registered now, S/N P21000446, 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: P21000446 - Airframe hours: 2884 - Engines: CONT MOTOR TSIO-520-P6B 285 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Parish Havner H Jr - Registered owner: Parish Havner H Jr - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, January 26, 2010, 8 hours before - Departed: SOP, Carthage, NC - Destination: SOP, Carthage, NC - Airport: SOP, Moore County, runway 23, 5,503 × 150 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 81; injuries: minor; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review August 10, 2009; seat: left; flight hours: 4,715 total, 2,000 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 360° at 9 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 52 °F, dew point 25 °F - Altimeter: 29.93 inHg - Observed at: SOP ## 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 20100218027729A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20100218027729A), Feb 18, 2010: Cessna P210N, Pinehurst, NC, Substantial damage. The pilot was departing runway 23 at approximately 1500 local time. He reported that at approximately 50 ft AGL the engine 'surged' then came back, then… ## Docket (6 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on November 1, 2010, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=75386. 1.4 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 524 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40338320&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - FAA Inspector Statement (item 2, .PDF, 72 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40338321&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=FAA%20Inspector%20Statement-Redacted.PDF - Maintenance Records (excerpts) (item 3, .PDF, 158 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40338313&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Maintenance%20Records%20(excerpts)-Redacted.PDF - Fuel System Analysis Report (Included with the permission of TCM) (item 4, .PDF, 519 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40338316&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Fuel%20System%20Analysis%20Report%20(Included%20with%20the%20permission%20of%20TCM)-Redacted.PDF - Email: NTSB Chemist (item 5, .PDF, 23 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40338317&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Email%3A%20NTSB%20Chemist-Master.PDF - Statement of Party Representatives to NTSB Investigation (item 6, .PDF, 62 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40338318&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Statement%20of%20Party%20Representatives%20to%20NTSB%20Investigation-Redacted.PDF 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.