Accident Overview
On May 17, 2010, at approximately 1853 central daylight time, a Cessna P206B, registration N50LP, was substantially damaged following an impact with terrain near Spring Branch, Texas. The private pilot and passenger sustained minor injuries. The airplane was owned and operated by a private individual. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed for the personal flight conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. The local flight had departed Kestrel Airpark (1T7) in San Antonio, Texas, at 1756.
Flight and Forced Landing
According to a telephone interview with the pilot, the flight was a maintenance test flight and the airplane was returning to the airfield. While descending through 2,500 feet mean sea level, the engine abruptly lost total power. The pilot switched fuel tanks and attempted to restart the engine but was unsuccessful. A distress call was radioed to the airport and received by personnel. Due to proximity to the ground, the pilot ceased further engine troubleshooting and elected to perform a forced landing in an open field. During the landing, a row of trees obstructed the path; the pilot maneuvered but the airplane impacted terrain. Damage occurred to the fuselage and wing spar. During recovery, the crew drained approximately 10 gallons of fuel from the right fuel tank and found the left fuel tank empty.
Investigation Findings
The National Transportation Safety Board examined the wreckage with technical assistance from Cessna Aircraft and Teledyne Continental Motors. Engine examination revealed no anomalies that would have precluded normal operation. Examination of the fuel system identified debris partially obstructing the filter of the fuel mixture unit. No other filters contained this debris, and its source could not be determined. Fuel lines from the auxiliary fuel pump to the fuel manifold were open and absent of fuel, though fuel was present in the manifold. No other airframe anomalies were found. A review of GPS data showed the pilot departed at 1756, flew toward Hondo and then north to Boerne before attempting to return to 1T7. The last GPS point recorded 65 knots, 68 feet above ground level, descending at approximately 700 feet per minute. Maintenance records were not recovered, and the most recent annual inspection could not be determined. The owner did not submit a required NTSB form prior to completion of the investigation.