Accident Overview
On April 15, 2017, about 1150 central daylight time, a Cessna 210 airplane, registration N7358E, was substantially damaged during a forced landing near Minden Airport (MNE) in Minden, Louisiana. The pilot and passenger were not injured. The flight was operated as a personal flight under Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91.
Sequence of Events
The pilot reported that he planned to fly to MNE and then to Thomas P Stafford Airport (OJA) in Weatherford, Oklahoma. As he approached MNE, he listened to the Automated Weather Reporting Station (AWOS) and set up for a left turn to runway 19. At about 1,500 feet and 3 miles from the runway, the engine rpm dropped and the engine lost power. He immediately switched fuel tanks from the right to the left tank, which indicated a little over a quarter of a tank, and activated the fuel boost pump. Engine power was not restored, and he selected a hay field for the forced landing.
Damage and Examination
The responding Federal Aviation Administration inspector noted that the airplane's left wing had struck a tree during the landing. The airplane also had a collapsed nose wheel and a bent right main landing gear. Visual inspection revealed that the engine oil dipstick indicated a minimal amount of oil, the right fuel tank contained about 3 inches of fuel, and the left fuel tank contained about 1.5 inches of fuel.
Post-Accident Inspection
During recovery, the recovery crew drained about 5 gallons of fuel from each wing. The airplane was transported to Oklahoma, where a mechanic attached a fuel line to the right-side fuel line and operated the fuel boost pump. The engine started and ran normally.
Maintenance Records
A review of the airplane's maintenance records revealed that the annual maintenance inspection had expired on February 28, 2017. A review of the Type Certificate Data Sheet (TCDS) indicated the airplane was equipped with two wing fuel tanks for a total capacity of 65 gallons and 55 gallons useable.
Probable Cause
The investigation did not determine a probable cause for the accident.