Cessna T210 N498TB

Summary

On 25 March 2024 at about 16:00 local time, a Cessna T210 registered N498TB, operated by Adventure Alaska Tours Inc, was involved in an accident near San Saba, Texas, United States. One person was 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

25 March 2024 at 16:00

Classification

Accident

Location

San Saba, Texas, United States

Nearest airport

San Saba County Municipal (81R)

Coordinates

31.2357, -98.7177

Aircraft

Cessna T210

Registration

N498TB

Category

Airplane

Year built

1978

Engines

1

Operator

Adventure Alaska Tours Inc

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Terlingua → Asheville

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

CEN24LA140

Nobody was injured.

A total loss of engine power due to multiple connecting rod failures from oil starvation.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot was enroute on a cross-country flight at a cruise altitude of 11,000 ft mean sea level when, about 37 minutes after takeoff, the engine oil pressure began decreasing slowly. The flight remained at 11,000 ft for another 39 minutes until there was a near-total loss of oil pressure. The pilot diverted and conducted a forced landing short of a runway. The airplane nosed over during the landing and sustained substantial damage to the fuselage and wings. A small postimpact fire ensued near the engine compartment. A postaccident examination of the engine found evidence of multiple connecting rod separations due to a lack of oil lubrication, and their respective rod end bearings were not identifiable. A small amount of oil was observed on the engine exterior and within the engine compartment, but the amount of observed oil was not consistent with a large oil leak from the engine. The pilot reported changing the engine oil the day before the accident; however, the examination did not identify any issues with the installation of the oil filter. Besides the holes in the upper crankcase, the investigation did not identify another oil leak source. Although it is possible that the engine was not serviced with a sufficient quantity of oil during the oil change, the pilot reported having added 9 quarts of oil when he changed the oil. The flight likely departed with at least sufficient engine oil to produce the required engine power to climb to cruise altitude, maintain cruise power for over an hour, and to distribute metal particles throughout the engine oil system. However, the reason for the oil starvation could not be identified.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.