# NTSB WPR09LA230: Cessna T210G, N2722T, Santa Rosa, CA, May 7, 2009 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: May 7, 2009, 14:30 local (21:30 UTC) - Place: Santa Rosa, CA - Coordinates: 38.508888, -122.812774 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.5089&lon=-122.8128&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Approach-VFR pattern final: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 2 minor, 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report April 22, 2010 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration, Teledyne Continental Motors - NTSB case key (mKey): 73794 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR09LA230 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/73794/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=73794 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR09LA230 ## Probable cause A total loss of engine power on final approach for undetermined reasons. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Not determined](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000): Not determined › Not determined · Unknown/Not determined (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna T210G, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md?model=2073432), [All aircraft, 2,247 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Approach-VFR pattern final: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna T210G, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=2073432), [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md) - [Emergency descent: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440); cases with it: [Cessna T210G, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=2073432), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096); cases with it: [Cessna T210G, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md?model=2073432), [All aircraft, 2,287 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md) ## Analysis The airplane was on final approach 400 to 500 feet above ground level when the pilot pushed in the throttle to add power and the engine did not respond. He then focused on keeping the airspeed above stall speed and executed a landing short of the runway. During the landing the nosewheel of the airplane sunk into wet soft ground and the airplane nosed over. The engine was examined and test run using the airframe fuel system with no anomalies noted that would preclude the normal operation of the engine. ## Factual narrative On May 7, 2009, at 1435 Pacific daylight time, a Cessna T210G, N2722T, landed short of runway 32R and nosed over at the Sonoma County Airport, Santa Rosa, California. The airline transport pilot (ATP) operated the airplane under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations, Part 91. The pilot and his two passengers sustained minor injuries, and the airplane was substantially damaged. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed. The pilot told a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector that the airplane was on final for runway 32R, at 400 to 500 feet above ground level (agl), when he pushed in the throttle to add some power, but the engine did not respond. He then focused on keeping the airspeed above stall speed and executed a landing short of the runway. During the landing the nose wheel of the airplane sunk into wet soft ground and the airplane nosed over. An FAA inspector arrived on-scene shortly after the accident. He reported that fuel was found in both wing fuel tanks of the airplane, and the throttle linkage from the cockpit to the throttle body was still connected. There was no evidence of an external fuel or engine oil leak. The pilot reported in the NTSB Pilot Aircraft Accident Report that he had experienced vapor lock on three previous flights since he owned the airplane. A technical representative from Teledyne Continental Motors examined the engine under the supervision of an FAA inspector. The examination revealed no anomalies that would have precluded the normal operation of the engine. The engine was then started using the airplane's starter and fuel was provided by the airplane's fuel system. The engine was run at 1,000 rpm for 5 minutes, then 1,800 rpm for 5 minutes. Cylinder temperatures stabilized in the green arc, and oil temperatures advanced slowly. The engine was subjected to several throttle bursts up to 2,400 rpm and performed normally. The fuel boost pump was selected to the low position and throttle bursts to 2,300 rpm were applied with no anomalies noted. Aircraft records noted that Cessna Owner Advisory SE81-33A that addresses fuel vapor in the Cessna 200 series aircraft had been complied with. Cessna Service Kit, SK210-100, Fuel System Vent Line Modification, was not applicable to the accident aircraft serial number. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N2722T](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N2722T-2009-06-29), registration cancelled 2009-06-29, S/N T210-0229, built 1966 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA T210G - Registry model: [Cessna T210G](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-t210g) (registry code 2073432) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental IO-520 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-io-520-series) (registry code 17032, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: T210-0229 - Airframe hours: 4060 - Engines: Teledyne Continental Motors IO-520 285 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: James Snarski - Registered owner: James Snarski - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, June 19, 2008 - Departed: K2O1, Quincy, CA - Destination: KSTS, Santa Rosa, CA - Airport: KSTS, Charles M Schulz - Sonoma Coun, runway 32R, 5,119 × 150 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 68; injuries: minor; airline transport, flight instructor, commercial, flight engineer; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review May 5, 2008; seat: left; flight hours: 21,000 total, 380 in this make and model, 17,000 as pilot in command ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 79 °F, dew point 48 °F - Altimeter: 30.11 inHg - Observed at: KSTS ## Docket (6 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on February 10, 2010, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=73794. 3.7 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 441 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40325082&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Photo 1 - On scene photo (item 2, .PDF, 251 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40325086&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201%20-%20On%20scene%20photo-Master.PDF - Photo 2 - On scene photo (item 3, .PDF, 266 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40325087&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%202%20-%20On%20scene%20photo-Master.PDF - TCM Engine Field Report (item 4, .PDF, 769 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40325351&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=TCM%20Engine%20Field%20Report-Redacted.PDF - Statement of Party Representatives to NTSB Investigation (item 5, .PDF, 233 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40325138&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Statement%20of%20Party%20Representatives%20to%20NTSB%20Investigation-Redacted.PDF - Engine Logbook Excerpts (item 6, .PDF, 1.7 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40325352&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Engine%20Logbook%20Excerpts-Redacted.PDF 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.