On February 23, 1996, a Cessna P210N (registration N90AD) operated by Robert H. Kline was involved in an aviation accident near Hazard, KY. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: Failure of the engine crankshaft. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.
A pilot reported a total loss of engine power at 6,000 feet MSL. Despite restart attempts, a forced landing was made in a strip mine, resulting in substantial aircraft damage. An engine teardown revealed a crankshaft failure near the two rear cylinders.
Incident Overview
The pilot of the airplane reported that while cruising at 6,000 feet mean sea level (MSL), the engine suddenly lost all power. The pilot attempted to restart the engine by switching fuel tanks and activating the boost pumps, but these efforts were unsuccessful. A forced landing was executed in a strip mine, where the aircraft came to rest with substantial damage.
Investigation Findings
An Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector examined the engine after the incident. A teardown of the engine revealed that the crankshaft had failed in the vicinity of the two rear cylinders. The engine had accumulated 913 hours of operation since its last major overhaul.