- Date
- June 23, 1992, 16:20 local (Jun 24, 1992, 00:20 UTC)
- Place
- Georgetown, CA
- Injuries
- 2 minor
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Enroute
- Aircraft
- N9933NCessna T210N
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report August 26, 1993
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19920623021569A
- Case key
- 27657
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
The under torque of the crankcase through bolts during overhaul causing; 1) the number 2 main bearing to spin, 2) the resultant blockage of the internal oil passage, and 3) the oil starvation induced failure of the number 2 connecting rod and cap. A factor in the accident was the unsuitable nature of the terrain which made a successful forced landing impossible.
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.
Analysis
The pilot said he was in cruise at 10,500 feet when the oil pressure went to zero and the oil temperature rose. The engine quit shortly thereafter. The aircraft then collided with ground obstructions during a uphill forced landing attempt in mountainous terrain. External examination of the engine revealed that the number 2 connecting rod had failed and was sticking up through the case. Internal examination of the engine revealed that the number 2 main bearing had spun in the journal, with severe abrasion noted under the bearing inserts. The oil channel in the number 2 main bearing journal was found totally plugged with metal particles. Progressive heat discoloration and component distress was found downstream in the oiling path of the number 2 main bearing. The engine and bearings was examined by a technical representative from Continental engines who opined that the bearing had been intermittently spinning on the journal for 10 hours and that the failure of the number 2 connecting rod was due to oil starvation caused by the restrictions in the oil path. He stated that the most likely cause of the bearing spin condition was under torque of the case through bolts at the number 2 main bearing area. The engine was overhauled 70 hours prior to the accident.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N9933N
- Reported as
- Cessna T210N
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 21063255
- Airframe hours
- 2,721
- Engine
- Continental TSIO-520-R, 300 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business · Part 91
- Operator
- Glacier Ice Company, Inc.
- Registered owner
- Glacier Ice Company, Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- 100 hour · October 26, 1991 · 19 hours before
- Departed
- TRK · Truckee, CA
- Destination
- LVK · Livermore, CA
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
- 26
- Certificates
- Airline transport, Flight instructor
- Airplane ratings
- Multi-engine land, Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 1, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 3,400 total · 200 in this make and model · 3,000 as pilot in command · 90 in the last 90 days · 30 in the last 30 days · 1 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 30° at 10 knots
- Visibility
- 40 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 22,000 ft overcast
- Temperature
- 70 °F, dew point 50 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.00 inHg
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.