N90AD

On February 23, 1996, at 1315 eastern standard time (EST), a Cessna P210N, N90AD, lost engine power during descent, and made a forced landing near Hazard, Kentucky. The airplane sustained substantial damage during the forced landing. The certificated private pilot/registered owner, the sole occupant, received minor injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the flight, and an IFR flight plan was filed. The business flight operated under 14 CFR Part 91. The flight originated from Reading, Pennsylvania, at 1130 EST. The intended destination was London, Kentucky.

The pilot stated that the airplane was in cruise flight at 12,000 feet Mean Sea Level (MSL), when Air Traffic Control (ATC) issued a clearance to descend to 6,000 feet MSL. The pilot reported that approximately 2 minutes after he leveled the airplane at 6,000 feet MSL, he noticed that the fuel flow indicator started to fluctuate. He stated that about 30 seconds later "...the engine just quit, did not [sputter] or backfire, just quit." The pilot stated that he attempted to restart the engine, but was unsuccessful. The pilot made a forced landing in a strip mine.

The aircraft was examined after the accident by a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Inspector. The Inspector stated that there was about 40 gallons of aviation fuel on board the airplane. The airplane was removed from the accident site, and an engine teardown was conducted. The FAA Inspector stated that the engine teardown revealed that the crankshaft had failed in the vicinity of the two rear cylinders. The pilot reported that the engine had operated 913 hours since major overhaul. The most recent maintenance inspection was an Annual Inspection, dated October 23, 1995.