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NTSB Report

August 22, 1997 · Cessna 210E · N1808F

Oxnard, CA

Overview

Report Status
Final with probable cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
August 22, 1997
Injury Outcomes
3 injuries (2 serious injuries, 1 minor injury)
Location
Oxnard, CA
Aircraft
Cessna 210E
Tail Number
N1808F
Injuries
Serious
Aircraft Damage
Destroyed
NTSB Number
LAX97LA299

During departure climbout, after reaching 1,500 to 2,000 feet agl, the pilot/flight instructor noted that the student pilot had not properly set the throttle friction lock and the throttle had retarded to about 15 inches of manifold pressure. The pilot instructed his student to advance the throttle, however, when the student did so the manifold pressure rose momentarily and then the engine abruptly stopped delivering power. The pilot took control of the aircraft from his student, performed the engine failure checklist, declared an emergency, and established a glide toward a nearby airport. When it became apparent that the aircraft could not glide to the airport, he turned toward an open agricultural field. The aircraft impacted the roof of a house and a light pole across the street from the field boundary and came to rest at the edge of the field. Postaccident examination revealed that a fuel supply hose had come unscrewed off the inlet nipple of the fuel control unit. An 100-hour inspection was completed the prior day and this was the first flight following the inspection.

NTSB Probable Cause

The failure of maintenance personnel to properly secure a fuel supply line during a 100-hour inspection and the failure of inspection personnel to detect the loose fitting.

Full Narrative

On August 22, 1997, at 1430 hours Pacific daylight time, a Cessna 210E, N1808F, was destroyed when it collided with a building and a utility pole in Oxnard, California, after a loss of engine power while climbing to cruise altitude. The certified flight instructor and private pilot student received serious injuries; the sole passenger received minor injuries. The airplane was operated by Sun Air Aviation, Camarillo, California, as an instructional flight under 14 CFR Part 91. The flight originated in Camarillo and was destined for Burbank, California. An instrument flight plan was filed and visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time. The pilot/flight instructor reported that the right magneto rpm drop was excessive during pretakeoff checks and it was necessary to return to the ramp and have a mechanic clean the spark plugs. The magneto check on the second run-up was within limits and the ensuing takeoff was normal. During climbout, after reaching 1,500 to 2,000 feet agl, the pilot noted that the student pilot had not properly set the throttle friction lock and the throttle had retarded to about 15 inches of manifold pressure. The pilot instructed his student to advance the throttle. When he did so the manifold pressure started to rise and the engine abruptly stopped delivering power. The pilot took control of the aircraft from his student, performed the engine failure checklist, declared an emergency, and established a glide toward Oxnard Airport. When it became apparent that the aircraft could not reach the airport he turned toward an open agricultural field but impacted the roof of a house across the street from the field boundary. The left wing then struck a light pole and the aircraft came to rest at the edge of the field. Inspectors from the Federal Aviation Administration Van Nuys Flight Standards District Office examined the aircraft at the accident scene. They noted that the fuel supply hose in the engine compartment extending from the engine driven fuel pump to the fuel control unit was disconnected at the attachment to the fuel control unit. On further examination, the hose end fitting and the fuel control unit inlet nipple appeared undamaged and serviceable. The engine recording tachometer time was 656.2 hours. According to the aircraft and engine logbooks, a 100-hour inspection of the aircraft and engine was completed the previous day, August 21, 1997, at tachometer time of 655.8 hours. According to the records, all engine hoses were replaced during a 100-hour inspection on June 11, 1997, at engine recording tachometer time of 571.0 hours. There is another logbook entry on August 22, 1997 that the number one cylinder bottom spark plug was replaced at 656.0 hours.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time14:30 PDT
Nearest Airport0nm
Runway0
Flight Plan FiledIFR
Aircraft FireGrd
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftCessna 210E
Tail NumberN1808F
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageDestroyed
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsContinental · IO-520-A · Reciprocating · 285
Seats4

People & Injuries

Injury Summary3 injuries (2 serious injuries, 1 minor injury)
Fatal0
Serious2
Minor1
Uninjured0
Total3
Crew 1Age 34 · First Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind260° @ 10 kt
Visibility15 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point63 F
Altimeter29.00 inHg
Observation Time21:30
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data