Cessna 210 N7350E accident near Lake Arrowhead, California

Probable cause

A total loss of engine power due to a malfunction of the fuel flow manifold valve.

NTSB analysis

The pilot reported that the engine lost partial, then total, power while flying over mountainous terrain. The pilot initiated a forced landing to a clearing, during which the airplane collided with vegetation and came to rest upright on a steep slope, resulting in substantial damage.

Examination of the airplane revealed that the fuel flow manifold valve failed to open when fuel pressure was applied on a test stand. The fuel flow manifold valve was disassembled; tooling marks were observed on the plunger, and the seal near the plunger was deformed and not seated flat on the manifold body. The plunger assembly and diaphragm were substituted in the fuel flow manifold valve, reattached to the test stand, and performed within manufacturer specifications. The malfunction of the fuel flow manifold likely resulted in the total loss of engine power.

Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for WPR21LA194 for the full record.