# NTSB LAX96LA133: Cessna T210M, N8683M, Grass Valley, CA, March 13, 1996 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: March 13, 1996, 08:57 local (16:57 UTC) - Place: Grass Valley, CA - Coordinates: 39.179012, -120.980682 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.1790&lon=-120.9807&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious - Status: Completed, report September 19, 1996 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 29387 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX96LA133 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/29387/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX96LA133 ## Probable cause fuel starvation for an undetermined reason. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, cruise - fluid,fuel - starvation (cause) - Forced landing, emergency descent/landing - In flight collision with object, emergency landing - object - building(nonresidential) - object - tree(s) ## Analysis The pilot reported that he performed a preflight inspection of the airplane and believed that adequate fuel was onboard for a 1-hour-long flight. During cruise flight and without warning, the engine lost all power after about 1/4 hour of flight. As the pilot was making a forced landing, the airplane collided with the top of a commercial building and trees. It came to rest in a ditch about 200 feet from the approach end of runway 07 at the Nevada County Air Park. A broken fuel line was observed in an impact damaged area of the engine compartment, and evidence of fuel spillage was noted. but no fuel was observed leaking out of either of the wing fuel tanks. The airframe was subsequently examined, and no evidence of any mechanical malfunction or obstruction was reported. After a temporary fuel supply was attached to the airplane, the engine was started, and ran with no discrepancies noted. ## Factual narrative On March 13, 1996, at 0857 hours Pacific standard time, a Cessna T210M, N8683M, operated by the Diamond Well Drilling Company, Auburn, California, experienced a total loss of engine power while cruising en route to the Nevada County Air Park, Grass Valley, California. The commercial pilot made a forced landing and collided with the top of a commercial building and trees. The airplane came to rest in a ditch, about 200 feet from the approach end of Nevada County Air Park's runway 07. The aircraft was destroyed and the pilot sustained serious injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed. At the time of the accident, the pilot was ferrying the airplane to the operator's maintenance base for an engine inspection. The flight originated at Auburn about 0845. In the pilot's completed accident report, he indicated that he had performed a preflight inspection of the airplane before taking off. The pilot determined that at least 1 hour of fuel was onboard. The pilot reported to the Nevada County Sheriff's Department that during the flight, when he was about 7 miles south of Grass Valley and without any warning, he experienced an immediate power loss. Thereafter, engine power was not restored. Recovery personnel reported observing that a fuel line had ruptured forward of the firewall in an impact damaged area around the engine. Also, fuel was observed leaking onto the ground from an undetermined location in the empennage. No fuel was observed leaking out of the main wing fuel tanks. A Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) airworthiness inspector examined the airplane in conjunction with manufacturer participants from the Cessna Aircraft Company and Continental Motors. The FAA inspector reported that a complete fuel system inspection and analysis was performed. No evidence of preimpact discrepancies was found. A temporary fuel supply was attached to the airplane. The engine was started and operated with normal pressures. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N8683M](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8683M-2021-02-06), registration cancelled 2021-02-06, S/N 21062049, built 1977 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna T210M - Registry model: [Cessna T210M](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-t210m) (registry code 2073451) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental TSIO-520 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-tsio-520-series) (registry code 17040, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 21062049 - Airframe hours: 5711 - Engines: Continental TSIO-520-R 310 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Flight: Ferry, Part 91 - Registered owner: Diamond Well Drilling - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, November 30, 1995 - Departed: AUN, ATWATER, CA - Destination: O17 - Airport: O17, Nevada Co Air Park, runway 7, 3,915 × 50 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 26; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 1,100 total, 1,030 as pilot in command, 70 in the last 90 days, 5 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 340° at 21 knots, gusting 26 - Visibility: 45 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 55 °F, dew point 43 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: BAB, 21 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 19960313003979A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19960313003979A), Mar 13, 1996: Cessna T210M, Grass Valley, CA, Destroyed. Lost power on final short flight. Had visual estimate 1HR fuel. Airborne 45MINUTES. Low fuel had unported. 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.