Cessna 210L accident near La Grange, Texas, November 9, 2012
On November 9, 2012 at about 1:21 pm local time, a 1976 Cessna 210L, registered N732BL, was substantially damaged in an accident during emergency descent near La Grange, Texas (Fayette Regl Air Center Airpor airport). It was a business flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 3 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The total loss of engine power due to the loss of oil to the engine. Contributing to the accident was maintenance personnel’s improper installation of the engine oil filter adaptor, which resulted in the loss of oil to the engine.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 9, 2012 · about 1:21 pm local time
- Place
- La Grange, Texas · Fayette Regl Air Center Airpor · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 3 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 210L, built 1976 · all 210Ls on the register
- Registration
- N732BL · no longer on the register · serial 21061386
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that the airplane was in cruise flight at 7,000 ft mean sea level when he noticed that the engine oil pressure had dropped to an unacceptable level. He then attempted to divert to land at a nearby airport. However, when the airplane was on the downwind leg and after the landing gear had been extended, the engine experienced a total loss of power, so the pilot made an off-airport landing. During the landing on a soft, plowed field, the airplane flipped over and then came to rest inverted. Review of maintenance records revealed that recent maintenance, which included the replacement of the engine oil filter, had been performed on the engine. A postaccident examination of the airframe revealed an abundance of engine oil on the airplane's belly; the oil extended from the engine compartment to the tail surfaces. A teardown examination of the engine revealed that a connecting rod had released from the crankshaft due to lubrication distress. An examination of the oil filter revealed that the oil filter adapter fiber seal washer was torn where the adaptor attaches to the oil pump housing and that the washer and the oil filter adaptor were misaligned. The improper installation of the oil filter adaptor likely caused the loss of oil to the engine and the subsequent total loss of engine power.
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
- Aircraft maintenance event during prior to flight
- Miscellaneous/other during enroute (cruise)
- Loss of engine power (partial) during approach
- Loss of engine power (total) during emergency descent defining event
- Off-field or emergency landing during emergency descent
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during landing
- Nose over/nose down during landing
- Cabin safety event during post (impact)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft power plant › Engine (reciprocating) › Recip eng oil sys › Damaged/degraded
- factor Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Incorrect action performance › Maintenance personnel
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft power plant › Engine (reciprocating) › (general) › Failure
- factor Aircraft › Aircraft power plant › Engine (reciprocating) › Recip eng oil sys › Incorrect service/maintenance
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 6,642 hours in all; 418 in this make and model; 28 in the last 90 days; 17 in the last 30 days; 5,402 as pilot in command; 2,305 on instruments
- Last flight review: July 14, 2011
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,128 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, October 15, 2012; 17 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,800 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Cont Motor IO 520 SERIES (piston); 3,128 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: HYI San Marcos TX at 12:50 pm
- Destination: HPY Baytown TX
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 16, 5,000 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 150° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 2,900 ft
- Temperature: 66°F (19°C), dew point 63°F (17°C)
- Altimeter: 30.04 inHg
- Observation at 1:15 pm from K3TS, 1 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.
Other NTSB records under N732BL the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.