Accident Details
Probable Cause and Findings
The pilot's inadequate fuel planning and in-flight fuel monitoring, which resulted in a total loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion.
Aircraft Information
Registered Owner (Historical)
Analysis
***This report was modified on July 2, 2020. Please see the docket for this accident to view the original report.***
On April 15, 2017, about 1150 central daylight time, a Cessna 210 airplane, N7358E, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Minden Airport (MNE) Minden, Louisiana. The pilot and passenger were not injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations 91 personal flight.
The pilot reported he planned to fly to MNE, then to the Thomas P Stafford Airport (OJA),Weatherford, Oklahoma. As he approached MNE, he listened to the AWOS (Automated Weather Reporting Station) and set up for a left turn to runway 19. About 1,500 ft and 3 miles from the runway, the engine rpms dropped and the engine lost power. He reported he immediately switched fuel tanks; from the right to the left tank, which indicated a little over a quarter of a tank and activated the fuel boost pump. Engine power was not restored, and he selected a hay field for the forced landing.
The responding Federal Aviation Administration inspector noted the airplane's left wing had impacted a tree during the landing. The airplane also had a collapsed nose wheel and a bent right main landing gear. Visual inspection of the airplane noted that engine's oil dip stick indicated a minimal amount of oil, the right fuel tank contained about 3 inches of fuel, and the left fuel tank contained about 1.5 inches of fuel.
During recovery of the accident airplane, the recovery crew drained about 5 gallons of fuel from each wing. The airplane was transported back to Oklahoma where a mechanic attached a fuel line to the airplane's right-side fuel line and operated the fuel boost pump. The engine started and ran normally.
A review of the airplane's maintenance records revealed the annual maintenance inspection had expired on February 28, 2017. A review of the airplane's TCDS (Type Certificate Data Sheet), revealed the airplane was equipped with two wing fuel tanks for a total capacity of 65 gallons and 55 gallons useable.
Data Source
Data provided by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). For more information on this event, visit the NTSB Records Search website. NTSB# CEN17LA157