Cessna T210 N5553C accident near Waxahachie, Texas

Probable cause

The partial loss of engine power due to water and contaminants in the fuel, due to the pilot’s inadequate preflight inspection, and the pilot’s decision to conduct a steep turn at low altitude to return to the runway rather than land straight ahead, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall.

NTSB analysis

The pilot was departing on a cross-country flight; witnesses reported that the engine did not sound like it was producing full power. The pilot stated that he did not feel it was safe to land straight ahead due to the terrain. While the airplane was still at a low altitude, the pilot made a slight right turn and then a steep left downwind turn, and the airplane descended nose-down into terrain. The airplane cartwheeled, resulting in the engine separating from the fuselage and substantial damage to the left wing.

Postaccident examination of the airplane found water and contaminants in the fuel divider and multiple fuel injector lines and multiple cups of water and contaminants were sumped from the header fuel tanks. A mechanic who was familiar with the airplane reported that before the accident flight, the pilot sumped a large amount of water from the fuel tanks but did not follow the mechanic’s recommendation to taxi the airplane around or to conduct an extended preflight run-up of the engine before takeoff. The airplane had been primarily stored outdoors and had only been operated 0.2 hour in the last 8 months. No other mechanical anomalies were noted with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operations.

Witnesses stated there was runway ahead on the 6,500 ft runway and a clearway beyond the runway for a straight-ahead emergency landing, but the pilot said he was concerned with the creek and trees in front of him.

It is likely that during the pilot’s preflight preparations, he did not detect and remove the large amounts of water and contaminants in the fuel system, which prevented the engine from operating normally and resulted in a partial loss of engine power. Further, the pilot’s decision to attempt to return to the airport by conducting a steep turn resulted in an aerodynamic stall and impact with terrain.

Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for CEN20LA132 for the full record.