SEA94LA059

NTSB accident investigation · Cessna T210N · Havre, MT · February 8, 1994

Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal report
Date
February 8, 1994, 16:35 local (23:35 UTC)
Place
Havre, MT
Injuries
1 uninjured
Damage
Substantial damage
Phase of flight
Initial climb
Aircraft
N5520ACessna T210N
Weather
Visual (VMC) · Day
Status
Completed · report January 26, 1995
Report
Approved by Office Director
FAA report
19940208005709A
Case key
41875

From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.

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Probable cause

An undetermined loss of engine power.

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.

Loss of engine powerTakeoff - initial climb
Reason for occurrence undeterminedCause
Forced landingDescent - emergency
Gear not extendedLanding

Analysis

Shortly after takeoff, the engine lost power. The pilot initiated a forced landing on the remaining runway with the landing gear retracted. During the engine inspection and test run, there was no evidence found to indicate a mechanical failure or malfunction.

Factual narrative

On February 8, 1994, at 1635 mountain standard time, a Cessna T210N, N5520A, experienced a loss of engine power shortly after takeoff from the Havre Airport, Havre, Montana. The pilot then landed the airplane on the remaining runway with the landing gear retracted. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and an instrument flight rules flight plan was filed for the cargo flight that was conducted under 14 CFR 135. The airplane was substantially damaged and the certificated airline transport pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured. The flight was departing from Havre and destined for Cutbank, Montana.

The pilot reported that the airplane had been warmed up for an extra amount of time because of the extreme cold weather conditions. The airplane took off with standard indications and the landing gear was retracted at approximately 200 feet above ground level. Shortly thereafter, the engine quit. The pilot then landed the airplane on the remaining runway with the landing gear retracted.

The airplane was retrieved and inspected for visual indications of a mechanical failure or malfunction. After the inspection was completed with no reported failure or malfunction, the engine was prepared for a test run. The engine started and was run for approximately two minutes at idle power before it was shut down.

Aircraft

Registration
N5520A
Reported as
Cessna T210N
Category
Airplane
Serial number
21063477
Airframe hours
3,868
Engine
Continental TSIO-520-R, 310 horsepower, reciprocating
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Part 135
Operator
Morrison Flying Service
Registered owner
Morrison Flying Service
Airworthiness certificate
Standard, Normal
Last inspection
Annual · November 30, 1993 · 72 hours before
Destination
CTB · Cutbank, MT
Flight plan
IFR
Airport
HVR · Havre City-Co, runway 25, 5,205 × 100 ft, asphalt

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
53
Certificates
Flight instructor, Airline transport, Commercial
Airplane ratings
Multi-engine land, Single-engine land
Instrument ratings
Airplane
Medical
Class 2, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
Seat
Left
Flight hours
3,500 total · 450 in this make and model · 3,420 as pilot in command · 180 in the last 90 days · 60 in the last 30 days · 3 in the last 24 hours

Weather

Conditions
Visual (VMC) · Day
Wind
70° at 4 knots
Visibility
30 statute miles
Lowest ceiling
None
Temperature
-26 °F, dew point -0 °F
Altimeter
29.00 inHg
Observed at
HVR

FAA reports on this event · 1

The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.