Wednesday, October 25, 2017

Cessna T210N Turbo Centurion, N5129C: Accident occurred October 23, 2017 in Eagle County, Colorado -and- Accident occurred July 03, 2007 in Loveland, Larimer County, Colorado

Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office; Denver, Colorado

Aviation Accident Final Report - National Transportation Safety Board: https://app.ntsb.gov/pdf


Investigation Docket - National Transportation Safety Board: https://dms.ntsb.gov/pubdms

http://registry.faa.gov/N5129C

Analysis 

Following a 1.5-hour local flight, the pilot was returning to his home airfield. Due to inbound traffic to the airport, the pilot circled once to the west and descended for the runway. About 8 miles from the runway, he lowered the landing gear and set 10° flaps. While on the base leg, the engine did not respond to the throttle inputs. The pilot switched fuel tanks, turned on the auxiliary fuel pump, and increased the mixture. Engine power was not restored, and the pilot notified the tower that the airplane had a total loss of engine power. Traffic was too heavy on a nearby road, so the pilot performed a forced landing to a vacant field. The airplane touched down, and the pilot applied brakes. The airplane traveled for about 90 ft, hit a ditch, and nosed over.

The pilot reported that he thought that he had about 45 gallons of fuel before takeoff, but he told the Federal Aviation Administration inspector that he had miscalculated his fuel. Only residue fuel was found during recovery of the airplane. The circumstances of the accident are consistent with a total loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion. 

Probable Cause and Findings

The National Transportation Safety Board determines the probable cause(s) of this accident to be:
The pilot's inadequate preflight fuel planning, which resulted in a total loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion.

Findings

Aircraft
Fuel - Fluid level (Cause)

Personnel issues
Fuel planning - Pilot (Cause)

Factual Information

History of Flight

Approach
Fuel starvation (Defining event)
Attempted remediation/recovery
Loss of engine power (total)

Landing
Off-field or emergency landing
Nose over/nose down

Location: Eagle, CO
Accident Number: CEN18CA021
Date & Time: 10/23/2017, 1730 MDT
Registration: N5129C
Aircraft: CESSNA T210N
Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Defining Event: Fuel starvation
Injuries: 2 None
Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General Aviation - Personal 

Following a 1.5-hour local flight, the pilot was returning to his home airfield. Due to inbound traffic to the airport, the pilot circled once to the west and descended for the runway. About 8 miles from the runway, he lowered the landing gear and set 10° flaps. While on the base leg, the engine did not respond to the throttle inputs. The pilot switched tanks, turned on the auxiliary fuel pump and increased the mixture. Engine power was not restored, and the pilot notified the tower that the airplane had a total loss of engine power. Traffic was too heavy on a nearby road, so the pilot performed a forced landing to a vacant field. The airplane touched down and the pilot applied brakes. The aircraft traveled for about 90 ft, hit a ditch, and nosed over. The pilot thought that he had about 45 gallons of fuel prior to take off, but he told the Federal Aviation Administration inspector that he had miscalculated his fuel. Only residue fuel was found during recovery of the airplane. The circumstances of the accident are consistent with a total loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion. 

Pilot Information

Certificate: Commercial; Private
Age: 65, Male
Airplane Rating(s): Single-engine Land
Seat Occupied: Left
Other Aircraft Rating(s): None
Restraint Used: Lap Only
Instrument Rating(s): Airplane
Second Pilot Present: No
Instructor Rating(s): None
Toxicology Performed: No
Medical Certification: Class 3 Without Waivers/Limitations
Last FAA Medical Exam:
Occupational Pilot: No
Last Flight Review or Equivalent: 03/15/2016
Flight Time:  2355 hours (Total, all aircraft), 646 hours (Total, this make and model) 

Aircraft and Owner/Operator Information

Aircraft Manufacturer: CESSNA
Registration: N5129C
Model/Series: T210N N
Aircraft Category: Airplane
Year of Manufacture: 1979
Amateur Built: No
Airworthiness Certificate: Normal
Serial Number: 21063707
Landing Gear Type: Retractable - Tricycle
Seats: 4
Date/Type of Last Inspection: 02/24/2017, Annual
Certified Max Gross Wt.:
Time Since Last Inspection:
Engines:
Airframe Total Time:  4941 Hours as of last inspection
Engine Manufacturer:
ELT: C91A installed, not activated
Engine Model/Series: 
Registered Owner: EWING GLEN
Rated Power:
Operator: On file
Operating Certificate(s) Held: None 

Meteorological Information and Flight Plan

Conditions at Accident Site: Visual Conditions
Condition of Light: Day
Observation Facility, Elevation: KEGE, 6535 ft msl
Observation Time: 1756 MDT
Distance from Accident Site: 2 Nautical Miles
Direction from Accident Site: 58°
Lowest Cloud Condition: Clear
Temperature/Dew Point: 16°C / -5°C
Lowest Ceiling: None
Visibility:  10 Miles
Wind Speed/Gusts, Direction: 10 knots, 310°
Visibility (RVR): 
Altimeter Setting: 30.49 inches Hg
Visibility (RVV):
Precipitation and Obscuration: No Obscuration; No Precipitation
Departure Point: EAGLE, CO (EGE)
Type of Flight Plan Filed: None
Destination: EAGLE, CO (EGE)
Type of Clearance: VFR
Departure Time: 1600 MDT
Type of Airspace: 

Airport Information

Airport: EAGLE COUNTY RGNL (EGE)
Runway Surface Type:
Airport Elevation: 6547 ft
Runway Surface Condition: Rough; Vegetation
Runway Used: N/A
IFR Approach: None
Runway Length/Width:
VFR Approach/Landing: Forced Landing; Full Stop 

Wreckage and Impact Information

Crew Injuries: 1 None
Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Passenger Injuries: 1 None
Aircraft Fire: None
Ground Injuries: N/A
Aircraft Explosion: None
Total Injuries: 2 None
Latitude, Longitude: 39.635556, -106.946944 (est)

Aviation Accident Final Report - National Transportation Safety Board: https://app.ntsb.gov/pdf

Aviation Accident Data Summary - National Transportation Safety Board: https://app.ntsb.gov/pdf

NTSB Identification: DEN07CA116
14 CFR Part 91: General Aviation
Accident occurred Tuesday, July 03, 2007 in Loveland, CO
Probable Cause Approval Date: 08/30/2007
Aircraft: Cessna T210N, registration: N5129C
Injuries: 2 Uninjured.

NTSB investigators used data provided by various entities, including, but not limited to, the Federal Aviation Administration and/or the operator and did not travel in support of this investigation to prepare this aircraft accident report.

The pilot said he was distracted by what he thought was an aircraft radio failure, his inability to immediately locate the windsock, and an air show in progress at the destination airport. He did not go through his normal GUMPS check, forgot to lower the landing gear and landed wheels up.

The National Transportation Safety Board determines the probable cause(s) of this accident as follows:
The pilot's failure to lower the landing gear. Contributing factors were the pilot's attention being diverted, and his failure to use the BEFORE LANDING checklist.

According to the pilot, he was distracted by what he thought was an aircraft radio failure, his inability to immediately locate the windsock, and an airshow in progress at the destination airport. He stated that he did not go through his normal GUMPS check, forgot to lower the landing gear and landed wheels up. There was damage to the left wing and flap, but the scraping on the bottom of the fuselage exposed and substantially damaged several bulkheads.

**This narrative was modified on August 22, 2007.**

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