What happened
On August 8, 2000, at approximately 22:00 CEST, a Cessna T 210 M departed from Salzburg for a flight to Reinsdorf with three passengers. During the climb on the SIMBA 1 S departure route, the aircraft reached an altitude of approximately 5,000 ft when the engine experienced a sudden loss of power. The pilot initially attempted to continue the flight after a brief period of power recovery, but a subsequent loss of power forced a decision to return to the airport.
Approximately 13 minutes after takeoff, while flying under visual flight rules (VFR) about 15 NM from Salzburg, the engine suffered a complete failure following irregular running and short interruptions. At an altitude of 3,500 ft, the pilot determined that the airport could not be reached via glide. The pilot elected to perform an emergency landing upstream in the Salzach River, which ran parallel to the aircraft's course. The pilot notified Salzburg Tower and prepared for the impact by retracting the landing gear, turning off electrical components, and opening the cabin doors. The aircraft landed in the river at night, and all four occupants successfully reached the riverbank by swimming.
The investigation
The BFU conducted an on-site investigation. Upon inspecting the wreckage after it was recovered from the river, investigators noted that the number 3 cylinder had detached from the engine. The investigation also revealed that several valve cover screws had unscrewed and intake manifold flange nuts were missing. Due to the nature of these findings, the public prosecutor's office was notified to investigate potential tampering.
However, a technical examination of the engine by aviation experts determined that the cylinder detachment was caused by the failure of a connecting rod bolt in the number 3 cylinder. The loose screws and missing nuts were attributed to intense vibrations caused by the mechanical failure rather than manual interference.