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Aviation safety reports, made easier to study

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NTSB Report

June 29, 2003 · Cessna 210D · N3826Y

Carefree, AZ

Overview

Report Status
Final with probable cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
June 29, 2003
Injury Outcomes
2 injuries (2 serious injuries)
Location
Carefree, AZ
Aircraft
Cessna 210D
Tail Number
N3826Y
Injuries
Serious
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
LAX03LA216

The airplane lost engine power and made a forced landing on a road, encountered rough terrain, and nosed over. The pilot fueled the airplane with about 5 hours of fuel. After about 4 hours she contacted the tower and told them of her intention to land. Soon after, the engine failed. She switched tanks, the engine restarted, and then it quit again. She realized there must have been a fuel leak and radioed the tower to advise them of the engine failure. She attempted to land at a private airport; however, the airplane landed on a road and came to rest inverted. No fuel was discovered at the scene of the accident. A post accident inspection revealed a crack on the bottom of the elbow fitting, which was on the bottom of the gascolator. A Federal Aviation Administration inspector performed a test using soap and water. At 3 to 5 pounds of pressure, the assembly began bubbling at the crack, indicating a leak. The inspector noted blue stains along the bottom of the airplane. The inspector opined that the crack was the result of excessive torque used to tighten the fitting.

NTSB Probable Cause

fuel exhaustion due to a crack on the elbow fitting to the gascolator resulted in a fuel leak.

Full Narrative

On June 29, 2003, about 1030 mountain standard time, a Cessna 210D, N3826Y, lost engine power and made a forced landing near Carefree, Arizona. The pilot was operating the airplane under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91. The private pilot and one passenger sustained serious injuries; the airplane sustained substantial damage. The personal cross-country flight departed Nut Tree Airport (VCB), Vacaville, California, at 0615, en route to Scottsdale Airport (SDL), Scottsdale, Arizona. Day visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed. The primary wreckage was at 33 degrees 49 minutes north latitude and 111 degrees 54 minutes west longitude. In a written statement, the pilot reported that she fueled the airplane in Vacaville, and there was 5 hours of fuel on board. They departed Vacaville at 0615, and switched fuel tanks hourly during the flight. After about 4 hours, the pilot radioed Scottsdale tower with her intention to land. Suddenly, the engine stopped running. She switched fuel tanks, and it restarted. Shortly thereafter, it quit again. She realized that there must have been a fuel leak, and radioed the tower to advise them of the engine failure. She made an emergency landing attempt to Carefree Skyranch; however, the airplane landed on a road and came to rest inverted. In a phone conversation with the National Transportation Safety Board investigator-in-charge (IIC) the pilot reported that both fuel tanks were indicating empty at the same time. During the preflight, the pilot drained all of the fuel sumps and did not notice any staining along the bottom of the airplane. The pilot had flown this route several times before without incident. She cruised at 7, 500 feet mean sea level, using 2,200 rpm and 22 inches of manifold pressure. A post accident inspection by a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector revealed a crack on the bottom of the elbow fitting, which was on the bottom of the gascolator. He performed a test using soap and water. At 3 to 5 pounds of pressure, the assembly began bubbling at the crack, indicating a leak. The inspector felt that the crack was a result of an over torque. He also noted blue stains along the bottom of the airplane. The IIC completed a fuel burn analysis using the pilot operating handbook for the airplane. Based on power settings indicated by the pilot, the total fuel burn would have been approximately 53 gallons. The total usable fuel in the airplane was 63.4 gallons.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time10:30 MST
Nearest Airport0nm
Flight Plan FiledNone
Flight Plan ActivatedNo
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftCessna 210D
Tail NumberN3826Y
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageSubstantial
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsContinental · IO-520A · Reciprocating · 285
Seats6

People & Injuries

Injury Summary2 injuries (2 serious injuries)
Fatal0
Serious2
Minor0
Uninjured0
Total2
Crew 1Age 70 · Third Class · Serious

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind250° @ 8 kt
Visibility10 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point50
Altimeter29.90 inHg
Observation Time17:53
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data