Cessna 210L accident near Tampa, Florida, June 9, 2010
On June 9, 2010, a Cessna 210L, registered N2263S, was substantially damaged in an accident during initial climb near Tampa, Florida (Tampa International Airport). It was flown under charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135). 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
The total loss of engine power due to inadequate torgue on the crankcase bolts. Contributing to the accident was the inadequate inspection performed 19.5 hours prior to the accident.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 9, 2010
- Place
- Tampa, Florida · Tampa International Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 210L · all 210Ls on the register
- Registration
- N2263S · no longer on the register · serial 21061207
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight · charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The airplane was climbing when the engine lost partial power. The pilot turned back toward the departure airport and the engine lost total power. During the subsequent forced landing, the airplane struck a fence, which resulted in substantial damage to the fuselage and left wing. Examination of the engine crankcase halves revealed fretting at the No. 2 main bearing saddle surfaces, which indicated insufficient clamping force during assembly due to inadequate torque on the bolts. The No. 2 main bearing was broken into pieces, which were observed in the oil sump. Examination of the crankshaft revealed a fatigue fracture that initiated in the fillet between the No. 2 main journal and the cheek at the aft end of the journal. The fatigue crack features observed in the No. 2 main bearing were secondary and were a result of high stresses on the bearing as it shifted. This most likely resulted from insufficient bearing crush due to insufficient clamping force on the crankcase saddle surfaces. According to the engine logbooks, a 100-hour maintenance inspection occurred 19.5 hours prior to the accident, which required a mechanic to verify that the crankcase bolts did not exhibit looseness.
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 initial climb defining event
- Off-field or emergency landing during emergency descent
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during landing
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft power plant › Engine (reciprocating) › Recip eng cyl section › Fatigue/wear/corrosion
- factor Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › (general) › Maintenance personnel
- factor Personnel issues › Task performance › Maintenance › Scheduled/routine maintenance › Maintenance personnel
Pilot
- Certificate: 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: 1,300 hours in all; 10 in this make and model; 96 in the last 90 days; 28 in the last 30 days; 1,280 as pilot in command; 250 on instruments
- Last flight review: June 3, 2010
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 13,710 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, May 27, 2010; 20 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,500 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Cont Motor IO 520 SERIES (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Flight Express INC
The flight
- Departed from: TPA Tampa FL
- Destination: FXE Fort Lauderdale FL
- Flight plan: IFR
Weather at the time
- Light: night
- Wind: from 070° at 8 knots, gusting 18
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 6,000 ft
- Temperature: 86°F (30°C), dew point 66°F (19°C)
- Altimeter: 30.04 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
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.