Accident Overview
On May 7, 2009, at 1435 Pacific daylight time, a Cessna T210G, registration N2722T, landed short of runway 32R and nosed over at Sonoma County Airport in Santa Rosa, California. The airline transport pilot was operating under Part 91 of the Federal Aviation Regulations. The pilot and two passengers sustained minor injuries, and the airplane sustained substantial damage. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed.
Pilot Account
According to the pilot's statement to a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector, the airplane was on final approach for runway 32R at 400 to 500 feet above ground level when he advanced the throttle to add power, but the engine did not respond. He then focused on maintaining airspeed above the stall and executed a landing short of the runway. During the landing, the nose wheel sank into wet, soft ground, causing the airplane to nose over.
Post-Accident Examination
An FAA inspector who arrived shortly after the accident reported that fuel was present in both wing fuel tanks, and the throttle linkage from the cockpit to the throttle body remained connected. No evidence of external fuel or engine oil leaks was found. The pilot subsequently reported in the NTSB Pilot Aircraft Accident Report that he had experienced vapor lock on three previous flights since owning the airplane.
A technical representative from Teledyne Continental Motors examined the engine under FAA supervision. The examination revealed no anomalies that would have precluded normal operation. The engine was started using the airplane's starter and fueled by the aircraft's fuel system. It ran at 1,000 rpm for five minutes, then at 1,800 rpm for five minutes, with cylinder temperatures stabilizing in the green arc and oil temperatures rising slowly. The engine performed normally during several throttle bursts up to 2,400 rpm. With the fuel boost pump in the low position, throttle bursts to 2,300 rpm were also normal.
Maintenance History
Aircraft records indicated compliance with Cessna Owner Advisory SE81-33A, which addresses fuel vapor issues in Cessna 200 series aircraft. Cessna Service Kit SK210-100, a fuel system vent line modification, was not applicable to the accident aircraft's serial number.
Probable Cause
The accident investigation did not state a probable cause.