Cessna T210N accident near East Sparta, Ohio, September 28, 2021
On September 28, 2021 at about 8:08 pm local time, a 1982 Cessna T210N, registered N1925U, was substantially damaged in an accident during enroute (cruise) near East Sparta, Ohio. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
A total loss of engine power due to a fatigue failure of the No. 2 cylinder exhaust valve.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 28, 2021 · about 8:08 pm local time
- Place
- East Sparta, Ohio · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna T210N, built 1982 · all T210Ns on the register
- Registration
- N1925U · no longer on the register · serial 21064750
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that during cruise flight the engine began to run rough with a sudden decrease in engine manifold pressure and exhaust gas temperature for cylinder Nos. 2 and 4. The engine continued to run erratically for another 100 seconds before it lost total power. The pilot made a forced landing on hilly terrain, during which the nose gear collapsed. The airplane’s engine mount and lower fuselage structure were substantially damaged. Postaccident examination determined that the No. 2 cylinder exhaust valve fractured near the stem-to-fillet transition. The fracture surface exhibited features consistent with a fatigue failure. Additionally, the clearance from the exhaust valve stem to the valve guide exceeded the manufacturer’s service limit. The No. 2 cylinder exhaust valve failed in fatigue likely due to the wear of the valve guide and rocker arm bearing systems. The wear of the guide allowed the exhaust valve to move so that it could no longer consistently contact the valve seat. The asymmetric load induced a bending moment on the exhaust valve stem that eventually resulted in the initiation of a fatigue crack along the stem edge. The wear of the rocker arm shaft and rocker arm bearing likely contributed to the exhaust valve failure by tilting the rocker arm and changing the angle at which it engaged the tip of the exhaust valve stem.
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
- Powerplant sys/comp malf/fail during enroute (cruise)
- Loss of engine power (total) during enroute (cruise) defining event
- Off-field or emergency landing during landing
- Landing gear collapse during landing
- Nose over/nose down during landing
The NTSB's findings
- Aircraft › Aircraft power plant › Engine (reciprocating) › Recip eng cyl section › Fatigue/wear/corrosion
- Aircraft › Aircraft power plant › Engine (reciprocating) › Recip eng cyl section › Failure
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 7,080 hours in all; 5,125 in this make and model; 43.7 in the last 90 days; 9.5 in the last 30 days; 7,030 as pilot in command; 0 on instruments
- Last flight review: March 30, 2021
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 6,396 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 15, 2021; 124 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 4,000 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental TSIO-520-R (piston); 1,134 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 3G3 Wadsworth OH at 7:45 pm
- Destination: 3G3 Wadsworth OH
- Flight plan: VFR
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 330° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 3,800 ft
- Temperature: 73°F (23°C), dew point 54°F (12°C)
- Altimeter: 29.96 inHg
- Observation at 3:51 pm from KCAK, 15 miles away
Weather report (METAR): METAR KCAK 281951Z 33006KT 10SM FEW038 23/12 A2996 RMK AO2 SLP138 T02330122=
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
11 documents, released by the NTSB on September 20, 2023. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 9 pages | View Download |
| 2 | ADS-B Data Plots | PDF, 4 pages | View Download |
| 3 | ADS-B Data (Source Data) | data file | Download |
| 4 | ADS-B Data (NTSB Processed) | data file | Download |
| 5 | Engine Monitor Data Plots | PDF, 3 pages | View Download |
| 6 | Engine Monitor (Source Data) | data file | Download |
| 7 | Engine Log | PDF, 11 pages | View Download |
| 8 | Engine Oil Analysis Report | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 9 | Materials Laboratory Factual Report 22-046 | PDF, 14 pages | View Download |
| 10 | Weather Summary | PDF, 3 pages | View Download |
| 11 | Photos | PDF, 5 pages | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
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.