# NTSB NYC04LA167: Cessna 210M, N6043N, Quarryville, PA, July 14, 2004 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: July 14, 2004, 12:15 local (16:15 UTC) - Place: Quarryville, PA - Coordinates: 39.903331, -76.158332 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.9033&lon=-76.1583&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report March 30, 2005 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA FSDO-13 - NTSB case key (mKey): 59652 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC04LA167 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/59652/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC04LA167 ## Probable cause Improper maintenance performed on the airplane, which resulted in a total electrical failure during cruise flight in IMC, and a subsequent precautionary landing. A factor in the accident was the low ceiling. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Airframe/component/system failure/malfunction, cruise - normal - maintenance - improper, other maintenance personnel (cause) - electrical system - failure - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, emergency landing - weather condition - low ceiling (contributing factor) - precautionary landing - performed, pilot in command - terrain condition - muddy ## Analysis While flying in instrument meteorological conditions, the airplane experienced a total electrical failure. The pilot was able to descend to 700 feet agl, and locate a road. During a precautionary landing to the road, the nose gear struck mud and collapsed. Examination of the airplane revealed that 11 of the 12 battery cells were dry. Further investigation revealed that maintenance had been performed on the airplane about 2 months prior to the accident. The maintenance work included replacing the old battery with a serviceable battery. ## Factual narrative On July 14, 2004, about 1215 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 210M, N6043N, was substantially damaged during a precautionary landing to a road, following a total loss of electrical power in cruise flight near Quarryville, Pennsylvania. The certificated airline transport pilot and a passenger were not injured. Instrument meteorological conditions prevailed for the flight that departed Auburn/Lewiston Municipal Airport (LEW), Lewiston, Maine; destined for Manassas Regional Airport (HEF), Manassas, Virginia. An instrument flight rules flight plan was filed for the personal flight conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. The pilot reported that while in cruise flight at 8,000 feet, he noted a battery discharge. The pilot notified air traffic control (ATC) that he was experiencing electrical problems. The ATC controller subsequently cleared the pilot to descend to 3,000 feet, and provided vectors to Lancaster Airport (LNS), Lancaster, Pennsylvania. However, before the pilot could initiate an instrument approach to LNS, the airplane experienced a total loss of electrical power. The pilot then flew southeast, away from mountainous terrain, until he made visual contact with a road. The pilot continued to descend over the road, about 700 feet agl, and noted that the ceiling was lower in the surrounding areas. The pilot performed a precautionary landing to the road. During the landing, the nose gear struck mud and collapsed, and the airplane came to rest on the road. The reported weather at LNS, at 1153, was: wind from 200 degrees at 5 knots; visibility 5 miles in haze; ceiling 900 feet overcast; temperature 73 degrees F; dew point 70 degrees F; altimeter 29.66 inches Hg. The airplane was examined by a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector. The inspector reported that the alternator and regulator "bench checked" normally, with no discrepancies noted. However, the inspector observed 11 of the 12 battery cells to be dry, and one cell contained some moisture. During a subsequent telephone interview, the pilot reported that his battery was replaced with a serviceable battery on May 8, 2004. The maintenance work was performed by a mechanic at the pilot's home airport; in conjunction with replacement of the alternator, voltage regulator, and solenoid. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N6043N](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N6043N-2007-10-23), registration cancelled 2007-10-23, S/N 21062911 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 210M - Registry model: [Cessna 210M](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-210m) (registry code 2073450) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 21062911 - Airframe hours: 3376 - Engines: Continental IO-520 300 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Waldo D. Freeman - Registered owner: Centurion Aviation Llc - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, July 10, 2003, 226 hours before - Departed: LEW, Lewiston, ME - Destination: HEF, Manassas, VA - Flight plan: IFR - Airport: NONE ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 62; injuries: none; airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review April 26, 2003; seat: left; flight hours: 2,982 total, 133 in this make and model, 2,946 as pilot in command, 29 in the last 90 days, 21 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Day - Wind: 250° at 5 knots - Visibility: 5 statute miles - Temperature: 73 °F, dew point 70 °F - Altimeter: 29.65 inHg - Observed at: LNS, 13 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 20040714022389A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20040714022389A), Jul 14, 2004: Cessna 210M, Quarryville, PA, Substantial damage. (-23) On July 14, 2004, at 1215 eastern daylight time, while on an IFR flight plan from auburn/lewiston municipal airport (lew), lewiston, Maine, to manassas… 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.