Sequence of Events
The pilot reported that the takeoff was uneventful. After reaching 1,000 feet above ground level, he began to level off to remain in the traffic pattern. He reduced manifold pressure and started leaning the fuel mixture for cruise using an engine analyzer. Following several communications with the tower, the pilot turned the vernier mixture control further in the lean direction. The engine then lost all power without warning.
According to the passenger, the engine fuel flow gauge indicated no fuel flow, and the fuel mixture control was found in the idle cut-off position. The pilot activated the auxiliary fuel pump in an attempt to restart the engine but did not adjust the mixture control. The pilot executed a forced landing onto terrain covered with sand dunes that were 2 to 4 feet high.
Pilot Background
The pilot had accumulated 15 hours of flight experience in this airplane type and had not flown the aircraft in the preceding 90 days.
Post-Accident Examination
The engine was removed and placed on a test stand. It operated normally throughout its full operating range without any difficulties. Subsequently, the manufacturer revised the emergency procedure checklist for later model T210 aircraft to include the instruction to "mixture lean from full rich until restart occurs."