FTW02LA208

NTSB accident investigation · Cessna 210A · Sherman, TX · July 16, 2002

Accident · Minor injuriesLimited investigationFinal report
Date
July 16, 2002, 08:50 local (13:50 UTC)
Place
Sherman, TX
Injuries
1 minor
Damage
Substantial damage
Phase of flight
Approach
Aircraft
N9466XCessna 210A
Weather
Visual (VMC) · Day
Status
Completed · report April 1, 2003
Report
Approved by Office Director
Parties
Federal Aviation Administration (FSDO)
FAA report
20020716016459A
Case key
55228

From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.

On this page

Probable cause

fuel starvation. A contributing factor was the lack of suitable terrain for the forced landing.

Sequence of events

NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.

Loss of engine powerApproach - vfr pattern - base leg/base to final
Reason for occurrence undetermined
Fluid,fuel - starvationCause
Forced landingEmergency descent/landing
In flight collision with terrain/waterEmergency landing
Terrain condition - congested/confined area
Terrain condition - none suitableFactor

Analysis

The pilot ascertained that each wing fuel tank contained approximately 14 gallons of fuel before departing for a 10 minute flight. The pilot reported that the fuel selector was in the right tank position for the entire flight. The airplane was on approach to the destination airport, in a left bank, at 800 feet agl, when the engine lost total power. The pilot attempted to restart the engine three times from both fuel tanks; however, was unsuccessful. Subsequently, a forced landing was executed to a vacant parking lot adjacent to a gas station, two miles northeast of the destination airport. Examination of the airplane revealed that the fuel selector was in the right tank position and the fuel boost pump was in the "ON" position. The left fuel tank did not contain any fuel and the right fuel tank contained 13 gallons of fuel.

Factual narrative

On July 16, 2002, approximately 0850 central daylight time, a Cessna 210A single-engine airplane, N9466X, was substantially damaged during a forced landing following a total loss of engine power while on approach to the Sherman Municipal Airport, Sherman, Texas. The airplane was registered to Superior Software Solutions, Inc., and was operated by the pilot. The private pilot, sole occupant of the airplane, sustained minor injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed for the 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The local flight originated from the McKinney Municipal Airport, McKinney, Texas, at 0837, and was destined for Sherman.

According to the pilot, he ascertained that each fuel tank contained approximately 14 gallons of fuel by dipping the tanks before departing from McKinney. The pilot found no anomalies during the preflight inspection and departed for the 10 minute flight to Sherman. The pilot reported that the fuel selector was in the right tank position for the entire flight. The airplane was on approach to the Sherman Municipal Airport, in a left bank, at 800 feet agl, when the engine lost total power. The pilot attempted to restart the engine three times from each of the fuel tanks; however, was unsuccessful. Subsequently, a forced landing was executed to a vacant parking lot adjacent to a gas station, two miles northeast of the Sherman Municipal Airport. The airplane came to rest upright.

The FAA inspector, who examined the airplane, reported that the engine fire wall was wrinkled and the left wing was damaged. The fuel selector was in the right tank position and the fuel boost pump was in the "ON" position. The left fuel tank did not contain any fuel, and the right fuel tank contained 13 gallons of fuel.

The fuel system has a capacity of 84.0 gallons; 42.0 gallons in each wing tank, of which 2.0 gallons is unusable in any flight attitude.

Aircraft

Registration
N9466X
Reported as
Cessna 210A
Category
Airplane
Serial number
21057766
Airframe hours
3,093
Engine
Continental IO-470-E-13, 260 horsepower, reciprocating
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Personal · Part 91
Operator
Stephen M. Sims, doing business as N/A
Registered owner
Superior Software Solutions Inc.
Airworthiness certificate
Standard, Normal
Last inspection
Annual · July 24, 2001 · 89.9 hours before
Departed
TKI · McKinney, TX
Destination
SWI · Sherman, TX
Airport
SWI · Sherman Municipal, runway 16, 4,005 × 75 ft, asphalt

Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

Role
Pilot
Age
40
Injuries
Minor
Certificate
Private
Airplane ratings
Single-engine sea
Instrument ratings
Airplane
Medical
Class 3, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
Last flight review
May 7, 2001
Seat
Left
Flight hours
585 total · 284 in this make and model · 515 as pilot in command · 35 in the last 90 days · 17 in the last 30 days

Weather

Conditions
Visual (VMC) · Day
Wind
140° at 7 knots
Visibility
15 statute miles
Lowest ceiling
3,000 ft broken
Temperature
79 °F, dew point 72 °F
Altimeter
30.09 inHg
Observed at
F39, 7 nm away

Docket · 2

The files NTSB released with the investigation on December 16, 2002, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 1.2 MB in all.

FAA reports on this event · 1

The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.

Other investigations on N9466X · 2

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.