Cessna T210N Safety Record

FUEL EXHAUSTION, THE PILOT IN COMMAND'S FAILURE TO REFUEL EN ROUTE AND THE INABILITY OF THE PILOT IN COMMAND TO AVOID THE FENCE DURING THE LANDING ROLL. FACTORS CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WERE DARK NIGHT CONDITIONS AND THE FENCE.

AN INADEQUATE MAJOR ENGINE OVERHAUL PROCEDURE, DURING WHICH PREVIOUS CRANKSHAFT DAMAGE WAS NOT DETECTED. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS A SURFACE INITIATED FATIGUE FAILURE OF THE ENGINE CRANKSHAFT.

THE UNDER TORQUE OF THE CRANKCASE THROUGH BOLTS DURING OVERHAUL CAUSING; 1) THE NUMBER 2 MAIN BEARING TO SPIN, 2) THE RESULTANT BLOCKAGE OF THE INTERNAL OIL PASSAGE, AND 3) THE OIL STARVATION INDUCED FAILURE OF THE NUMBER 2 CONNECTING ROD AND CAP. A FACTOR IN THE ACCIDENT WAS THE UNSUITABLE NATURE OF THE TERRAIN WHICH MADE A SUCCESSFUL FORCED LANDING IMPOSSIBLE.

THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO FLARE THE AIRPLANE DUE TO HIS REDUCED FORWARD VISIBILITY. FACTORS WERE: THE PILOT'S IMPROPER FUEL CONSUMPTION CALCULATIONS, HIS FAILURE TO PROCEED TO AN ALTERNATE AIRPORT, FUEL EXHAUSTION, AND WEATHER CONDITIONS INCLUDING SNOW, FOG, AND OBSCURATION.

POOR MAINTENANCE REPAIR AND ANNUAL INSPECTION BY THE COMPANY'S MAINTENANCE PERSONNEL AND THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND'S MISJUDGING ALTITUDE. CONTRIBUTING TO THIS ACCIDENT WAS THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND INTENTIONAL STALL, IMPROPER EMERGENCY PROCEDURE, SELECTION OF UNSUITABLE TERRAIN FOR THE FORCED LANDING AND THE MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN.

THE PILOT'S ATTEMPT TO CONDUCT HIS VISUAL FLIGHT INTO INSTRUMENT METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS AND THE LOSS OF AIRCRAFT CONTROL BY BECOMING SPATIAL DISORIENTED. THE LOW CEILINGS AND THE DARK NIGHT THAT EXISTED IN THE AREA WERE FACTORS IN THE ACCIDENT.

AN INFLIGHT LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE AIRPLANE DUE TO THE PILOT'S PHYSICAL IMPAIRMENT FROM THE CONSUMPTION OF ALCOHOL. A FACTOR WHICH CONTRIBUTED TO THE ACCIDENT WAS AN INOPERATIVE VACUUM SYSTEM.

FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO ATTAIN THE PROPER TOUCHDOWN POINT DURING THE LANDING, HER DELAY IN INITIATING A GO-AROUND (ABORTED LANDING), AND HER FAILURE TO REMAIN CLEAR OF POWER LINES ON RISING TERRAIN DURING THE ABORTED LANDING. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: HIGH DENSITY ALTITUDE, RISING TERRAIN AND THE OBSTACLE (POWER LINE) OFF THE DEPARTURE END OF THE RUNWAY, THE PILOT'S LACK OF EXPERIENCE IN SHORT FIELD OPERATIONS AT HIGH DENSITY ALTITUDE, AND INADEQUATE SURVEILLANCE BY COMPANY/OPERATOR MANAGEMENT.

THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND'S IMPROPER IFR PROCEDURE WHICH RESULTED IN DESCENT BELOW THE MINIMUM DESCENT ALTITUDE. CONTRIBUTINGFACTOR(S) WAS: THE FOG AND LOW CEILING.

THE PILOT'S POOR JUDGEMENT, HIS INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT PLANNING/PREPARATION, AND HIS SELECTION OF THE TAXIWAY (WRONG RUNWAY) FOR TAKEOFF. CONTRIBUTING FACTORS WERE: THE PILOT'S PHYSICAL CONDITION (FATIGUE), HIS SELF INDUCED PRESSURE, THE WEATHER CONDITIONS, AND THE UNEVEN TERRAIN.

FUEL STARVATION, AFTER THE PILOT DIVERTED HIS ATTENTION TO AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM, AND HIS FAILURE TO REPOSITION THE FUEL SELECTOR SWITCH, EITHER BEFORE THE ENGINE LOST POWER OR DURING EMERGENCY PROCEDURES. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: THE TRIPPED ALTERNATOR CIRCUIT BREAKER, AND HIGH OBSTRUCTIONS IN THE EMERGENCY LANDING AREA.