Swanton, OH, USA
N5452V
Cessna 210N
The airplane was on approach to land after a flight of about 4.5 hours, when it experienced a total loss of engine power. The pilot was not able to restart the engine and performed a forced landing to a field. During the landing, the nose gear sheared off, and the airplane flipped over. Examination of the airplane, which included the ignition and fuel systems, did not reveal any pre-impact mechanical malfunctions. It was noted that the right fuel tank was compromised and an undetermined amount of fuel was observed leaking from the fuel tank. The left fuel tank was intact and empty. There was no evidence of a fuel spill in the area around the left fuel tank. The pilot reported that he conducted the flight alternating between the right and left fuel tanks, and the left fuel tank was selected at the time the engine lost power.
On October 26, 2003, about 1520 eastern standard time, a Cessna 210N, N5452V, was substantially damaged during a forced landing in Swanton, Ohio, while on approach to the Toledo Express Airport (TOL), Toledo, Ohio. The certificated private pilot sustained minor injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and an instrument flight rules flight plan had been filed for the flight that departed the Norwood Memorial Airport (OWD), Norwood, Massachusetts. The personal flight was conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. The pilot reported that the airplane was cleared for a visual approach to runway 25, and he began a decent from 3,000 feet. As the pilot lowered the landing gear, the airplane experienced a total loss of engine power. The pilot switched the fuel selector position from the left tank to the right tank, and activated the auxiliary fuel pump. The pilot was not able to restart the engine and performed a forced landing to a field about 2 miles east of TOL. During the landing, the nose gear sheared off, and the airplane flipped over. Examination of the airplane by a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector did not reveal any pre-impact mechanical malfunctions. Rotation of both magnetos produced spark on all twelve spark plug electrodes. The auxiliary fuel pump was activated and a "short burst of fuel" was observed in the inlet hose to the fuel distributor. The right fuel tank was compromised and an undetermined amount of fuel was observed leaking from the fuel tank. The left fuel tank was intact and empty. There was no evidence of a fuel spill in the area around the left fuel tank. According to an FAA air traffic control summary, the pilot departed OWD about 1040, and was cleared for the visual approach to runway 25, at 1516. The pilot reported he topped off the airplane's fuel tanks with 38.3 gallons of aviation gasoline prior to takeoff. The pilot further stated he conducted the flight alternating between the right and left fuel tanks.
The pilot's improper fuel tank selection, which resulted in fuel starvation, and subsequent loss of engine power.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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