Cessna P210 Safety Record

THE FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN A POSITIVE RATE OF CLIMB DURING THE NIGHT TAKEOFF. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: LACK OF VISUAL CUES, THE WEATHER CONDITIONS, AND THE DARK NIGHT.

THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE AIRCRAFT DUE TO SPATIAL DISORIENTATION, AND EXCEEDING THE DESIGN STRESS LIMITS OF THE AIRCRAFT. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: THE PILOT'S FLIGHT INTO KNOWN ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS, OVERCONFIDENCE IN HIMSELF AND THE AIRPLANE, FAILURE OF THE LEFT VACUUM PUMP, PARTIAL LOSS OF THE VACUUM SYSTEM, AND AN INOPERATIVE ATTITUDE INDICATOR.

the pilot's improper aircraft preflight inspection, and his failure to use pitot heat during the takeoff in icing conditions, which led to a blocked pitot tube. The blockage resulted in erroneous airspeed indications during the initial climb, which induced the pilot to reduce the aircraft pitch attitude to a point where the aircraft entered an uncorrected descent to ground impact.

the pilot's poor decision to continue flying the airplane with a known deficiency and the poorly performed major overhaul of the engine. The failed crankshaft due to fatigue are factors in this accident.

THE PILOT'S INADVERTENT STALL AND DESCENT INTO TERRAIN DURING A FORCED LANDING. RELATED FACTORS ARE THE MANUFACTURER'S UNDERTORQUED CRANKCASE HALVES AND INADEQUATE SURVEILLANCE, THE PILOT'S DELAY IN SETTING UP THE PROPER DESCENT RATE, AND THE ALTERED AIRCRAFT PERFORMANCE WITH THE SEPARATED PROPELLER ASSEMBLY.

1) A PARTIAL LOSS OF THE AIRPLANE'S VACUUM SYSTEM WHICH RESULTED IN THE TOTAL LOSS OF THE DIRECTIONAL GYRO AND THE ATTITUDE INDICATOR, 2) THE PILOT NOT MAINTAINING AIRCRAFT CONTROL DUE SPATIAL DISORIENTATION, AND 3) THE PILOT NOT CORRECTING FOR A SPIRAL BY USING PROPER RECOVERY TECHNIQUES WHICH RESULTED IN THE OVERLOAD FAILURE OF THE WINGS. A FACTOR IN THE ACCIDENT WAS THE PILOT'S LACK OF TOTAL INSTURMENT FLIGHT EXPEREINCE.

FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN CLEARANCE FROM TREES DURING AN APPROACH FOR A PRECAUTIONARY LANDING. HIS IMPROPER USE OF THE MIXTURE CONTROL WAS A RELATED FACTOR CONCERNING THE PARTIAL LOSS OF ENGINE POWER.

THE PILOT IN COMMAND'S INTENTIONAL FLIGHT WITH KNOWN MECHANICAL DEFICIENCIES IN THE AIRCRAFT WHICH RESULTED IN A FIRE & FORCED LANDING IN UNSUITABLE TERRAIN. A FACTOR CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS IMPROPER MAINTENANCE TO THE TURBOCHARGER WASTE GATE BY OTHER MAINTENANCE PERSONNEL.

IMPROPER FLARE BY THE PILOT, WHICH RESULTED IN A HARD LANDING. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: THE PILOT'S LACK OF RECENT EXPERIENCE AND THE UNFAVORABLE WIND CONDITION.

FAILURE OF THE #1 PISTON DUE TO PRE-IGNITION/DETONATION IN THE #1 CYLINDER, AND INADEQUATE VISUAL LOOKOUT BY THE PILOT (HIS FAILURE TO SEE-AND-AVOID THE OBSTRUCTION). THE OBSTRUCTION (POWER LINE) WAS A RELATED FACTOR.

LOSS OF ENGINE POWER DUE TO FUEL STARVATION. THE CAUSE OF THE ACCIDENT WAS THE PILOT DISPLAYED POOR INFLIGHT PLANNING BY NOT ADEQUATELY FOLLOWING PROCEDURES OR DIRECTIVES ASSOCIATED WITH FUEL CONSUMPTION.

THE PILOT'S IMPROPER USE OF POWEROLANT CONTROLS WHICH RESULTED IN AN EXCESSIVE RICH MIXTURE AND POWER LOSS. IN ADDITION, THE PILOT FAILED TO MAINTAIN ADEQUATE AIRSPEED DURING THE FORCED LANDING.

FUEL EXHAUSTION, DUE TO POOR PLANNING/DECISION, AND FUEL CONSUMPTION CALCULATIONS MISJUDGED BY THE PILOT IN COMMAND. THE FACT THAT THE RUNWAY LIGHTS WERE NOT OPERATING & THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED AT NIGHT WERE CONTRIBUTING FACTORS.

THE PILOT'S MISMANAGEMENT OF THE AVAILABLE FUEL SUPPLY WHICH RESULTED IN A TOTAL LOSS OF ENGINE POWER. THE FUEL SELECTOR WAS NOT POSITIONED TO THE TANK WHICH CONTAINED FUEL. CONTRIBUTING FACTOR(S) WAS: THE ROUGH TERRAIN ENCOUNTERED DURING THE FORCED LANDING.

AN UNDERTORQUED OIL LINE FITTING, DUE TO ITS IMPROPER INSTALLATION BY MAINTENANCE PERSONNEL, WHICH RESULTED IN A LOOSE OIL LINE FITTING, AN OIL LINE LEAK, OIL EXHAUSTION, AND SUBSEQUENT FAILURE OF THE ENGINE.