History of Flight
On October 21, 2009, at 1609 mountain daylight time, a Cessna T210G, registration N6869R, experienced a total loss of engine power during a southbound climb following a 1601 takeoff from the Provo Municipal Airport, Provo, Utah. The pilot reversed course and attempted to return to the airport. The airplane impacted upsloping terrain adjacent to an airport perimeter road while on short final approach to runway 36. The airplane was substantially damaged, and the commercial certificated pilot, who was the sole airplane occupant, was killed. The airplane was owned and operated by Six Nine Romeo, LLC, Provo. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the business flight, and no flight plan was filed. The flight was performed under 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91.
The airplane's owner had taken the airplane to Central Utah Aviation in Provo about two weeks before the accident for an annual inspection. On the morning of the accident, the owner and an acquaintance drove to Provo to pick up the airplane to fly it back to Spanish Fork, and then the accident pilot would fly them back to Provo and return the airplane to Spanish Fork. The owner reported that he did not visually confirm fuel quantity in the tanks, noting the gauges had always been accurate. The left tank gauge showed approximately three-quarters full, the right tank nearly full.
They departed Provo en route to Spanish Fork. The owner found the seat back would not stay upright and the seat would occasionally slip backward. During landing at Spanish Fork, the pilot's seat slipped all the way back, causing a bounced landing. He taxied to where the accident pilot was waiting and did not shut down the engine as the pilot entered. The pilot noted the seats had been installed in the wrong positions. They departed and flew around before heading back to Provo to correct the seat issue. The owner said they landed about 1520, taxied to Central Utah Aviation, and met the facility manager. The manager had the seats switched back. The owner and his passenger left by car while the accident pilot waited for the seats to be fixed.
The manager reported that on September 25, 2009, the accident pilot brought the airplane for an annual inspection, completed on October 19. After completion, he moved the airplane to the ramp, started the engine without difficulty, and noted the fuel selector on the left tank. The left tank gauge read about one needle width over one-quarter full, and the right tank gauge read at or a little above one-half full.
On October 21, about 1420, the owner picked up the airplane and took off. The owner, his female passenger, and the accident pilot returned later that afternoon. The owner reported the seat problem. The manager confirmed the seats had been installed backwards and had them corrected. The owner and his passenger left by car, and the accident pilot got into the airplane and took off. The manager did not know if the pilot performed a preflight inspection but was certain he did not use the ladder to visually inspect fuel quantity.
An on-duty Provo airport air traffic controller reported that at 1608, the airplane was a few miles south of the airport and the pilot stated he had lost all engine power. The controller cleared the pilot to land on any runway. The controller watched the approach and noted nothing unusual regarding descent, no unusual maneuvering, and no smoke trailing.
A student and instructor flying nearby in a helicopter heard the emergency declaration and were over the crash site within 5 minutes. They landed and the student went to render assistance. He reported no fuel smell and no evidence of leaking fuel.
Two Provo Fire Department firefighters among the first responders reported no fuel leaking during their time on scene.
Pilot Information
The pilot, age 30, held a commercial pilot certificate with ratings for airplane single engine land and instruments, issued May 14, 2007, and a certified flight instructor certificate for airplane single engine and instruments, issued July 29, 2009. He held a first-class medical certificate issued June 11, 2008, with the limitation that correcting lenses must be worn. His personal flight records disclosed a total logged time of 2,015 hours, with several hundred hours in the accident airplane. He was an active flight instructor and had flown over 160 hours in the past 90 days.
Aircraft Information
The Cessna T210G, serial number T210-0269, was manufactured in 1967. The airframe had accumulated 3,739 total hours. An annual inspection was endorsed as completed on October 4, 2009. The engine was a Continental TSIO-520-H-C-C, serial number 506830, with 2,809 total hours and 1,166 hours since major overhaul. The airplane had two 45-gallon fuel tanks, one in each wing. The fuel selector had LEFT, OFF, and RIGHT positions. The aircraft was equipped with a J. P. Instruments EDM-700/800 engine monitor.
Wreckage and Impact
The airplane's belly initially impacted concrete slabs on the south embankment of the Dike Road, then came to rest on the road about 30 feet north of the point of initial impact, less than 50 feet east of runway 36's extended centerline and about 760 feet south of the landing threshold. First responders found the fuel selector valve positioned to the right fuel tank; they moved it to OFF. Examination revealed an estimated 10 gallons of fuel in the left wing tank. Drops of fuel were found in the engine's gascolator and fuel manifold valve; several ounces in some fuel lines, others dry. No fuel was observed in the right wing tank. The right wing's forward fuel supply line to the header tank was found broken open at its header tank connection; the area was impact damaged. No fuel was found on the ground beneath this line. No evidence of fuel was reported by first responders beneath the right side of the airplane. The fuel tank quantity sending units in both tanks showed no discrepancies.
Tests and Research
Engine examination: The engine was a Continental TSIO-520-H-C-C. The engine cowling was damaged; propeller damaged. An oil puddle was near the forward right side. The fuel supply line from boost pump to fuel pump contained no fuel. The supply line from fuel control to manifold valve separated. The upper spark plugs had worn-out to normal wear conditions; carbon deposits on outer edges. Cylinders had light grey deposits. The crankshaft rotated freely by hand about 10 degrees. Engine control continuity was obtained. During recovery, further examination found impact damage to exhaust components, a wastegate hydraulic line leaked engine oil. The turbocharger shaft rotated freely, blades undamaged. The fuel pump was disassembled and contained fuel. The fuel control unit had impact damage. The fuel manifold valve contained fuel; screen had light debris; diaphragm undamaged. Cylinder overhead components were lubricated and undamaged. Compression and valve continuity were obtained; magneto impulse coupling engaged and spark was obtained. Gear continuity was obtained. Fuel lines from manifold valve to nozzles were free of debris; nozzles free of debris. Propeller assembly had impact damage.
EDM-700/800 data: The unit recorded approximately 11 hours of data over 11 power cycles. The accident flight was the last, duration about 13 minutes. At about 16:01:30, engine RPM increased to 2,500 rpm. A slight reduction to 2,460 rpm at 16:05:18. At 16:06:12, RPM reduced to about 1,570 rpm. At 16:08:12, RPM increased momentarily to 2,490 rpm then decreased to 900 rpm. About 40 seconds prior to the RPM decrease, fuel flow began dropping from 30 gph to zero. Coincident with fuel flow decrease, exhaust gas temperatures rose 250 degrees before falling off. The recording ended at 16:09. The prior flight (from engine start to stop, as per owner from Provo to Spanish Fork and back) showed 65 minutes of engine run time.
Medical and Pathological Information
The pilot sustained fatal injuries; an autopsy attributed the cause of death to blunt force traumatic injury. Toxicological tests were negative for alcohol. Acetaminophen, Brompheniramine, Dextromethorphan, and Diphenhydramine were detected in blood and urine.