History of Flight
On May 21, 2012, at about 2110 Pacific daylight time, a Cessna P210N, registration N732JL, impacted a power pole and tree during a forced landing and came to rest inverted in the front yard of a residence near Glendale, California. The co-owner/pilot, operating under 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91, sustained minor injuries; the airplane sustained substantial damage. The personal cross-country flight departed Phoenix, Arizona, around 1810 mountain standard time, with a planned destination of Van Nuys, California. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed.
The pilot reported that while descending below 9,000 feet mean sea level, he experienced severe engine surging and a partial loss of engine power. The surging occurred multiple times before he declared an emergency to air traffic controllers and requested the nearest airport. The controller identified El Monte Airport as the nearest, located behind and to the south, and Bob Hope Airport ahead. Familiar with Bob Hope, the pilot chose to aim for that airport. However, as he neared the airport, he realized he could not reach it due to altitude loss. He attempted to land on a quiet street but did not see power lines until it was too late.
The airplane struck trees and a telephone/power pole at the northwest corner of Cleveland Road and Glenwood Road in Glendale. It continued westbound, hitting another oak tree and a vehicle, before coming to rest inverted in a front yard on Glenwood Road. The National Transportation Safety Board investigator-in-charge documented the accident site prior to aircraft recovery.
Aircraft Information
The engine was a Continental Motors TSIO-520 P6B, serial number 513947. Total time recorded on the engine at the last annual inspection was 375.6 hours, with the same time since major overhaul. Fueling records at Phoenix indicated the airplane was last fueled on May 21, 2012, with 40 gallons of 100-octane aviation fuel. Examination of logbook records for the airplane and engine revealed no recent maintenance issues.
Wreckage and Impact Information
The debris field measured approximately 120 feet in length from the first identified point of impact to the main wreckage. A strong odor of aviation fuel was present at the accident site. The recovery company recovered fuel in the right wing tanks, while the left wing tanks were breached during the accident sequence.
Tests and Research
The pilot reported refueling the airplane to capacity prior to departure with 40 gallons of 100 LL Avgas. Investigators examined the wreckage at Aircraftsman, Inc., in Chino, California, on June 11, 2012. The airframe and engine showed no mechanical anomalies that would have precluded normal operation. The engine and turbocharger system components were subsequently removed and sent to the manufacturers for further examination.
Teledyne Continental Motors personnel examined the engine in Mobile, Alabama, on August 23, 2012. The engine was started and ran for several minutes at various power settings with no noted mechanical anomalies. The examination report is part of the official docket. On August 24, 2012, components from the turbocharger system—including the Absolute Pressure Controller, Waste Gate Assembly, and Pressure Relief Valve—were tested at Hartzell Engine Technologies in Montgomery, Alabama. Functional testing revealed no anomalies that would have precluded normal operation.
No probable cause was determined in the source material.