N40RP

On August 29, 1999, at 0922 hours Pacific daylight time, a Cessna P210N, N40RP, was substantially damaged during an off-airport landing at North Las Vegas, Nevada. The pilot received minor injuries. The personal flight was operated by the pilot under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91. The pilot was practicing touch-and-go landings, and stated that as he was turning right base leg for runway 07 the engine became rough and quit. He declared an emergency and headed towards the runway. The airplane collided with a fence and power line in a residential area. The pilot stated that he had 45 gallons of fuel onboard, about 22 gallons each side. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. The flight originated at North Las Vegas at 0910 as a local area flight.

The pilot intended to perform a couple of landings and then perhaps fly east towards Boulder Dam, and then back to the airport. The first takeoff and landing was uneventful. He taxied back and was cleared for an immediate takeoff. The airplane climbed normally, reaching 3,000 feet. During the downwind, the engine began to run rough as he throttled back prior to turning base leg and died within a few seconds just as he turned base and deployed full flaps.

The pilot stated to a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector that he routinely used the auxiliary fuel pump for takeoff and would secure it after reaching pattern altitude. He stated that he thought he had turned the pump off but he was not absolutely sure. According to the airplane flight manual, the pump is not to be used for takeoff.

On September 23, 1999, the airplane was moved to an FAA Approved Repair Station at the accident location airport. Prior to a successful engine test run the spark plugs were removed and found to be fuel sooted.