WPR11LA434

NTSB accident investigation · Cessna T210M · Saratoga, WY · September 5, 2011

Accident · Serious injuriesLimited investigationFinal report
Date
September 5, 2011, 14:20 local (20:20 UTC)
Place
Saratoga, WY
Injuries
4 serious
Damage
Substantial damage
Phase of flight
Landing
Aircraft
N761NZCessna T210M
Defining event
Landing-aborted after touchdown: Loss of engine power (total)
Weather
Visual (VMC) · Day
Status
Completed · report January 31, 2013
Report
Approved by Office Director
NTSB office
Western Pacific Region
Parties
Cessna Aircraft Company, Continental Motors Inc., Federal Aviation Adminsitration
FAA report
20110905019499A
Case key
81718

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

On this page

Probable cause

A loss of engine power during an attempted go-around for reasons that could not be determined because postaccident examination did not reveal any anomalies that would have precluded normal operation.

Findings · 1

NTSB’s coded findings. Those marked are part of the probable cause; the rest are factors or other findings. Under each, the cases with the same finding.

Not determinedNot determined › Not determined · Unknown/Not determinedCessna T210M: 9 casesAll aircraft: 2,247 casesProbable cause

Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event is the one that best describes the accident. Under each, the cases with the same event anywhere in their sequence.

Analysis

The pilot reported that following an aborted approach and subsequent attempted go-around, the engine lost power as the airplane approached the departure end of the runway. The pilot initiated a forced landing to an open area, and during the landing roll, the airplane struck a fence and embankment. A postaccident examination of the airframe and fuel injected engine revealed no evidence of mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation.

Factual narrative

On September 5, 2011, about 1420 mountain daylight time, a Cessna T210M, N761NZ, sustained substantial damage when it impacted terrain following a loss of engine power during an aborted landing at the Shively Field Airport (SAA), Saratoga, Wyoming. The airplane was registered to and operated by the pilot under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. The private pilot and his three passengers sustained serious injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and an instrument flight rules flight plan was filed for the personal flight. The cross-country flight originated from Wichita, Kansas, approximately 1145 central daylight time, with an intended destination of SAA. The pilot reported that as he approached runway 23, the wind began to blow the airplane left of the runway centerline. The pilot said that he decided to abort the landing and initiate a go-around due to the wind. As the airplane approached the departure end of the runway, the engine suffered a complete loss of power. The pilot initiated a forced landing straight ahead of his position to an open area on the airport property. During the landing roll, the airplane struck an airport parameter fence and impacted a road embankment. Subsequently, the airplane nosed over. Examination of the airplane by local law enforcement revealed that the airplane came to rest inverted about 800 feet beyond runway 23. The left wing and fuselage exhibited structural damage. The wreckage was recovered to a secure location for further examination. Recovery personnel reported that during recovery of the wreckage, in excess of 10 gallons of fuel was removed from each wing fuel tank. TESTS AND RESEARCH Examination of the recovered airframe revealed that the empennage and both wings were removed by the wreckage recovery personnel to facilitate transport and storage. Flight control cable continuity was established from the cockpit controls throughout to all primary flight control surfaces. All separations noted within the flight control cables were either cut or disconnected by wreckage recovery personnel. The flap actuator and flap position was found at a 30-degree flap setting, or fully extended. The flap handle and flap indicator were observed at the 10-degree position. The cockpit trim actuator was measured and found to be in a position consistent with the elevator trim in the tab up, 15 degree position. The elevator trim indicator was destroyed by impact damage. The airframe fuel strainer was removed and found to be free of debris. A small amount of liquid, consistent with 100 low lead fuel was observed. The liquid was tested using water finding paste with negative results. Continuity was established throughout the airframe fuel system. Impact damage was noted to various portions of the fuel line between the fuel selector valve and gascolator. Both the left and right wing fuel vents were free of obstructions. Examination of the recovered fuel injected engine, a ContinentalMotors TSIO-520-R, serial number 512558, revealed that it remained partially attached to the airframe via its mounts. The top spark plugs, fuel pump, and rocker box covers were removed. All cylinders were inspected using a lighted borescope. The internal combustion chambers, intake and exhaust valve faces, and piston heads were unremarkable. The engine crankshaft was rotated by hand using the propeller. Rotational continuity was established throughout the engine and valve train. Thumb compression was obtained on six cylinders and both magnetos produced spark on all ignition leads. No evidence of preimpact mechanical malfunction was noted during the examination of the recovered airframe and engine.

Aircraft

Registration
N761NZ
Reported as
Cessna T210M
Category
Airplane
Serial number
21062399
Airframe hours
2,290
Engine
Cont Motor TSIO-520-R, 300 horsepower, reciprocating
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Personal · Part 91
Operator
Bowker Ronney M
Registered owner
Bowker Ronney M
Airworthiness certificate
Standard, Normal
Last inspection
Annual · September 20, 2010 · 61 hours before
Departed
ICT · Wichita, KS
Destination
SAA · Saratoga, WY
Flight plan
IFR
Airport
SAA · Shivley Field Airport, runway 23, 8,801 × 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
67
Injuries
Serious
Certificate
Private
Airplane ratings
Single-engine sea
Instrument ratings
Airplane
Medical
Class 3, With waivers/limitations
Last flight review
June 25, 2010
Seat
Left
Flight hours
1,869 total · 1,182 in this make and model · 1,869 as pilot in command · 42 in the last 90 days · 21 in the last 30 days · 5 in the last 24 hours

Weather

Conditions
Visual (VMC) · Day
Wind
310° at 14 knots, gusting 25
Visibility
10 statute miles
Lowest ceiling
None
Temperature
81 °F, dew point 9 °F
Altimeter
30.20 inHg
Observed at
RWL, 27 nm away

Docket · 8

The files NTSB released with the investigation on November 30, 2012, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 5.9 MB in all.

FAA reports on this event · 1

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