# NTSB WPR13LA247: Cessna 210-5A, N4848U, Wenatchee, WA, May 18, 2013 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: May 18, 2013, 13:00 local (20:00 UTC) - Place: Wenatchee, WA - Coordinates: 47.392776, -120.198333 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=47.3928&lon=-120.1983&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Approach-VFR pattern base: Fuel exhaustion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 5 uninjured - Status: Completed, report June 2, 2014 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 87022 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR13LA247 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/87022/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=87022 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR13LA247 ## Probable cause The pilot’s inadequate fuel planning, which resulted in a loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion, and his improper landing flare, which resulted in the airplane’s tail striking the runway. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Fluids: fuel](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010): Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware · Fluid management (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 210-5A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md?model=2073406), [All aircraft, 1,695 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063000): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 210-5A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063000/cases.md?model=2073406), [All aircraft, 111 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063000/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: landing flare](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 210-5A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md?model=2073406), [All aircraft, 1,285 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/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 base: Fuel exhaustion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 210-5A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192/sequence.md?model=2073406), [All aircraft, 804 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092); cases with it: [Cessna 210-5A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md?model=2073406), [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md) ## Analysis The airplane was on the base leg of the traffic pattern when the engine suddenly lost power. The airplane landed hard in a nose-high attitude, and the tail cone struck the runway, resulting in damage to the aft bulkhead and lower fuselage stringer. When a line service technician came with a tug to help get the airplane off the runway, the pilot told him that he had run out of fuel and that he had planned to continue past the airport but made an error in his fuel calculations. The pilot purchased additional fuel and continued to his destination with no further incident. Although the pilot stated that "vapor lock or a fuel system defect were potential causes" for the loss of engine power, his statements to the line service technician and the fact that the engine started and operated normally after fuel was added indicate that the reason for the loss of engine power was fuel exhaustion. ## Factual narrative On May 18, 2013, about 1300 Pacific daylight time, a Cessna 210-5A, N4848U, was substantially damaged during a hard landing at Pangborn Memorial Airport, Wenatchee, Washington. The commercial pilot and his four passengers were not injured. The pilot was operating the airplane under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the cross-country flight, which had originated from Chehalis, Washington, approximately 2 hours before the accident. A flight plan had not been filed. The pilot reported that he planned to refuel at Pangborn Memorial Airport. The airplane was on the base leg of a traffic pattern for landing on runway 30 when the airplane's engine suddenly lost power. According to the pilot, the airplane landed "tail low," and the underside of the airplane scraped on the ground. The pilot reported that "vapor lock or a fuel system defect were potential causes" for the loss of engine power. According to one of the passengers, the engine lost power when the airplane was perpendicular to the runway. He reported that they "seemed to be still turning as the airplane touched down hard." The passenger recalled that the airplane bounced, and when it touched down again, it was aligned with the runway. After the airplane rolled to a stop, the pilot attempted to start the engine but it would not start. The pilot and the passengers got out of the airplane and began to push it clear of the runway. Then someone from the airport came out with a tug to tow the airplane. After the airplane was towed to the ramp, the pilot purchased about 50 gallons of fuel. They boarded the airplane, departed, and flew on to their destination of Stehekin, Washington, without further incident. The line service technician who drove the tug out to the airplane and pulled the airplane to the ramp asked the pilot if he needed a mechanic to look at the airplane, and the pilot replied, "no, we ran out of fuel." The technician said "during your run-up?" The pilot replied "no, in the air. We were going to pass Wenatchee, but [I] got our [fuel] numbers off." After the airplane was flown back to its home base in Tonasket, Washington, the owner had a mechanic examine the airplane. The examination revealed that the tail tie-down bolt had been pushed upward into the aft bulkhead, and the aft bulkhead and the lower fuselage stringer were bent and deformed to the point where they needed to be replaced. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N4848U](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4848U-2014-03-20), registration cancelled 2014-03-20, S/N 205-0548, built 1964 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 210-5A - Registry model: [Cessna 210-5A](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-210-5a) (registry code 2073406) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental I0-470 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-i0-470-series) (registry code 17027, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 205-0548 - Year built: 1964 - Airframe hours: 3968 - Engines: CONT MOTOR IO-470 SERIES 260 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Hanna David B - Registered owner: Hanna David B - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, July 18, 2012 - Departed: CLS, Chehalis, WA - Destination: EAT, Wenatchee, WA - Airport: EAT, Pangborn Memorial Airport, runway 30, 5,700 × 150 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 58; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review November 11, 2011; seat: left; flight hours: 3,430 total, 5 in this make and model, 5 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 290° at 10 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 66 °F, dew point 34 °F - Altimeter: 29.98 inHg - Observed at: EAT ## 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 20130518008589A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20130518008589A), May 18, 2013: Cessna 210-5A, Wenatchee, WA, Substantial damage. On may 18, 2013, the pilot, with four passengers on board, was approaching Wenatchee airport. On base leg for runway 30, the engine stopped producing power.… ## Docket (7 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on May 2, 2014, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=87022. 1.4 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 740 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40411879&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Statement of Line Service Technician (item 2, .PDF, 220 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40411880&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Statement%20of%20Line%20Service%20Technician-Redacted.PDF - Record of FAA Inspector Interview with Passenger (item 3, .PDF, 17 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40411881&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20FAA%20Inspector%20Interview%20with%20Passenger-Master.PDF - Photo 1 – Bulkhead Damage (item 4, .PDF, 65 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40411885&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201%20%E2%80%93%20Bulkhead%20Damage%0D%0A-Master.PDF - Photo 2 – Tie-down Bulkhead Damage (item 5, .PDF, 66 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40411886&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%202%20%E2%80%93%20Tie-down%20Bulkhead%20Damage%0D%0A-Master.PDF - Photo 3 – Stringer Damage (item 6, .PDF, 86 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40411887&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%203%20%E2%80%93%20Stringer%20Damage%0D%0A-Master.PDF - Repair Estimate (item 7, .PDF, 164 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40411888&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Repair%20Estimate-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.