# NTSB LAX92LA258: Cessna T210N, N9933N, Georgetown, CA, June 24, 1992

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: June 23, 1992, 16:20 local (Jun 24, 1992, 00:20 UTC)
- Place: Georgetown, CA
- Coordinates: 38.930366, -120.770454 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.9304&lon=-120.7705&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 2 minor
- Status: Completed, report August 26, 1993
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 27657
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX92LA258
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/27657/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX92LA258

## 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

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,other - undertorqued (cause)
  - maintenance,overhaul - improper, other maintenance personnel (cause)
  - engine assembly,bearing - slipped (cause)
  - lubricating system,oil port/passage,internal - blocked(total) (cause)
  - fluid,oil - starvation (cause)
  - engine assembly,connecting rod cap - failure,total (cause)
- Forced landing, descent - emergency
  - terrain condition - none suitable (contributing factor)
- On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - roll
  - terrain condition - uphill
  - terrain condition - rough/uneven
  - terrain condition - high obstruction(s)

## 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](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N9933N-2003-05-28), registration cancelled 2003-05-28, S/N 21063255 (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: 21063255
- Airframe hours: 2721
- Engines: 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

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 26; 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 (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 19920623021569A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19920623021569A), Jun 23, 1992: Cessna T210N, Georgetown, CA, Substantial damage. Engine threw a rod through the case,crash landed. Bearing came loose,blocked oil. Recent tow. Loose thru bolts.

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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