What happened
On November 12, 2010, a Cessna P 210 Centurion was conducting an IFR flight from Trollhättan, Sweden, to Grenchen, Switzerland. During the flight, the pilot encountered issues with the fuel transfer pump, which prevented the use of fuel stored in the fuselage tank.
At approximately 17:51, the pilot reported the first engine failure but managed to restart the engine. Despite being offered a diversion to nearby airports, the pilot continued toward the original destination. While descending through icing conditions at night, a second engine failure occurred at 18:25. The pilot reported that the engine was "coming and going" before losing all power. The aircraft subsequently performed an emergency landing in a hilly area southwest of Klettgau, Germany, striking obstacles between a road and a railway track. Both the pilot and the passenger sustained slight injuries.
The investigation
The BFU examined the aircraft's fuel system, the engine performance via the onboard EDM 800 data logger, and the pilot's recorded fuel management logs. Investigators tested the electrical transfer pump, which was found to be functioning according to manufacturer specifications. The investigation also reviewed radar data and air traffic control communications to reconstruct the flight sequence and fuel consumption.
Findings
- The pilot failed to divert to an alternative airport after identifying the fuel transfer malfunction.
- The pilot continued the flight despite a calculated fuel shortage that left no margin for a missed approach at the destination.
- The failure to interrupt the flight following the recognition of a fuel transfer problem was the primary cause of the accident.
- Contributing factors included nighttime operations, encountering icing conditions, and the potential presence of frozen condensation in the fuel lines or fuselage tank, which may have obstructed fuel flow.