ERA20LA028

The pilot stated that he did not recall many details of the accident but reported that, about 10 minutes into the flight, the engine lost partial power. He checked the throttle, fuel, and cowl flap positions, and then performed a forced landing to a road, during which the airplane impacted a hole, nosed over, and came to rest inverted, resulting in substantial damage to the fuselage and wings. After the accident, 2 cups of fuel were removed from the right wing and 25 gallons of fuel was removed from the left wing. The fuel tanks were not breached, there was no fuel staining on the ground in the vicinity of the wreckage, and there was no smell of fuel at the accident site. The fuel selector was found in the right tank position. Examination of the engine revealed no mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. Given the minimal amount of fuel in the intact right tank at the accident site and the position of the fuel selector, it is likely that the engine was starved of fuel, which resulted in a loss of engine power.

On November 1, 2019, about 1350 central daylight time, a Cessna T210 airplane, N732JW, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Odessa, Texas. The private pilot sustained serious injuries. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The pilot reported in that he departed with 120 gallons of fuel on board. The local fixed based operator reported that they fueled the airplane with 60 gallons of fuel the day before the accident. The pilot reported that he did not recall much regarding the accident as a result of his injuries; however, he did remember that about 10 minutes into the flight, the engine instruments indicated that the engine overheated and lost partial power. He checked the throttle, fuel, and cowl flap positions and noted that the propeller continued to turn throughout the forced landing. During the landing roll, the airplane impacted a hole, and the airplane nosed over and came to rest inverted. According to Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) airworthiness records, the airplane was manufactured in 1976 and owned by the pilot since June 2011. The airplane was equipped with a Continental Motors TSIO-520 series 265 horsepower engine. According to the pilot, the engine was overhauled about 90 flight hours before the accident. The airplane had a fuel capacity of 120 gallons; 90 gallons in the main fuel tanks, and 30 gallons in the wing tip tanks. According to the FAA inspector who responded to the accident site, the airplane sustained substantial damage to the wings and fuselage. The fuel tanks remained intact and there was no odor or evidence of fuel spillage at the accident site. During recovery, 2 cups of fuel were drained from the right tank and 25 gallons of fuel was drained from the left tank. The fuel selector was found in the right tank position. The engine was examined under the supervision of an FAA inspector. Crankshaft and valvetrain continuity were confirmed. There were no anomalies with the magneto timing, and the magnetos produced spark on all towers. There were no obstructions of the air intake system. There were no anomalies noted with the oil system. The inside of each cylinder was examined and there was no scuffing or damage to the cylinder walls. The fuel pump operated without anomaly and there was no debris noted in the fuel screen. There we no mechanical failures or malfunctions with the engine that would have precluded normal operation.