# NTSB MIA97LA118: Cessna 210M, N761VX, Troy, AL, April 3, 1997 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: April 3, 1997, 16:15 local (22:15 UTC) - Place: Troy, AL - Coordinates: 31.900732, -85.900726 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=31.9007&lon=-85.9007&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report February 2, 1998 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 38246 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA97LA118 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/38246/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA97LA118 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to obtain the proper touchdown point during an emergency landing resulting in an overrun and subsequent nose over. A factor in the accident was a reported partial loss of engine power for undetermined reasons. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power, cruise - powerplant - undetermined - Forced landing, descent - emergency - Overrun, emergency landing - terrain condition - wet - proper touchdown point - not obtained, pilot in command (cause) - Nose over, emergency landing - terrain condition - ground ## Analysis The pilot stated he experienced a partial loss of engine power at 4,500 feet. He made a forced landing to an ultralight airfield. The airplane touched down long, went off the end of the runway, and nosed over. The engine was removed and transported to the engine manufacturer. The engine was placed in an engine test cell, started and developed power. ## Factual narrative On April 3, 1997, about 1615 central standard time, a Cessna 210M, N761VX, registered to Air Carriers Inc,, crashed during a forced landing following loss of engine power in the vicinity of Troy, Alabama, while on a Title 14 CFR Part 135 business flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. The commercial-rated pilot was not injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The flight originated from Dothan, Alabama. The pilot reported experiencing a partial loss of engine power while en route from Dothan, Alabama, to Bessemer, Alabama at 4,500 feet in visual meteorological conditions. The pilot performed an emergency landing under partial power at the Happy Valley Community Airpark, an ultralight airfield. The aircraft's landing roll exceeded the runway length, struck tree stumps and dirt piles, flipped on its back and came to rest at the end of the runway. The engine was transported to Teledyne Continental Motors in Mobile, Alabama. The engine was placed in a test cell. The engine start up was immediate and the engine ran smoothly at all rpm's. The propeller was removed and disassembled. The examination revealed the No. 2 blade hub was not attached to the phenolic link on the piston assembly, and was broken into three pieces. The three pitch change brackets with phenolic links were forwarded to the NTSB Materials Laboratory Division for further analysis. Examination of the No. 2 blade hub was conducted with an electron microscope after ultrasonic cleaning with soap and water revealed features typical of tensile overstress with no preexisting features. No stress raiser such as a gouge mark or pore was found on the surface in the area of the fractures. For additional information see NTSB Metallurgist's Factual Report No. 97-150. The three pitch change brackets with phenolic links were released to Mr. Scott Grant, FAA, FSDO-09, on October 6, 1997. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N761VX](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N761VX-2013-04-16), registration cancelled 2013-04-16, S/N 21062563, built 1978 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 210M - Registry model: [Cessna 210M](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-210m) (registry code 2073450) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental IO-520 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-io-520-series) (registry code 17032, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 21062563 - Airframe hours: 1322 - Engines: Continental IO-520 280 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Part 135 - Registered owner: Air Carriers Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, November 27, 1996, 228 hours before - Departed: DHN, DOTHAN, AL - Destination: TOI, AL - Flight plan: Unknown ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 49; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 3,560 total, 800 in this make and model, 250 in the last 90 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 0° at 5 knots ## 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 19970403018329A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19970403018329A), Apr 3, 1997: Cessna 210M, Troy, AL, Substantial damage. (.4)The pilot stated he experienced a partial loss of engine power at 4,500 feet. He made a forced landing to an ultralight airfield. The airplane touched down… ## Other investigations on N761VX (2) 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. - [NTSB MIA94LA187](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA94LA187), Jul 29, 1994: Cessna 210-M (N761VX), Orlando, FL, substantial damage. Probable cause: THE IMPROPER INSTALLATION OF A NOSE GEAR ACTUATOR HYDRAULIC LINE BY AN UNKNOWN PERSON THAT BENT IT AT INSTALLATION. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE FAILURE OF THE LINE ALLOWING ALL HYDRAULIC… - [NTSB CHI86LA091](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI86LA091), Feb 28, 1986: Cessna 210M (N761VX), While Lake Twp., MI, substantial damage 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.