# NTSB SEA95LA134: Cessna 210B, N4GY, Lewiston, MT, July 1, 1995 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: July 1, 1995, 16:00 local (22:00 UTC) - Place: Lewiston, MT - Location: 46.4638° N, 111.9864° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Lewiston, MT, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=46.4638&lon=-111.9864&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report February 27, 1996 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 42178 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA95LA134 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/42178/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA95LA134 ## Probable cause LOSS OF ENGINE POWER DUE TO UNDETERMINED REASONS, AND THE LACK OF A SUITABLE AREA FOR THE FORCED LANDING. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power, maneuvering - reason for occurrence undetermined (cause) - Forced landing, emergency descent/landing - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, emergency descent/landing - airport facilities,runway/landing area condition - rough/uneven - airport facilities,runway/landing area condition - none suitable (cause) ## Analysis WHILE MANEUVERING OVER MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN AT 500 FEET ABOVE GROUND LEVEL, THE AIRPLANE PASSED OVER A RIDGE LINE THEN DROPPED INTO A CANYON. THE PILOT STATED THAT A 'SEVERE DOWNDRAFT JOLTED THE AIRPLANE...,' AND THE ENGINE LOST POWER. THE PILOT WAS UNABLE TO RESTART THE ENGINE AND THE LANDING GEAR WOULD NOT LOCK DOWN. A FORCED LANDING WAS MADE TO AN OPEN ROUGH FIELD. DURING THE LANDING ROLL, THE AIRPLANE COLLIDED WITH THE TERRAIN. AN EXAMINATION OF THE WRECKAGE REVEALED A TRACE OF WATER CONTAMINATION IN THE FUEL SYSTEM. NO EVIDENCE WAS FOUND TO INDICATE A MECHANICAL FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION. ## Factual narrative On July 1, 1995, about 1600 hours mountain daylight time, N4GY, a Cessna 210B, operated by the owner/pilot, was substantially damaged during a forced landing near Lewiston, Montana. The forced landing was precipitated by a loss of engine power while maneuvering. The private pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan had been filed. The personal flight departed Butte, Montana, on July 1, 1995, at 1445, and was conducted under 14 CFR 91. In a written statement, the pilot reported that he was maneuvering in mountainous terrain about 500 feet above ground level. The airplane passed over a ridge line and then dropped down into a canyon. The pilot stated that a "downdraft jolted the airplane severely enough to spill cherries from an open flat." The pilot then stated that the engine lost power. The electric boost pump was turned on and the fuel selector was switched to another fuel tank; however, the engine did not regain power. The pilot tried to lower the landing gear for the forced landing; however, the gear did not indicate down and locked even after utilizing the auxiliary gear pump. During the forced landing to an open rough field, the nose gear was sheared off, the belly was crushed inward, and the right wing was damaged. During an examination of the wreckage by FAA inspectors from Helena, Montana, fuel was found on board the airplane. The engine rotated, and compression developed in each cylinder. Rocker arm, valve train and accessory gear continuity was established. All spark plugs appeared unremarkable. The right magneto produced an intermittent spark due to internal contaminants. The left magneto produced a spark with hand rotation. Small amounts of contaminants (water) were found in one of the fuel header tanks, the fuel input filter, and the fuel sump. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N4GY](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4GY-2013-07-29), registration cancelled 2013-07-29, S/N 21057977, built 1962 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 210B - Registry model: [Cessna 210B](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-210b) (registry code 2073410) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental IO-520 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-io-520-series) (registry code 17032, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 21057977 - Airframe hours: 1746 - Engines: CONTINENTAL IO-470-S 260 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Hoffman, Larry C. - Registered owner: Blue Range Engineering Co, Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, May 20, 1995, 16 hours before - Departed: BTM, BUTTE, MT - Destination: LWT, MT ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 49; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 1,670 total, 9 in this make and model, 9 in the last 90 days, 4 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 270° at 10 knots, gusting 15 - Visibility: 50 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 84 °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 19950701015929A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19950701015929A), Jul 1, 1995: Cessna 210B, Lewistown, MT, Substantial damage. Flying low in mountains. Got severe downdraft. Engine quit. Gear failed lockdown. Crashed. Water in fuel. 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.