N6555Y Cessna 210N accident

NTSB FTW97LA066 · 1996-12-19 · KERRVILLE, TX

Summary

According to the pilot, the engine lost power without warning while in cruise flight at 3,500 feet. The pilot reported that he switched tanks and activated the fuel boost pump to no avail. He intended to land on a road, but due to obstructions on the road, he executed a forced landing to an adjacent open field. The accident site was approximately 10 miles west of the destination airport. During the landing roll, in what turned out to be 'a very rocky field,' the outboard portion of the left wing impacted a tree, and both main landing gear were torn from the airframe. The pilot stated that before his departure from Rocksprings, Texas, the airplane's fuel totalizer was indicating 18.8 gallons of fuel remaining. The fuel gages were reading 1/4 in the left tank and between 1/8 and 1/4 in the right tank. The pilot calculated that the distance between the two airports was 56.6 nautical miles, and he intended to use his Loran to fly direct. Postaccident examination of the aircraft revealed that the right fuel tank was empty and only residual fuel remained in the left fuel tank. The fuel selector valve was found in the right tank position.

Full narrative

On December 19, 1996, at 1445 central standard time, a Cessna 210N, N6555Y, was substantially damaged during a forced landing near Kerrville, Texas. The airplane, owned and operated by a private owner, was being operated under Title 14 CFR Part 91. The private pilot, sole occupant of the airplane, was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the personal flight for which no flight plan was filed. The flight originated from the Edwards County Airport in Rocksprings, Texas, at approximately 1420.

According to the pilot, the engine lost power without warning while in cruise flight at 3,500 feet MSL. The pilot reported that he switched tanks and activated the fuel boost pump to no avail. The pilot intended to land on a road, but due to obstructions on the road, he executed a forced landing to an adjacent open field. The accident site was approximately 10 miles west of the destination airport.

The pilot added that during the landing roll, in what turned out to be "a very rocky field," the outboard portion of the left wing impacted a tree, and "both main landing gear were torn from the airframe resulting in structural damage."

The pilot further stated that prior to his departure from Rocksprings, Texas, the airplane's fuel totalizer was indicating 18.8 gallons of fuel remaining. He reported that his fuel gages were reading 1/4 on the left tank and between 1/8 and 1/4 in the right tank. The pilot had calculated that the distance between the two airports was 56.6 nautical miles, and he intended to use his Loran to fly direct.

The wreckage was examined by two FAA inspectors on December 20, 1996. Examination of the aircraft revealed that the right fuel tank was empty and only residual fuel remained in the left fuel tank. The fuel selector valve was found in the right tank position.

Probable cause

the pilot's inadequate preflight planning/preparation, which resulted in fuel exhaustion due to an inadequate supply of fuel. A factor relating to the accident was: the lack of suitable terrain for a forced landing. The National Transportation Safety Board determined the probable cause of this accident.

Circumstances

Event type: Accident
Highest injury: None
Weather conditions: Visual Meteorological Cond
Light condition: Day
Sky condition: NONE
Ceiling (ft): 0
Visibility (sm): 20
Wind direction: 270
Wind speed (kt): 20
Temperature (F): 39
Distance from field: 0.0

Aircraft

Registration	Make	Model	Damage	FAR part
N6555Y	Cessna	210N	SUBS	091

Sequence of events

#	Occurrence	Phase
1	353	Cruise
2	180	Cruise
3	320	Cruise

Findings

Finding
17001	cause
24001	cause
22204	cause
19200	factor
19200	factor