# NTSB IAD02LA022: Cessna 310H, N10MS, Tappahannock, VA, December 30, 2001 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: December 30, 2001, 11:10 local (16:10 UTC) - Place: Tappahannock, VA - Coordinates: 37.924999, -76.871391 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.9250&lon=-76.8714&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 3 uninjured - Status: Completed, report April 8, 2003 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 53972 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=IAD02LA022 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/53972/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/IAD02LA022 ## Probable cause The pilot's inadequate compensation for the gusty wind conditions. Factors in the accident were the gusty wind conditions and the total loss of left engine power due to the alternate air valve becoming disconnected and embedded in the fuel injector servo. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(total) - mech failure/malf, cruise - 1 engine - induction air control,alternate air/door - disconnected (contributing factor) - Loss of control - in flight, landing - flare/touchdown - compensation for wind conditions - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - weather condition - gusts (contributing factor) ## Analysis While in cruise flight, the airplane's left engine lost total power. The pilot elected to perform a single-engine landing at the nearest airport, on runway 02. During the landing flare, a gust of wind forced the left wing down and it struck the runway. The airplane continued off the left side of the runway and came to rest in the grass area. The winds reported by an air traffic controller from an airport 30 miles to the southwest, were from 330 degrees at 6 knots, gusting to 22 knots. The airport where the winds were reported from had six runways, one of which was oriented on a heading of 340 degrees. Examination of the engine revealed that the alternate air valve had broken off and was observed embedded in the fuel injector servo. According to the Cessna 310H Pilot Operating Handbook, the last item under the Engine Failure During Flight Checklist, was to land at the nearest suitable airport. The pilot reported 5,117 hours of total flight experience, 10 of which were in make and model. He additionally reported 38 hours of multi-engine flight experience. ## Factual narrative On December 30, 2001, about 1110 eastern standard time, a Cessna 310H, N10MS, was substantially damaged while landing at the Tappahannock Airport (W79), Tappahannock, Virginia, following a total loss of left engine power, during cruise flight. The certificated commercial pilot and two passengers were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed for the flight, between Asheville Regional Airport (AVL), Asheville, North Carolina, and Laurence G. Hanscom Field (BED), Bedford, Massachusetts. The personal flight was conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. According to the pilot, he departed Asheville about 0900. The flight was "uneventful" until about 30 miles northeast of Richmond, Virginia, when the left engine lost power. The pilot attempted to restart the engine, but was unsuccessful. He secured the engine, and contacted Richmond Approach Control for information on the closest airport. The pilot was informed that Tappahannock Airport was 10 miles ahead, and he prepared for a landing on runway 02, a 2,785-foot-long, 75-foot-wide runway. After a "normal" approach to the runway, during the landing flare, a gust of wind forced the left wing down. The wing struck the runway, and the airplane slid to a stop off the left side, coming to rest in the grass area. The pilot stated that Richmond Approach reported the winds from 330 degrees at 6 knots, gusting to 22 knots. An examination of the airplane by a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector revealed substantial damage to the left wing and engine firewall. Examination of the engine revealed that the alternate air valve had broken off and was observed embedded in the fuel injector servo. The aluminum hinge which connected the alternate air valve to the airbox assembly remained attached to the valve and appeared worn where a steel cotter pin had connected the two pieces. The steel cotter pin remained attached to the airbox assembly and the holes in which it was housed appeared elongated. A review of the airplane and engine logbooks by the FAA inspector revealed that the last annual inspection was performed in May 2001. No work entries pertaining to the alternate air valve were observed in the logbooks. The pilot reported 5,117 hours of total flight time, 10 of which were in make and model. He additionally reported 38 hours of multi-engine flight experience. The winds reported at 1055, at Patuxent Naval Air Station, located 30 miles to the northeast, were from 230 degrees at 8 knots. The winds reported at 1155, were from 230 degrees at 9 knots, gusting to 14 knots. The winds reported at 1054, at Richmond International Airport (RIC), Richmond, Virginia, 30 miles to the southwest, were variable at 5 knots. Richmond International Airport consisted of 6 runways, one of which was oriented on a heading of 340 degrees. According to the Cessna 310H Pilot Operating Handbook, the last item under the Engine Failure During Flight Checklist was to "land at the nearest suitable airport." ## Aircraft - Registration: [N10MS](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N10MS-2003-03-14), registration cancelled 2003-03-14, S/N 310H0006, built 1962 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 310H - Registry model: [Cessna 310H](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-310h) (registry code 2074220) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental I0-470 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-i0-470-series) (registry code 17027, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 310H0006 - Engines: Continental IO-470 260 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Micheal Mitchell - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, May 1, 2001 - Departed: AVL, Asheville, NC - Destination: BED, Bedford, MA - Airport: W79, Tappahannock Muni Airport, runway 02, 2,785 × 75 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 67; injuries: none; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review September 17, 2001; seat: left; flight hours: 5,117 total, 10 in this make and model, 4,888 as pilot in command, 11 in the last 90 days, 9 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 230° at 8 knots - Visibility: 7 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 10,000 ft broken - Temperature: 45 °F, dew point 25 °F - Altimeter: 29.77 inHg - Observed at: NHK, 30 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 20011230037369A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20011230037369A), Dec 30, 2001: Cessna 310H, Tappahannock, VA, No damage. (-23) Pilot reported to the ric ATCT and that the left engine failed in flight, and his attempt to restart the engine was unsuccessful. The pilot secured the… 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.