NTSB Factual Report

On August 30, 2010, about 2000 central daylight time, a single-engine Cessna 210 airplane, N210PR, was substantially damaged when it lost engine power and the pilot elected to perform a forced landing, just short of the Houma-Terrebonne Airport (HUM) Houma, Louisiana. The commercial rated pilot received only minor injuries and the passenger was not injured. The airplane was registered to and operated by Black Star Aviation LLC, Houma, Louisiana. An instrument flight rules (IFR) flight plan was filed for the cross-country flight that originated from the San Angelo Regional Airport/Mathis Field (SJT) San Angelo, Texas, at 1659 CDT. Day visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the personal flight conducted under 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. The planned flight was to originate from Cavern City Air Terminal (CNM), Carlsbad, New Mexico, with a stop at SJT before proceeding to HUM.

The pilot and passenger departed CNM about 1500 CDT for the approximately hour-and-half flight to SJT. A fuel receipt at SJT indicated that after arrival the airplane was filled with 55.6 gallons of 100LL aviation fuel. After refueling, they departed SJT at 1659 CDT for the 519-nautical mile flight to HUM. The pilot reported that, “we did smell a light [fuel] vapor at 12,000 feet, but all systems were normal …. Fuel [quantity] seemed to be exactly where it should have been.” The pilot added, that when they about 15-20 miles out from HUM, he quit checking his fuel gauges and concentrated on the descent and landing. When the airplane was on its base to final leg of the approach, the engine lost power; the pilot reported that the fuel gauges read empty, and he was only able to restore engine power “for a second.” The pilot then elected to conduct a forced landing in a sugar cane field. During the forced landing, the airplane impacted terrain and then nosed-over, coming to rest inverted.

The pilot added that the airplane normally burned 17 gallons per hour, and that he was expecting to have about 32 gallons after landing in Houma.

A Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Inspector and a technical representative from Teledyne Continental Motors inspected the wreckage on 30 and 31 August, 2010. The airplane had sustained damage to the right wing and spar, the nose-gear/engine area, and the vertical stabilizer/rudder were bent approximately 45-degrees. A visual inspection of the airplane and accident site, failed to identify any signs of a fuel spill. The airplane was recovered to a nearby hangar. Further examination of the airplane’s fuel tanks and system found only trace amounts of fuel. Additionally, the examination of the engine and airframe revealed no apparent leaks or abnormalities that would have prevented normal operation.

NTSB Probable Cause

The pilot’s improper fuel management, which resulted in a loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion.