Cessna T210F N6107R accident near Desdemona, Texas

Probable cause

The total loss of engine power due to the fuel pump’s fuel flow setting being set too high, which resulted in an excessive fuel flow to the engine.

NTSB analysis

The private pilot was conducting a personal cross-country flight. He stated that the engine began running roughly during cruise flight. He leaned the mixture, and the engine roughness subsided; however, a few minutes later, the engine began running roughly again. He switched fuel tanks, but the engine continued running roughly. Shortly thereafter, the engine lost all power. The pilot subsequently conducted a forced landing in a soft, sandy field, and the airplane nosed over.

A postaccident engine test-run revealed that the engine would not maintain power and that the fuel flow was excessive. A subsequent bench test of the fuel pump revealed that the pump was set to a high fuel flow setting, beyond the engine’s normal limits. The fuel pump was adjusted and reinstalled on the engine for another test-run. During the second test-run, the engine operated smoothly at a stabilized fuel flow within the operating limits for the engine. Given this evidence, it is likely that the engine lost power due the fuel pump’s flow setting being set to high, which resulted in an excessive fuel flow to the engine.

Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for CEN18LA229 for the full record.