2009 Cessna T 210 N water landing in the Gulf of Girolata (N442SF)

Accident overview and flight details On 12 October 2009, a privately owned Cessna T 210 N, registration N442SF, departed Propriano aerodrome runway 28 at approximately 11:25 UTC for a private flight to Cannes. The aircraft carried one pilot and five passengers. A VFR flight plan was filed, and the pilot activated the plan with Ajaccio flight information service at 11:27 UTC. The aircraft was cleared to flight level 65 and later authorized to proceed directly to the LONSU waypoint. Around 11:50 UTC, the pilot reported a drop in engine speed and a slowing aircraft. He observed reduced manifold pressure and an abnormally high fuel flow. He informed the Ajaccio controller that the engine was no longer functioning, turned right, disengaged the autopilot, and set a speed between 95 and 100 knots. He selected a southeast heading to use tailwind and approach the coast, and made several attempts to restart the engine. ## Emergency handling and water landing During the emergency, a professional flight attendant seated in the front right passenger seat had all passengers put on life jackets and helped the pilot with his. She reminded occupants of the impact position and had them unbuckle their seat belts; the pilot did not hear this and remained belted. At 11:53 UTC, the controller announced that search and rescue services were being alerted. Around 500 feet, the pilot opened both doors, stopped restart attempts, set full flaps, and decided not to extend the landing gear. At 11:55:56 UTC, when asked whether he wanted to squawk 7700, he replied that he was at a height of 5 meters and was going to land on the water. The aircraft water-landed at 11:56 UTC in the Gulf of Girolata. ## Occupants, injuries, and aircraft condition The pilot was a 34-year-old man with an ATPL and extensive experience, including about 1,900 hours on piston-engine aircraft. The five passengers included a 67-year-old man, a 64-year-old woman, a 41-year-old man holding a PPL, a 28-year-old professional flight attendant, and a 23-year-old man. No fatalities or serious injuries were reported; the pilot and all five passengers had minor or no injuries. The aircraft did not break apart on impact and sank shortly after the water landing. The estimated water depth at the site was 1,200 meters. No attempt was made to recover the wreckage. The aircraft was a single-engine, high-wing Cessna T 210 N Centurion, serial number 210-63835, first placed in service in 1979, with 4,949 hours of use as of the accident date. It was equipped with a Continental TSIO-520 SER turbosupercharged engine, serial number 293843-R, installed in June 2000.