# NTSB LAX92GA128: Cessna T210N, N9YT, Lake Hughes, CA, February 26, 1992

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Final report
- Date: February 26, 1992, 08:17 local (16:17 UTC)
- Place: Lake Hughes, CA
- Coordinates: 34.68983, -118.519912 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.6898&lon=-118.5199&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 2 fatal
- Status: Completed, report August 26, 1993
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 27455
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX92GA128
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/27455/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX92GA128

## Probable cause

POOR MAINTENANCE REPAIR AND ANNUAL INSPECTION BY THE COMPANY'S MAINTENANCE PERSONNEL AND THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND'S MISJUDGING ALTITUDE.  CONTRIBUTING TO THIS ACCIDENT WAS THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND INTENTIONAL STALL, IMPROPER EMERGENCY PROCEDURE, SELECTION OF UNSUITABLE TERRAIN FOR THE FORCED LANDING AND THE MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN.

## 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 - normal
  - engine assembly,crankshaft - failure,total (contributing factor)
  - maintenance,major repair - poor, company maintenance personnel (cause)
  - maintenance,annual inspection - poor, company maintenance personnel (cause)
- Forced landing, descent - emergency
- Loss of control - in flight, descent - emergency
  - emergency procedure - improper, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - unsuitable terrain or takeoff/landing/taxi area - selected, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - stall - intentional, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - altitude - misjudged, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled
  - terrain condition - mountainous/hilly (contributing factor)

## Analysis

THE AIRPLANE WAS ON A U.S. NAVY MISSION AND FLOWN BY A NAVY AVIATOR; ANOTHER NAVY AVIATOR OCCUPIED THE RIGHT FRONT SEAT.  WHILE OVER MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN THE ENGINE SUSTAINED A CATASPHROPHIC CRANKSHAFT FAILURE.  THE PILOT ELECTED TO PROCEED TOWARDS HIGHER TERRAIN BYPASSING LOWER AND MORE SUITIBLE EMERGENCY LANDING AREAS.  INTERNAL COMMUNICATIONS BETWEEN THE RIGHT SEAT OCCUPANT, A MORE EXPERIENCED PILOT, AND THE PIC INDICATED THEY PLANNED TO STALL THE AIRPLANE PRIOR TO LANDING ON AN UPWARD SLOPING MOUNTAIN RIDGE.  THE PILOT MISJUDGED THE ALTITUDE AND STALLED THE AIRPLANE.  BOTH PILOTS WERE KILLED.  THE INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT THE CRANKSHAFT FAILED DUE TO INADEQUATE TORQUE OF THE THROUGH BOLTS CAUSING FRETTING AND GALLING ON THE CRANKCASE HALVES.  THE ENGINE HAD ACCURED 618 HOURS SINCE MAJOR OVERHAUL AND HAD EXPERIENCED 7 VACCUM PUMP FAILURES DUE TO MISALIGNMENT OF THE CRANKSHAFT DRIVE GEAR.  THE THROUGH BOLTS WERE REMOVED BY THE OPERATOR TO REPAIR THE NO. 3 ROSAN STUD 322 HOURS BEFORE THE CRANKSHAFT FAILED.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N9YT](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N9YT-1993-05-11), registration cancelled 1993-05-11, S/N 21063474 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA T210N
- Registry model: [Cessna T210N](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-t210n) (registry code 2073456) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 21063474
- Airframe hours: 3344
- Engines: CONTINENTAL TSIO-520-R 310 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Public aircraft, Part 91
- Operator: Channel Island Aviation, Inc
- Registered owner: Channel Island Aviation, Inc
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, February 4, 1992, 22 hours before
- Departed: NTD, PT MUGU, CA
- Destination: NID, CHINA LAKE, CA
- Flight plan: IFR

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 24; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 370 total, 42 in this make and model, 66 in the last 90 days, 27 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none

## 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 19920226004099A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19920226004099A), Feb 26, 1992: Cessna T210N, Lake Hughes, CA, Destroyed, 2 fatal. Lost power. Stall spin on forced landing. Engine thru bolts not properly torqued. Crank shifted,broke due oil loss.

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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