Cessna P210N accident near Caledonia, Michigan, September 6, 2010
On September 6, 2010 at about 12:45 pm local time, a Cessna P210N, registered N4632A, was substantially damaged in an accident during maneuvering near Caledonia, Michigan (Gerald R. Ford Iap airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
A loss of engine power as a result of a fatigue failure of the crankshaft due to the loss of engine case through-bolt torque. Contributing to the accident was a mechanic's use of incorrect hardware.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 6, 2010 · about 12:45 pm local time
- Place
- Caledonia, Michigan · Gerald R. Ford Iap · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna P210N · all P210Ns on the register
- Registration
- N4632A · no longer on the register · serial P21000810
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot and certified flight instructor were in a holding pattern during an instrument proficiency check when they heard a bang from the airplane's engine area. They initiated a forced landing and the airplane impacted terrain at the base of a hill. Fuel leaked and a ground fire ensued, resulting in substantial damage to the left wing. No airframe preimpact anomalies were observed on-scene. An engine teardown inspection revealed a separation of the crankshaft No. 3 short cheek consistent with fatigue. Additionally, the No. 2 lower through-bolt had the lowest torque value of all bolts and incorrect hardware was used on that through-bolt. Fretting was observed on the mating surfaces of the main bearing supports near the No. 2 through-bolt and its bearing had spun out of its support. Engine logbook entries indicated a mechanic replaced cylinders that would have required the removal and installation of hardware on the No. 2 through-bolt, approximately 19 months prior to the accident.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Loss of engine power (total) during maneuvering defining event
- Off-field or emergency landing during emergency descent
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft power plant › Engine (reciprocating) › Recip engine power section › Fatigue/wear/corrosion
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft power plant › Engine (reciprocating) › Recip engine power section › Failure
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Terrain › Mountainous/hilly terrain › Contributed to outcome
- factor Personnel issues › Task performance › Maintenance › Installation › Maintenance personnel
- factor Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Incorrect action performance › Maintenance personnel
Flight instructor
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 3,300 hours in all; 42 in this make and model; 200 in the last 90 days; 59 in the last 30 days; 3,230 as pilot in command; 2,390 on instruments
- Last flight review: May 10, 2010
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
Flight instructor
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,800 hours in all; 0 in this make and model; 1,000 on instruments
- Last flight review: November 2, 2009
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,342 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 3, 2009
- Maximum gross weight: 4,100 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Cont Motor TSIO-520-RCAF (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
- Operator: Centurion Aviation LLC
The flight
- Departed from: GRR Grand Rapids MI at 12:00 pm
- Destination: GRR Grand Rapids MI
- Flight plan: none
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 180° at 11 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 12,000 ft
- Temperature: 64°F (18°C), dew point 54°F (12°C)
- Altimeter: 29.93 inHg
- Observation at 12:53 pm from GRR, 5 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 2 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.