Cessna 210 5(205) N8296Z

Summary

On 4 December 2014 at about 16:00 local time, a Cessna 210 5(205) registered N8296Z was involved in an accident near Sussex, New Jersey, United States. 6 people were on board and one had minor injuries. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

4 December 2014 at 16:00

Classification

Accident

Location

Sussex, New Jersey, United States

Nearest airport

Sussex Airport (FWN)

Coordinates

41.1931, -74.6278

Aircraft

Cessna 210 5(205)

Registration

N8296Z

Category

Airplane

Year built

1963

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Skydiving

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Sussex → Sussex

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ERA15LA071

1 person had minor injuries.

Maintenance personnel’s inadequate inspection of the No. 2 cylinder valve area during the most recent annual inspection, which resulted in the in-flight failure of the intake valve springs due to rust on the spring surfaces and subsequent fatigue cracking.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot reported that, shortly after the skydiving flight departed, the engine experienced a "mechanical failure" and that he then executed a forced landing in a farm field south of the airport. The airplane nosed over in the mud, which resulted in structural damage to the airframe. During a postaccident test run of the engine on the airframe, lower-than-normal exhaust gas temperature indications were observed on the engine's left-side (Nos. 2, 4, and 6) cylinders. Excessive soot and smoke were also observed on the engine's left side. During a subsequent test run, the engine initially did not achieve full power. Further examination revealed that both of the No. 2 cylinder intake valve springs were fractured, and visible rust was observed on the surfaces of the springs. The springs showed evidence of fatigue fractures that had originated from rust pits on the fracture surfaces. After the valve springs were replaced, the engine was capable of operating normally at full power. An annual inspection was completed on the engine less than 2 months (13 engine operating hours) before the accident. As part of the annual inspection, the engine manufacturer's operating manual required the removal of the cylinder rocker covers and inspection of the valve area for breakage and proper lubrication. It is likely that maintenance personnel did not adequately inspect the No. 2 cylinder valve area during the annual inspection, which allowed the rust to go undetected and resulted in the in-flight failure of the No. 2 cylinder valve springs.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.