What happened
On June 3, 2015, a Cessna T210N Centurion II, registration N9533Y, was conducting a private flight from Angers-Marcé to Troyes-Barberey. During the descent from FL115, the engine stopped following a loss of fuel supply. After attempting standard restart procedures without success, the pilot diverted to the airfield at Montargis-Vimory.
The pilot executed a landing on runway 23(2), an unpaved strip, with the landing gear partially extended; specifically, the nose gear was locked down, but the main gear remained retracted. The aircraft came to a halt approximately 400 meters before the end of the runway, resulting in heavy damage to the airframe.
The investigation
The investigation focused on the fuel system and the landing gear configuration. Investigators found that both fuel tanks were empty at the time of the accident, and no fuel leaks were detected during the technical examination of the fuel circuit or the engine. The engine and fuel system showed no mechanical or technical malfunctions.
Regarding the landing gear, the hydraulic system and electric motor were found to be fully operational. The investigation also examined the pilot's recent flying history, noting that while the pilot had significant total experience, recent time on retractable gear aircraft was limited. Discrepancies were also noted between the pilot's fuel logs and actual fuel quantities, though a definitive calculation of fuel consumed over the preceding three days could not be established.
Findings
- The engine failure was caused by fuel exhaustion.
- The pilot relied primarily on an electronic fuel flow meter rather than performing visual fuel quantity checks, which are recommended by the flight manual.
- Operational factors, including a high frequency of flights over a three-day period for professional purposes, likely contributed to fuel management errors.
- The late deployment of the landing gear was attributed to the stress of the engine failure, the pilot's limited recent experience with retractable gear, and the power lever being positioned in a way that prevented the landing gear warning alarm from triggering.