# NTSB ERA24LA095: Cessna 210D, N3857Y, Paris, TN, January 22, 2024 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report - Date: January 21, 2024, 18:15 local (Jan 22, 2024, 00:15 UTC) - Place: Paris, TN - Coordinates: 36.336353, -88.383129 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.3364&lon=-88.3831&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Enroute-cruise: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 3 - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 193696 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA24LA095 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/193696/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=193696 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA24LA095 ## Probable cause The disruption of torque to the No 4 connecting rod journals, which resulted in a spun bearing and the subsequent total loss of engine power. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Engine (reciprocating): recip engine power section](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058520): Aircraft › Aircraft power plant · Failure (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 210D, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058520/cases.md?model=2073414), [All aircraft, 233 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058520/cases.md) - [Engine (reciprocating): recip eng oil sys](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058550): Aircraft › Aircraft power plant · Fatigue/wear/corrosion (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 210D, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058550/cases.md?model=2073414), [All aircraft, 130 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058550/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Enroute-cruise: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 210D, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=2073414), [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md) - [Approach-VFR pattern final: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Cessna 210D, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=2073414), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilots reported the airplane started to shake violently during cruise flight, and oil then covered the windscreen. The engine subsequently lost all power. The flight instructor took control of the airplane and performed a forced landing to a nearby airport. During the forced landing, the airplane’s main landing gear contacted the airport perimeter fence, resulting in the airplane nosing over. The airplane sustained substantial damage to both wings and the engine firewall. Postaccident examination of the engine revealed that the No. 4 cylinder crankshaft connecting rod journals showed evidence of lubrication distress and metal transfer between the bearing and the journal. Review of the airplane’s maintenance logbooks revealed that three of the engine’s six cylinders were replaced about 3 years before the accident, with the remaining three having been replaced about 2 years before the accident. Given this information, and the condition of the No. 4 connecting rod journals, it is likely that the torque on the journals was disrupted during the cylinder replacement(s) which resulted in a spun bearing. ## Factual narrative On January 21, 2024, about 1815 central standard time, a Cessna 210D, N3857Y, was substantially damaged when it was involved in accident near Paris, Tennessee. The flight instructor and pilot were not injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 instructional flight. The flight instructor was acting as the safety pilot for the pilot under instruction, who was working toward an instrument rating. While in cruise flight at 6,500 ft mean sea level, the pilot heard a “loud bang,” the airplane started to “shake violently,” and oil began to accumulate on the windscreen. The flight instructor took control of the airplane and diverted to Henry County Airport (PHT), Paris, Tennessee. The engine subsequently lost all power, and during the forced landing the airplane’s main landing gear contacted the airport perimeter fence. The airplane nosed over, which resulted in substantial damage to both wings and the engine firewall. Postaccident examination of the engine revealed a 5-inch diameter hole at the top of the crankcase between the Nos. 3 and 4 cylinders. Two quarts of oil were observed in the oil reservoir. Cylinder Nos. 5 and 6 were removed to gain better access to cylinder Nos. 3 and 4; damage to the cylinder skirts of cylinder Nos. 3 and 4 prevented their removal. The connecting rod remained installed to the piston pin and crankshaft in cylinder No. 3; however, the connecting rod for cylinder No. 4 was not present, and the connecting rod journal displayed thermal discoloration and metal transfer. Damage to the bottom of the piston was observed through the hole in the crankcase. The No. 4 connecting rod bolts and cap were recovered in two pieces from the oil sump along with multiple bearing remnants, pieces of the No. 4 piston and piston ring, and portions of both connecting rod bolts from the No. 4 connecting rod. Review of the airplane’s maintenance logbooks revealed that the last engine overhaul was completed 34 years before the accident on July 29,1990. Additionally, cylinder Nos. 1, 3, and 5 were replaced on May 1, 2021, and cylinder Nos. 2, 4, and 6 were replaced February 24, 2022. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N3857Y](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N3857Y), registered now, S/N 21058357, built 1964 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 210D - Registry model: [Cessna 210D](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-210d) (registry code 2073414) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental IO-520 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-io-520-series) (registry code 17032, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 21058357 - Year built: 1964 - Airframe hours: 4834 - Engines: Continental IO-520-A 285 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, March 1, 2023, 55.3 hours before - Departed: CEY, Murray, KY - Destination: MKL, Jackson, TN - Airport: PHT, Henry County Airport, runway 20, 5,001 × 100 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Onboard weather, Electronic primary flight display, ADS-B, Stall warning system ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 45; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; last flight review June 16, 2023; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 494 total, 255 in this make and model, 494 as pilot in command, 32 in the last 90 days, 1 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours - Flight instructor; age 35; injuries: none; flight instructor, commercial, private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; last flight review March 30, 2023; seat: right; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 829 total, 20 in this make and model, 778 as pilot in command, 135 in the last 90 days, 34 in the last 30 days, 5 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Dusk - Wind: 130° at 3 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 23 °F, dew point 10 °F - Altimeter: 30.53 inHg - Observed at: CKV, 50 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 20240121001159A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20240121001159A), Jan 21, 2024: Cessna 210D, Paris, TN, Substantial damage. On January 21st, 2024, at approximately 5PM local time [privacy data omitted] (PIC) and safety pilot [privacy data omitted] departed from mc keller-sipes… ## Other investigations on N3857Y (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 LAX70F0136](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX70F0136), Sep 16, 1969: Cessna 210D (N3857Y), Chino, CA, substantial damage ## Docket (8 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on March 19, 2025, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=193696. 9.6 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 2.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16814420&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120.1_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Memorandum for record a�� telephone interview, pilot (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 90 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16814080&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Memo%20for%20record-Rel.pdf - Memorandum for record a�� telephone interview, flight instructor (item 3, PDF, 1 page, 45 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16821068&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=flight%20instructor%20statement_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Maintenance records (item 4, PDF, 4 pages, 3.8 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18369535&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Maintenance%20logbooks_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Release of aircraft wreckage, NTSB form 6120.15 (item 5, PDF, 1 page, 198 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16813613&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Wreckage%20release%20form_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Investigative photos (item 6, PDF, 5 pages, 722 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16820694&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Investigative%20Photo%27s-Rel.pdf - Engine examination photographs (item 7, PDF, 6 pages, 2.4 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18227201&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Engine%20examination%20photos-Rel.pdf - Wreckage examination summary (item 8, PDF, 5 pages, 200 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16848691&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Wreckage%20Examination%20Summary-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. --- 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.