# NTSB ERA23LA128: Cessna 210, N6597X, Buckhannon, WV, February 18, 2023

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report
- Date: February 18, 2023, 17:32 local (22:32 UTC)
- Place: Buckhannon, WV
- Coordinates: 39.01698, -80.20788
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.0170&lon=-80.2079&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Approach-VFR pattern base: Fuel starvation](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish
- NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation
- Parties: FAA/FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 106747
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA23LA128
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/106747/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=106747
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA23LA128

## Probable cause

A total loss of engine power due to fuel starvation. Contributing was the pilot’s decision to depart on the flight with an inoperative fuel selector valve.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Info processing/decision: decision making/judgment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 210A, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md?model=2073408), [All aircraft, 3,098 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md)
- [Fluids: fuel](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010): Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware · Fluid level (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 210A, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md?model=2073408), [All aircraft, 1,695 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md)
- [Fuel system: fuel selector/shutoff valve](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022823): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Inoperative (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 210A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022823/cases.md?model=2073408), [All aircraft, 176 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022823/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Approach-VFR pattern base: Fuel starvation](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 210A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191/sequence.md?model=2073408), [All aircraft, 733 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191/sequence.md)
- [Maneuvering: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440); cases with it: [Cessna 210A, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=2073408), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md)
- [Landing-landing roll: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096); cases with it: [Cessna 210A, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md?model=2073408), [All aircraft, 2,287 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot was picking up the airplane for its owner after an annual inspection had been completed. During his preflight inspection he noted that both fuel tank fuel gauges indicated that they were ½ to ¾ full. While he was checking the fuel selector valve the “brittle plastic handle broke off” with the left fuel tank still selected. The pilot called the airplane owner to inform him of the situation and advised that he would add more fuel to the left fuel tank in order to make the anticipated 45-minute flight without switching fuel tanks. He subsequently had 4 gallons of fuel added to the fuel tanks and acquired a small crescent wrench that he planned to use in-lieu of the broken plastic fuel selector handle if necessary. He subsequently departed and climbed the airplane to a cruise altitude of about 6,500 feet. About 20 nautical miles from the destination, he noted that the left fuel tank quantity indication was “bouncing between ¼ and empty” and he decided to change to the right fuel tank for the remainder of the flight. He was subsequently unable to use the crescent wrench to change the fuel selector valve position after several attempts. About 2 nautical miles from the destination airport, while approaching the runway to land, the airplane’s engine lost power completely and the pilot performed a forced landing to a field. The airplane nosed over during the landing and the aft portion of the fuselage left, as well as the wing, were substantially damaged. After the accident, recovery personnel reported that after lifting the airplane upright, they noted fuel staining around the fuel caps of both wing fuel tanks, that the right fuel tank was absent of fuel, and the left fuel tank only contained only a trace amount of fuel. They also operated the fuel selector valve with their own adjustable wrench (the broken fuel selector handle and the crescent wrench used by the pilot could not be located in the wreckage) and found that it operated normally. Based on this information, it is likely that the loss of engine power was due to fuel starvation after the pilot exhausted all usable fuel from the left fuel tank and was unable to select the right fuel tank; or that the pilot had inadvertently moved the fuel selector to an intermediate position in his attempts to use a crescent wrench to adjust the fuel selector valve.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N6597X](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N6597X-2023-07-08), registration cancelled 2023-07-08, S/N 21057597, built 1960 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 210 (A)
- Registry model: [Cessna 210A](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-210a) (registry code 2073408) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental I0-470 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-i0-470-series) (registry code 17027, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 21057597
- Year built: 1960
- Airframe hours: 3492.6
- Engines: Teledyne Continental IO-470-E 260 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Positioning, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, February 16, 2023, 1 hours before
- Departed: BTP, Butler, PA
- Destination: Same as departure
- Equipment: Onboard weather, ADS-B, Auto-pilot, Electronic flight bag or handheld device, Handheld GPS

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 37; injuries: none; airline transport, commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1; last flight review June 9, 2022; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 2,043 total, 218 in this make and model, 1,336 as pilot in command, 113 in the last 90 days, 45 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Dusk
- Wind: 230° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 9 statute miles
- Temperature: 41 °F, dew point 19 °F
- Altimeter: 30.29 inHg
- Observed at: W22, 3 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 20230218002589A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20230218002589A), Feb 18, 2023: Cessna 210A, Buckhannon, WV, Substantial damage. February 18, 2023 ga aircraft [privacy data omitted] departed butler county airport(btp) destination Buckhannon (W22). En route PIC was approx. 13 NM from…

## Other investigations on N6597X (1)

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.

- [NTSB MKC65F0144](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MKC65F0144), May 5, 1965: Cessna 210A (N6597X), Pratt, KS, substantial damage

## Docket (10 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 15, 2023, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=106747. 23.9 MB in all.

- Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 12.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15304575&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120_1_Recd%202%2023%202023_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Record of NTSB conversation (item 2, PDF, 5 pages, 171 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15316593&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=FINAL%20Record%20of%20Convo%20w%20James%20Eakle%202%2024%202023%20v02_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Excerpts from maintenance records (item 3, PDF, 2 pages, 554 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15317590&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=last%20annual%20Inspection%20Entry_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Excerpts from maintenance manual (item 4, PDF, 4 pages, 781 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15317365&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Excerpts%20Fm%20MM-4%20Pages-Rel.pdf
- Memorandum for record - information from facility regarding annual inspection and fuel selector valve (item 5, PDF, 2 pages, 164 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15318233&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Memo%20For%20Record%20_Info%20Fm%20Repair%20Facility%20Re%20Annual%20Inspection%20%26%20FS%20Valve_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Memorandum for record - information from airplane owner regarding his last flight and fuel selector valve (item 6, PDF, 1 page, 108 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15316203&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Memo%20For%20Record%20-%20Owner%20Infor%20RE%20Last%20Flight%20%26%20FS%20Valve_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Fuel information (item 7, PDF, 1 page, 228 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15317157&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Fuel%20Information_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Memorandum for record - recovery observations (item 8, PDF, 7 pages, 5 photos, 7.7 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15316357&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=FINAL%20Memo%20For%20Record%20_Recovery%20Observations%20v01_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Investigative photographs (item 9, PDF, 2 pages, 2 photos, 1.6 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15317925&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Investigative%20Photographs_2-Rel.pdf
- Release of aircraft wreckage, NTSB form 6120.15 (item 10, PDF, 1 page, 381 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15370389&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Wreckage%20Release%20Form_Redacted-Rel.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.

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