Just Out Of Annual

It was a beautiful October day. Clear sky, unlimited visibility, calm wind, smooth ride. My trusty 1960 Cessna 210 was humming along at 5500 feet, taking my pilot wife and me back home to Lebanon, Mo. (LBO). Suddenly, there was the deafening sound of silence from the front. The engine decided to stop without so much as a cough, sputter or warning. Funny how busy one can get in a few short seconds in a now-quiet cockpit. Boost pump on high, mixture full rich, switch tanks as my wife reached for the emergency checklist. We were about 20 miles from our destination. Maybe I could get the engine to start again, even for just a few more miles. My wife remained calm, although I could see the concern as she scanned the beautiful Ozarks hills and trees for an off-field landing spot.

Key Takeaways:

• A pilot experienced a sudden engine failure in his Cessna 210 shortly after an extensive annual inspection, managing an emergency landing after the engine intermittently restarted and ran rough.
• The engine failure was attributed to one of two cylinders that had been reworked during the recent annual inspection.
• The pilot learned crucial lessons, emphasizing the importance of trusting one's intuition when something feels off with the aircraft, diligently practicing emergency procedures, and always being prepared for the unexpected, even after costly maintenance.

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