Cessna 210-5 N224AL

Summary

On 31 March 2012 at about 22:10 local time, a Cessna 210-5 registered N224AL, operated by Chalet Suzanne Aviation Inc, was involved in an accident near Lake Wales, Florida, United States. 7 people were on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

31 March 2012 at 22:10

Classification

Accident

Location

Lake Wales, Florida, United States

Nearest airport

Chalet Suzanne Air Strip (X25)

Coordinates

27.9522, -81.6008

Aircraft

Cessna 210-5

Registration

N224AL

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Chalet Suzanne Aviation Inc

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Skydiving

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Lake Wales → Lake Wales

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ERA12LA261

Nobody was injured.

The pilot's inadequate preflight preparation and fuel management, which resulted in a total loss of engine power due to fuel starvation.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot said that he normally flew the airplane with the fuel selector positioned to the right main fuel tank during skydiving operations. However, on the day of the accident, maintenance was performed on the airplane, and three engine run-ups were performed using the left main fuel tank. The pilot ferried the airplane back to its home base uneventfully with the left main fuel tank selected. Before the accident flight, the pilot verified that there was adequate fuel in the right main fuel tank; however, he did not reposition the fuel selector to the right main fuel tank. During climb, about 800 feet above ground level, the airplane experienced a total loss of engine power. The pilot was unable to restart the engine and performed a forced landing. Subsequent examination revealed that the airplane’s right main fuel tank had been compromised and was leaking fuel, whereas the left main fuel tank was intact and devoid of fuel. Additionally, data downloaded from the airplane's engine monitor revealed that the engine power loss was preceded by a loss of fuel flow. Postaccident examination did not reveal any preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.