NTSB Factual Report

On July 31, 2017, about 1745 Pacific daylight time, a Cessna T210F, N6109R, was substantially damaged during a forced landing near Crystal Airport (46CN), Llano, California. The private pilot and his passenger were not injured. The personal flight was conducted under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed.

The pilot, who was also the owner of the airplane, reported that he based the airplane in southern California. He and his passenger had flown the airplane uneventfully to northern California. On the return leg, the pilot noticed that he was unable to achieve full manifold pressure, and that the engine was "running roughly." He stopped at an interim airport, where an aircraft mechanic examined the airplane. The mechanic was unable to find any problems with the airplane or engine. The pilot and passenger departed in the airplane to continue their trip home. While in cruise, the pilot noticed that the oil pressure had dropped to 0 psi. The pilot retarded the throttle, declared an emergency with air traffic control (ATC), and diverted towards Crystal airport. When the pilot realized that the airplane would not reach the intended runway, but that the terrain was relatively suitable, he selected the landing gear to the extended position. The airplane touched down in the desert terrain about 1 mile short of the diversion airport, while the landing gear was still in transit. The airplane came to rest upright, but with the landing gear deformed and collapsed. There was no fire.

Law enforcement personnel and two Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspectors responded to the accident site later that same day. The FAA inspectors reported that there was sufficient fuel in the fuel tanks for continued operation, but that the engine oil sump was devoid of oil. Visual examination of the engine compartment and airplane exterior did not reveal any indications of oil leaks or venting/dumping, or any pre-impact failures that could account for an oil loss. The pilot reported that the engine had just completed a top-overhaul about 11 hours prior to the accident, and that the oil quantity was checked and verified full prior to the departure on the accident leg. The airplane was recovered to a secure facility for additional examination.

The pilot held a private pilot certificate with an instrument rating. He had purchased the airplane in the Spring of 2011. The pilot reported that he had a total flight experience of about 1,323 hours, including about 938 hours in the accident airplane make and model.

FAA information indicated that the airplane was manufactured in 1965, and was equipped with a turbocharged Continental IO-520 series engine. According to the pilot, the airframe had a total time (TT) in service of about 3,535, and the engine had a TT of about 1,674.

The 1755 automated weather observation at Gray Butte Field Airport, Palmdale, California (was KGXA, now 04CA) located about 8 miles northeast of the accident site, included winds from 020 degrees at 10 knots, visibility 10 miles, scattered clouds at 16,000 feet, temperature 39 degrees C, dew point 0 degrees C, and an altimeter setting of 29.93 inches of mercury.