- Date
- December 2, 1997, 14:35 local (22:35 UTC)
- Place
- Union City, CA
- Injuries
- 1 minor
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Approach
- Aircraft
- N1396UCessna T210N
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report December 7, 1999
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19971202036939A
- Case key
- 30005
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
Blockage of the fuel flow transducer, which resulted in fuel starvation and the loss of engine power. Unsuitable terrain for an emergency landing was a contributing factor.
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 aircraft was being repositioned to home base following a partial repaint. While on short final to land the engine lost power and the aircraft landed in a residential area. Postaccident examination of the fuel and ignition systems found the fuel flow transducer to be restricted. After several attempts it was possible to blow air through it, but with resistance. Nothing foreign was found in the lines or blown from the transducer. The component was sent to the manufacturer of the fuel system and met flow specifications. The component was then sent to a testing laboratory for examination where it was opened and examined. The interior, turbine, and bearing points appeared to be normal and functional.
Factual narrative
On December 2, 1997, at 1435 hours Pacific standard time, a Cessna T210N, N1396U, was substantially damaged during a forced landing at Union City, California. The aircraft was cleared for a straight-in approach to runway 28R at Hayward Air Terminal. At 4.5 miles from the runway, the pilot declared an emergency and landed in a residential area. The pilot received minor injuries. The aircraft departed Salinas, California, on a repositioning flight following a partial repaint of the aircraft. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed.
On December 4, 1998, a postaccident examination of the aircraft and engine was conducted at Hayward, California. Present at the examination were four representatives from the Federal Aviation Administration Oakland Flight Standards District Office, Teledyne Continental Motors, and representatives from the operator of the aircraft.
According to maintenance information dated June 1997, a low fuel flow indication report was resolved by flushing fuel through the transducer. Another component of the system was also cleaned and the procedure resolved the condition.
The fuel and ignition systems were examined. Initial attempts to blow through the fuel flow transducer were unsuccessful due to a blockage. Subsequently, after several attempts it was possible to blow through the transducer, although it was with a degree of resistance according to the Continental representative.
On March 25, 1998, the transducer was functional tested at Shadin Company Incorporated, Louis Park, Minnesota, the manufacturer of the system. According to Shadin, the transducer met the system fuel flow specifications at the time of the test.
On May 7, 1998, the transducer was taken to Fowler Inc. for internal examination. Attempts to visually examine the interior by borescope were not possible. The transducer cavity closure/assembly is accomplished with an epoxy. It is not designed to be opened after manufacture. According to the manufacturer of this component of the system, FloScan, the only way to open it is to cut it open or pressurize it apart with nitrogen or hydraulics.
The transducer was taken to Tap-Ex Company for an electric metal disentagrator procedure. The procedure allowed access to the transducer turbine cavity without damage to the turbine. The turbine wheel, cavity, and bearing points appeared to be normal and functional.
The manufacturer of the transducer component of the system (FloScan) chose not to be involved in the testing/examination.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N1396U
- Reported as
- Cessna T210N
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 21064691
- Airframe hours
- 1,306
- Engine
- Continental TSIO-520-R, 285 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Positioning · Part 91
- Registered owner
- James A. Long
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · October 20, 1997 · 2 hours before
- Departed
- KSNS · Salinas, CA
- Destination
- HWD · Hayward, 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
- 27
- Certificate
- Airline transport
- Airplane ratings
- Multi-engine land, Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 1, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 1,143 total · 1,090 as pilot in command
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 290° at 7 knots
- Visibility
- 20 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Altimeter
- 29.00 inHg
- Observed at
- HWD, 4 nm away
Docket · 12
The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 19, 1998, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 1.8 MB in all.
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.