Pilot Debrief

CESSNA T210N near Colorado Springs, CO — 2018-04-15

Final reportCEN18LA142
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Date
2018-04-15
Location
Colorado Springs, CO, USA
Airport
KCOS
Aircraft
CESSNA T210N
Registration
N6988N
Category
Airplane
Highest injury
Minor
Fatalities
0
Phase of flight
Approach

Probable cause

The pilot's inadequate in-flight fuel management, which resulted in a total loss of engine power due to fuel starvation.

NTSB narrative

The airline transport pilot reported that, as the flight neared the destination airport, the engine experienced a total loss of power. The pilot switched from the left fuel tank to the right tank and turned the auxiliary boost pump on, which restored engine power momentarily. Shortly thereafter, the engine again experienced a total loss of power and the pilot performed a forced landing. Postaccident examination revealed no useable fuel in the left tank, an estimated 20 to 25 gallons in the right tank, and no evidence of fuel contamination. Examination and test run of the engine revealed no mechanical anomalies that would have precluded normal operation. Although the turbocharger manifold exhibited a crack around its circumference, the crack would not have appreciably degraded engine performance at the altitude at which the airplane was flying when the loss of power occurred. Given the lack of fuel in the left wing tank and the fact that the engine operated without anomalies during postaccident testing, it is likely that the loss of engine power was the result of fuel starvation due to the pilot's mismanagement of the available fuel.

Analysis

Primary failure mode
Engine power loss
First missed decision gate
Pilot could have checked fuel levels before approach to prevent power loss.

NTSB coding

Evidence available

  • Photos
  • 2 docket documents
View NTSB final reportView NTSB docket

Docket documents2

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