NTSB Identification: MIA01LA168
Accident occurred Thursday, June 14, 2001 at Key West, FL
Aircraft: Cessna 210L, registration: N2117S
Injuries: 1 Minor, 4 Uninjured.

This is preliminary information, subject to change, and may contain errors. Any errors in this report will be corrected when the final report has been completed.

On June 14, 2001, about 1037 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 210L, N2117S, registered to Flyte Air Corporation, experienced a loss of engine power and was ditched near Key West, Florida. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and an instrument flight rules (IFR) flight plan was filed for the 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight. The airplane was substantially damaged and the commercial-rated pilot, and three passengers were not injured. One passenger sustained minor injuries. The flight originated about 5 minutes earlier from the Key West International Airport, Key West, Florida. The pilot stated that she performed a preflight to the airplane; the oil capacity was 9 quarts. No discrepancies were noted either during the preflight or during the engine run-up. After takeoff while flying at 700 feet mean sea level (msl), she reduced the rpm and manifold pressure to 2,500 and 25 inches respectively. While turning towards the TADPO intersection she heard a loud bang. She contiunued the turn and established 85 knots and declared a "Mayday." The rpm and oil pressure gauges indicated zero but the propeller continued to rotate. The doors were opened and the passengers were advised to "brace" before ditching. After the ditching, she got her daughter who was one of the passengers out of the airplane and she believes that the other adult passenger assisted the other two passengers out of the airplane. Preliminary examination of the engine revealed that the crankshaft was fractured just aft of the No. 2 main bearing; main bearing pieces were found in the oil sump. Additionally, one of the bolts of the No. 2 cylinder connecting rod was fractured near the bolt head.