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Aviation safety reports, made easier to study

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NTSB Report

December 27, 1992 · Cessna 210 · N7479E

Smithville, TN

Overview

Report Status
Probable Cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
December 27, 1992
Injury Outcomes
2 injuries (1 serious injury, 1 minor injury)
Location
Smithville, TN
Aircraft
Cessna 210
Tail Number
N7479E
Operator
Love Carl C
Injuries
Serious
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
ATL93LA043

The private pilot landed at an airport 45 miles short of his destination to refuel. No fuel was available, so he elected to continue to his destination. He estimated 12 gallons of fuel on board at the time. Enroute to the airport, he ran the right tank dry, and switched to the left tank. He decided to fly a no flap landing due to low fuel. He was high and fast on final, so he slipped the aircraft, left wing low. He could not land safely, so he executed a go around, and the engine did not respond. He attempted a turn back to the airport for a forced landing. While in the turn, the aircraft struck a fence, then collided with the ground. The Cessna 210 pilot's manual states that prolonged sideslips can result in unporting of the fuel system, and fuel starvation. There can be up to 10 gallons of unusable fuel in the system when level flight is not maintained. The engine power loss occurred about 35 minutes into the accident flight.

NTSB Probable Cause

THE FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO FOLLOW PILOT MANUAL PROCEDURES BY SLIPPING THE AIRCRAFT WITH INADEQUATE FUEL AVAILABLE, WHICH RESULTED IN FUEL STARVATION. FACTORS WERE THE INADEQUATE FUEL SUPPLY ON THE AIRCRAFT AND THE FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO REFUEL.

Full Narrative

THE PRIVATE PILOT LANDED AT AN AIRPORT 45 MILES SHORT OF HIS DESTINATION TO REFUEL. NO FUEL WAS AVAILABLE, SO HE ELECTED TO CONTINUE TO HIS DESTINATION. HE ESTIMATED 12 GALLONS OF FUEL ON BOARD AT THE TIME. ENROUTE TO THE AIRPORT, HE RAN THE RIGHT TANK DRY, AND SWITCHED TO THE LEFT TANK. HE DECIDED TO FLY A NO FLAP LANDING DUE TO LOW FUEL. HE WAS HIGH AND FAST ON FINAL, SO HE SLIPPED THE AIRCRAFT, LEFT WING LOW. HE COULD NOT LAND SAFELY, SO HE EXECUTED A GO AROUND, AND THE ENGINE DID NOT RESPOND. HE ATTEMPTED A TURN BACK TO THE AIRPORT FOR A FORCED LANDING. WHILE IN THE TURN, THE AIRCRAFT STRUCK A FENCE, THEN COLLIDED WITH THE GROUND. THE CESSNA 210 PILOT'S MANUAL STATES THAT PROLONGED SIDESLIPS CAN RESULT IN UNPORTING OF THE FUEL SYSTEM, AND FUEL STARVATION. THERE CAN BE UP TO 10 GALLONS OF UNUSABLE FUEL IN THE SYSTEM WHEN LEVEL FLIGHT IS NOT MAINTAINED. THE ENGINE POWER LOSS OCCURRED ABOUT 35 MINUTES INTO THE ACCIDENT FLIGHT.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time16:00 CST
Nearest AirportSmithville Muni (1nm WSW)
Runway24
Runway Length4100 ft
Runway Width75 ft
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftCessna 210
Tail NumberN7479E
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageSubstantial
OperatorLove Carl C
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsContinental · IO-470-E · Reciprocating · 260
Seats4

People & Injuries

Injury Summary2 injuries (1 serious injury, 1 minor injury)
Fatal0
Serious1
Minor1
Uninjured0
Total2
Crew 1Age 54 · Third Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind160° @ 9 kt
Visibility3 sm
CeilingOvercast 1600 ft
Temperature / Dew Point43 C / 30 C
Altimeter30.00 inHg
Observation Time21:52
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data