What happened
On January 14, 2014, a Cessna 210J, registration N3320S, experienced a loss of engine power approximately 1 mile from Dodge City Airport (DDC) in Kansas. The flight had departed from Wellington Municipal Airport (EGT) for a cross-country trip under visual meteorological conditions.
During the flight, the pilot initially flew using the left fuel tank. After 20 minutes of flight at 4,50 and feet, the pilot switched to the right fuel tank. The pilot observed the right tank gauge dropping rapidly, reaching near empty about 8 to 10 miles from the destination. The pilot then switched back to the left fuel tank and began a left downwind pattern for runway 32. As the aircraft transitioned to the base leg, the engine lost power. Despite attempts to restart the engine using the fuel boost pump and switching back to the right tank, the engine failed to restart. The pilot performed a forced landing, and the aircraft impacted the ground just short of a county road. The accident resulted in one serious injury and two minor injuries, with no fatalities.
The investigation
An FAA inspector's on-scene examination revealed the engine had mostly detached from the airframe and was lying on the ground in front of the aircraft. The landing gear was extended, and the flaps were set to 20 degrees. The fuel selector valve was found in the position for the left wing tank. The three-bladed propeller blades were bent upward from the impact but lacked curling or twisting, suggesting the engine was not producing power at the time of impact.
While the airframe gascolator contained enough fuel to fill its bowl, no fuel was observed leaking from the disconnected fuel feeder line. Post-crash disassembly showed that neither wing tank contained any remaining fuel. An aircraft mechanic on the scene reported no odor of aviation gasoline in the immediate area.