# NTSB LAX03LA216: Cessna 210D, N3826Y, Carefree, AZ, June 29, 2003 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: June 29, 2003, 10:30 local (17:30 UTC) - Place: Carefree, AZ - Coordinates: 33.818054, -111.897781 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.8181&lon=-111.8978&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 2 serious - Status: Completed, report December 28, 2004 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 57337 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX03LA216 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/57337/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX03LA216 ## Probable cause fuel exhaustion due to a crack on the elbow fitting to the gascolator resulted in a fuel leak. ## 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 - fuel system,gascolator - cracked (cause) - maintenance,installation - improper, other maintenance personnel (cause) - fluid,fuel - leak (cause) - fluid,fuel - exhaustion (cause) - Forced landing, descent - emergency - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - roll - terrain condition - roadway/highway - terrain condition - rough/uneven ## Analysis The airplane lost engine power and made a forced landing on a road, encountered rough terrain, and nosed over. The pilot fueled the airplane with about 5 hours of fuel. After about 4 hours she contacted the tower and told them of her intention to land. Soon after, the engine failed. She switched tanks, the engine restarted, and then it quit again. She realized there must have been a fuel leak and radioed the tower to advise them of the engine failure. She attempted to land at a private airport; however, the airplane landed on a road and came to rest inverted. No fuel was discovered at the scene of the accident. A post accident inspection revealed a crack on the bottom of the elbow fitting, which was on the bottom of the gascolator. A Federal Aviation Administration inspector performed a test using soap and water. At 3 to 5 pounds of pressure, the assembly began bubbling at the crack, indicating a leak. The inspector noted blue stains along the bottom of the airplane. The inspector opined that the crack was the result of excessive torque used to tighten the fitting. ## Factual narrative On June 29, 2003, about 1030 mountain standard time, a Cessna 210D, N3826Y, lost engine power and made a forced landing near Carefree, Arizona. The pilot was operating the airplane under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91. The private pilot and one passenger sustained serious injuries; the airplane sustained substantial damage. The personal cross-country flight departed Nut Tree Airport (VCB), Vacaville, California, at 0615, en route to Scottsdale Airport (SDL), Scottsdale, Arizona. Day visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed. The primary wreckage was at 33 degrees 49 minutes north latitude and 111 degrees 54 minutes west longitude. In a written statement, the pilot reported that she fueled the airplane in Vacaville, and there was 5 hours of fuel on board. They departed Vacaville at 0615, and switched fuel tanks hourly during the flight. After about 4 hours, the pilot radioed Scottsdale tower with her intention to land. Suddenly, the engine stopped running. She switched fuel tanks, and it restarted. Shortly thereafter, it quit again. She realized that there must have been a fuel leak, and radioed the tower to advise them of the engine failure. She made an emergency landing attempt to Carefree Skyranch; however, the airplane landed on a road and came to rest inverted. In a phone conversation with the National Transportation Safety Board investigator-in-charge (IIC) the pilot reported that both fuel tanks were indicating empty at the same time. During the preflight, the pilot drained all of the fuel sumps and did not notice any staining along the bottom of the airplane. The pilot had flown this route several times before without incident. She cruised at 7, 500 feet mean sea level, using 2,200 rpm and 22 inches of manifold pressure. A post accident inspection by a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector revealed a crack on the bottom of the elbow fitting, which was on the bottom of the gascolator. He performed a test using soap and water. At 3 to 5 pounds of pressure, the assembly began bubbling at the crack, indicating a leak. The inspector felt that the crack was a result of an over torque. He also noted blue stains along the bottom of the airplane. The IIC completed a fuel burn analysis using the pilot operating handbook for the airplane. Based on power settings indicated by the pilot, the total fuel burn would have been approximately 53 gallons. The total usable fuel in the airplane was 63.4 gallons. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N3826Y](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N3826Y-2004-04-21), registration cancelled 2004-04-21, S/N 21058326, 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: 21058326 - Airframe hours: 2406.39 - Engines: Continental IO-520A 285 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Romaine J. Ausman - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, July 29, 2002, 74.2 hours before - Departed: VCB, Vacaville, CA - Destination: SDL, Scottsdale, AZ ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 70; injuries: serious; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review August 13, 2001; seat: left; flight hours: 2,072 total, 1,825 in this make and model, 2,030 as pilot in command, 39 in the last 90 days, 8 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 250° at 8 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 97 °F, dew point 50 °F - Altimeter: 29.90 inHg - Observed at: SDL, 11 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 20030629020779A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20030629020779A), Jun 29, 2003: Cessna 210D, Carefree, AZ, Destroyed. (-23) On a cross country flight from nut tree airport CA to sdl airport ax this aircraft experienced an engine failure due to fuel exhaustion. The pilot had… ## Other investigations on N3826Y (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 DEN68F0121](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN68F0121), Aug 5, 1967: Cessna 210D (N3826Y), Provo, UT, substantial damage 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.