Cessna T210N N9YT
26 February 1992 · Lake Hughes, California, United States · Fatal
Summary
On 26 February 1992 at about 16:17 local time, a Cessna T210N registered N9YT, operated by Channel Island Aviation, Inc, was involved in an accident near Lake Hughes, California, United States. 2 people were on board and 2 died. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.
The record
- Date
- at 16:17
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- Lake Hughes, California, United States
- Coordinates
- 34.6898, -118.5199
- Aircraft
- Cessna T210N
- Registration
- N9YT
- Category
- Airplane
- Engines
- 1
- Operator
- Channel Island Aviation, Inc
- Operating rule
- Part 91: General Aviation
- Purpose of flight
- Public Use
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Route
- Pt Mugu → China Lake
- Aircraft damage
- Destroyed
- Weather
- VMC
- Light
- Day
- NTSB number
- LAX92GA128
People
2 people died.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Probable cause
POOR MAINTENANCE REPAIR AND ANNUAL INSPECTION BY THE COMPANY'S MAINTENANCE PERSONNEL AND THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND'S MISJUDGING ALTITUDE. CONTRIBUTING TO THIS ACCIDENT WAS THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND INTENTIONAL STALL, IMPROPER EMERGENCY PROCEDURE, SELECTION OF UNSUITABLE TERRAIN FOR THE FORCED LANDING AND THE MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.
Read the full NTSB narrative
THE AIRPLANE WAS ON A U.S. NAVY MISSION AND FLOWN BY A NAVY AVIATOR; ANOTHER NAVY AVIATOR OCCUPIED THE RIGHT FRONT SEAT. WHILE OVER MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN THE ENGINE SUSTAINED A CATASPHROPHIC CRANKSHAFT FAILURE. THE PILOT ELECTED TO PROCEED TOWARDS HIGHER TERRAIN BYPASSING LOWER AND MORE SUITIBLE EMERGENCY LANDING AREAS. INTERNAL COMMUNICATIONS BETWEEN THE RIGHT SEAT OCCUPANT, A MORE EXPERIENCED PILOT, AND THE PIC INDICATED THEY PLANNED TO STALL THE AIRPLANE PRIOR TO LANDING ON AN UPWARD SLOPING MOUNTAIN RIDGE. THE PILOT MISJUDGED THE ALTITUDE AND STALLED THE AIRPLANE. BOTH PILOTS WERE KILLED. THE INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT THE CRANKSHAFT FAILED DUE TO INADEQUATE TORQUE OF THE THROUGH BOLTS CAUSING FRETTING AND GALLING ON THE CRANKCASE HALVES. THE ENGINE HAD ACCURED 618 HOURS SINCE MAJOR OVERHAUL AND HAD EXPERIENCED 7 VACCUM PUMP FAILURES DUE TO MISALIGNMENT OF THE CRANKSHAFT DRIVE GEAR. THE THROUGH BOLTS WERE REMOVED BY THE OPERATOR TO REPAIR THE NO. 3 ROSAN STUD 322 HOURS BEFORE THE CRANKSHAFT FAILED.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Other Cessna T210N accidents
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 24 Jun 1992 | Cessna T210N | Georgetown, California, United States | Glacier ICE Company, Inc. | Minor injuries | - |
| 9 Jul 1992 | Cessna T210N | Superior, Arizona, United States | Edward Curtis | Fatal | 1 |
| 27 Sep 1992 | Cessna T210N | Helena, Montana, United States | Thomas, Charles R. | Minor injuries | - |
| 31 Mar 1992 | Cessna T210N | Larkspur, Colorado, United States | Electrosolve Services | Fatal | 1 |
| 20 Feb 1991 | Cessna T210N | Panama City, Florida, United States | MEN0, Frederick, J (Iii) | No injuries | - |
| 26 Oct 1991 | Cessna T210N | Wheeling, West Virginia, United States | Marcia S Morton | No injuries | - |
Other accidents in this area
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 22 Feb 1992 | Piper PA-28R-201T | Ludlow, California, United States | Higgins, Melvin W & Jean | Minor injuries | - |
| 22 Feb 1992 | Beechcraft C-23 | Fullerton, California, United States | Eldon R. Howe | No injuries | - |
| 23 Feb 1992 | Cessna 150 | San Jose, California, United States | Veda Corporation | Minor injuries | - |
| 23 Feb 1992 | Cessna 182N | San Ardo, California, United States | Soil Service, Inc. | No injuries | - |
| 25 Feb 1992 | Grumman G-164B | Dixon, California, United States | Sunrise Duster, Inc. | No injuries | - |
| 25 Feb 1992 | Bellanca 7ECA | Apple Valley, California, United States | Chester Waite | Serious injuries | - |