# NTSB NYC91LA129: Cessna 210L, N732BU, Lumberton, NJ, May 11, 1991

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: May 11, 1991, 17:27 local (21:27 UTC)
- Place: Lumberton, NJ
- Location: 39.9343° N, 74.8072° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs at FLYING W (N14), within about a mile (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.9343&lon=-74.8072&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious
- Status: Completed, report March 24, 1993
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 36922
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC91LA129
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/36922/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC91LA129

## Probable cause

THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN AIRSPEED AND THE RESULTANT INADVERTENT STALL. A FACTOR IN THE ACCIDENT WAS THE LOOSE OIL FILTER.

## 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
  - lubricating system,oil filter/screen - leak (contributing factor)
  - fluid,oil - exhaustion (contributing factor)
  - engine assembly,connecting rod - failure,total (contributing factor)
- Forced landing, descent - emergency
- Loss of control - in flight, go-around (vfr)
  - airspeed - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - stall/mush - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled
  - terrain condition - grass

## Analysis

WHILE CRUISING AT 3500 FEET, THE PILOT EXPERIENCED A HEAVY VIBRATION IN THE ENGINE AND WAS VECTORED TO A NEARBY AIRPORT. HE WAS HIGH AS HE TURNED ONTO FINAL APPROACH. HE RETRACTED THE WING FLAPS AND THE LANDING GEAR, AND ADDED POWER TO TRY FOR A NEARBY FIELD. THE ENGINE FAILED TO RESPOND AND HE LANDED HARD NEXT TO THE RUNWAY. WITNESS REPORTED THE AIRPLANE APPEARED TO STALL FROM A HEIGHT OF 40 TO 50 FEET. POST-CRASH EXAMINATION REVEALED THE OIL SCREEN HAD BEEN REPLACED WITH AN OIL FILTER ADAPTER WHICH HAD COME LOOSE AND THE ENGINE OIL ESCAPED THROUGH THE OPENING. THE $4 CONNECTING ROD FAILED DUE TO OIL STARVATION AND PENETRATED THE ENGINE CASE. THE THREADS ON THE OIL FILTER ADAPTER WERE WORN AS WERE THE MATING THREADS ON THE OIL PUMP HOUSING.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N732BU](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N732BU-1996-11-04), registration cancelled 1996-11-04, S/N 21061394 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 210L
- Registry model: [Cessna 210L](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-210l) (registry code 2073448) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 21061394
- Airframe hours: 3574
- Engines: CONTINENTAL IO-520-L 300 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Richard Johnston
- Registered owner: Richard Johnston
- Last inspection: Annual, May 10, 1991, 7 hours before
- Departed: CRE, MYRTLE BEACH, NC
- Destination: N52, SOMERSET, NJ
- Airport: N14, Flying W, runway 19, 3,496 × 60 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 50; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 983 total, 448 in this make and model, 28 in the last 90 days, 11 in the last 30 days, 8 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 270° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Temperature: 81 °F

## 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 19910511015379A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19910511015379A), May 11, 1991: Cessna 210, Lumberton, NJ, Substantial damage. Engine vibration diverted N14. Engine quit on final. Landed hard. Oil filter adapter came loose lost all oil.

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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