NTSB Factual Report

On June 29, 2003, about 1030 mountain standard time, a Cessna 210D, N3826Y, lost engine power and made a forced landing near Carefree, Arizona. The pilot was operating the airplane under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91. The private pilot and one passenger sustained serious injuries; the airplane sustained substantial damage. The personal cross-country flight departed Nut Tree Airport (VCB), Vacaville, California, at 0615, en route to Scottsdale Airport (SDL), Scottsdale, Arizona. Day visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed. The primary wreckage was at 33 degrees 49 minutes north latitude and 111 degrees 54 minutes west longitude.

In a written statement, the pilot reported that she fueled the airplane in Vacaville, and there was 5 hours of fuel on board. They departed Vacaville at 0615, and switched fuel tanks hourly during the flight. After about 4 hours, the pilot radioed Scottsdale tower with her intention to land. Suddenly, the engine stopped running. She switched fuel tanks, and it restarted. Shortly thereafter, it quit again. She realized that there must have been a fuel leak, and radioed the tower to advise them of the engine failure. She made an emergency landing attempt to Carefree Skyranch; however, the airplane landed on a road and came to rest inverted.

In a phone conversation with the National Transportation Safety Board investigator-in-charge (IIC) the pilot reported that both fuel tanks were indicating empty at the same time. During the preflight, the pilot drained all of the fuel sumps and did not notice any staining along the bottom of the airplane. The pilot had flown this route several times before without incident. She cruised at 7, 500 feet mean sea level, using 2,200 rpm and 22 inches of manifold pressure.

A post accident inspection by a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector revealed a crack on the bottom of the elbow fitting, which was on the bottom of the gascolator. He performed a test using soap and water. At 3 to 5 pounds of pressure, the assembly began bubbling at the crack, indicating a leak. The inspector felt that the crack was a result of an over torque. He also noted blue stains along the bottom of the airplane.

The IIC completed a fuel burn analysis using the pilot operating handbook for the airplane. Based on power settings indicated by the pilot, the total fuel burn would have been approximately 53 gallons. The total usable fuel in the airplane was 63.4 gallons.

NTSB Probable Cause

fuel exhaustion due to a crack on the elbow fitting to the gascolator resulted in a fuel leak.