PACOIMA, CA, USA
N112DW
CESSNA T210M
DURING INITIAL CLIMB AFTER TAKEOFF THE AIRCRAFT EXPERIENCED A COMPLETE LOSS OF POWER. THE PILOT ATTEMPTED TO RETURN TO THE AIRPORT AND COLLIDED WITH A LARGE WAREHOUSE. THE AIRFRAME WAS TOTALLY CONSUMED IN THE POST CRASH FIRE. EXAMINATION OF THE ENGINE REVEALED THE SPARK PLUGS WERE EXCESSIVELY WORN WITH ELECTRODE GAPS MEASURED AT GREATER THAN .025 INCHES. MAXIMUM SERVICEABLE GAP FOR THE PLUGS IS .021 INCHES, WITH THE MOST DESIRED GAP RANGE FROM .016 TO .019. THE MAINTENANCERECORDS NOTED THAT THE LAST TIME NEW PLUGS WERE INSTALLED WAS IN NOVEMBER OF 1982, 493 HOURS PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT. THE PLUGS WERE RECONDITIONED IN JULY OF 1984, 392 HOURS PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT. THE PLUG MANUFACTURER INDICATES THAT GAPS IN EXCESS OF .025 REQUIRE EXCESSIVE VOLTAGE TO FIRE UNDER CYLINDER TEMPERATURE AND PRESSURE CONDITIONS AT TAKEOFF POWER.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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