Aviation Accident Summaries

Aviation Accident Summary MIA00LA207

BOONE, NC, USA

Aircraft #1

N7VZ

Cessna P210N

Analysis

During takeoff rotation, engine power decreased and the pilot heard an unusual noise from the engine area. The pilot was unable to stop on the remaining runway and proceeded away from the airport and made a 180 degree turn to return to the airport. The engine did not produce enough power to return to the runway and the aircraft was landed in the grass adjacent to the runway. During rollout the nose landing gear collapsed and the aircraft impacted a mound of dirt where it came to rest. Post crash examination of the aircraft by an FAA inspector showed the engine inter-cooler system, which had been installed in accordance with an STC, was loose at the worn single attach point and the rubber duct from the inter-cooler to the engine was split about 50% around, causing turbocharged air to be exhausted overboard. The aircraft had received an annual inspection about 1 flight hour before the accident. Documents for the inter-cooler system did not give any directions for inspecting the system.

Factual Information

On July 7, 2000, about 1100 eastern daylight time, a Cessna P210N, N7VZ, registered to Donatech Corporation, crashed while attempting to land, following loss of engine power during takeoff from Boone Airport, Boone, North Carolina, while on a Title 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan was filed. The aircraft received substantial damage and the private-rated pilot received serious injuries. The two passengers received minor injuries. The flight was originating at the time of the accident. The pilot stated that upon takeoff rotation, power significantly decreased and there was a noise from the engine at the same time. On climb-out, the engine power and noise oscillated and power reduced. The aircraft failed to climb. At this point he had insufficient runway left to land. He began to maneuver the aircraft for a 180-degree turn back to the runway. As the turn progressed he found he had not enough power to complete the turn in order to land on the runway. The aircraft landed adjacent to the runway onto the grassed area. The aircraft began to skid, the nose wheel collapsed and then continued to slide until it contacted a large mound of dirt upon which the aircraft came to rest. Postcrash examination of the aircraft by an FAA inspector and a representative of Teledyne Continental Motors showed that the aircraft and engine had been modified by the installation of a Riley International Corporation, Engine Inter-cooler System, in accordance with FAA Supplemental Type Certificates SA 2528 NM and SE 2529 NM. The single attach point for the inter-cooler had a worn bolt hole and the inter-cooler could be moved. The rubber duct which connects the outlet of the inter-cooler to the engine was split about 50% around, allowing turbocharged air to be exhausted overboard. The aircraft had received an annual inspection on June 13, 2000, about 1 flight hour before the accident. The Riley International Corporation, Airplane Flight Manual Supplement and Pilot Operating Handbook Appendix, did not give any instructions for inspection of the inter-cooler system.

Probable Cause and Findings

The failure of the inter-cooler duct connecting the inter-cooler to the engine due to inadequate attachment of the inter-cooler to the aircraft which resulted in loss of turbocharger air overboard and loss of engine power and damage to the aircraft during a forced landing. Contributing to the accident was inadequate inspection requirements for the inter-cooler system and inadequate inspection of the inter-cooler system by the mechanic during the last inspection.

 

Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database

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