Cessna · 1970–1976
Cessna T210K/L Turbo Centurion II (1970-1976)
Specifications
Performance
Cruise
200KTAS
Range
900nm
Climb
1010fpm
Ceiling
27,000ft
Fuel Burn
17.5gph
Fuel Cap.
89gal
MPG
13.2mpg
Stall (Vs0)
57KIAS
T/O roll
1200ft
Ldg roll
765ft
Size & weight
Seats
6
Useful Load
1490lbs
Full-fuel payload
956lbs
Max gross
3,800lbs
Wingspan
36.8ft
Length
28.2ft
Engine
Engine
Continental TSIO-520-H
Power
285hp
TBO
1,400hrs
Overhaul
$58k
Owning it
Hull insurance
$4k/yr
Parts
good
Mechanics
specialist
Gear
Retractable
IFR
Yes
Category
certified
Full specification
V-speeds
Airframe
- Empty weight
- 2,310 lbs
- Max fuel weight
- 534 lbs
- Height
- 9.7 ft
- Wing position
- high
Obstacle performance
- Takeoff over 50 ft
- 2,300 ft
- Landing over 50 ft
- 1,500 ft
Paperwork
- Type certificate
- 3A21
- Certification basis
- CAR 3
These figures are typical for the model, not a specification for any individual aircraft. Real-world numbers vary with year, installed equipment, weight, modifications and engine condition — often by more than you would expect. Use them to compare types, and confirm anything you would act on against the Pilot's Operating Handbook for that specific airframe and a prebuy inspection.
Pricing
Typical
$135k
Range
$110k – $175k
Annual all-in
~$35k/yr
All-in at ~100 flying hours a year, using the midpoint of each range — the same figures broken out under “Cost to own” below. Your number will differ, and mostly for two reasons. Experience sets your insurance: a 2,000-hour pilot with recent training pays 30–40% less than a 200-hour owner, and student owners pay 20–40% more — on the same aircraft that is often a doubling. Location sets your hangar: a T-hangar runs $200–400 a month in the Midwest against $400–1,500 in a coastal metro, and an outside tie-down is less again. Engine reserves move too — a local shop reusing your serviceable cylinders can come in 30–50% under the national specialty-shop pricing we quote, though you trade the warranty and turnaround that comes with it. Reserves are money set aside toward a future overhaul, not a bill this year, and the annual inspection figure is the shop’s labor to look — whatever they find is separate.
Cost to own — estimate
Set your yearly hours and local fuel price. Fixed costs (insurance, hangar, annual inspection) don't change with hours; fuel, maintenance and the engine reserve do.
- Fuel (17.5 gph)
- $11,375
- Engine reserve
- $4,143
- Propeller reserve
- $175
- Maintenance, parts & wear items ($22/hr)
- $2,200
- Insurance
- $2,250–$4,500
- Hangar
- $6,227–$15,566
- Annual inspection (labor only)
- $2,500
- Databases & subscriptions
- $700
- Total per year
- $35,364
- Per flight hour
- $354
- Miles flown / year (at cruise)
- 23,016 mi
- Cost per mile
- $1.54/mi
- Time in the air
- 1 hr 30 min
- Fuel burned
- 26 gal
- Out of pocket
- $268
Fuel, engine reserve and wear only. Insurance, hangar and the annual are already paid whether you make the trip or not, so they are not charged here.
Estimate, not a quote. Where a line shows a range, the total, per-hour and per-mile figures use its midpoint— insurance moves most with your experience and time in type, hangar with where you base the aircraft, so your own number could sit at either end. Annual inspection is the shop's labor to open and inspect — what they find is the maintenance line, which covers oil changes, plugs, tires, brakes, hoses, lights, a battery and vacuum pump amortised over their life, and the unscheduled squawks that are the largest and least predictable part of it. Reserves are sinking funds toward an overhaul, not a bill you pay this year — and note that a propeller is due on hours or calendar time, typically six years, so flying less does not put it off forever.
Strengths
Weaknesses
Overview
The 1970 Cessna T210K introduced the turbocharged Centurion II -- combining the 3,800 lb gross weight, 6-seat cabin, and 90-gallon fuel of the 210K with a Continental TSIO-520-H turbocharged engine producing 285 HP to 16,000-18,000 ft. The T210L (1971-1972) carried the same engine forward in the refined airframe. Approximately 600 examples were produced across the three-year run.
The T210K/L is the first 210 capable of true 200 KTAS cruise at flight levels with four adults aboard. With 1,490 lb useful load and 90 gallons of fuel, the airplane can fly 900 NM at FL180 in under 5 hours -- routinely transcontinental capability in a single-engine piston.
The TSIO-520-H
The TSIO-520-H is a 520 cubic inch, six-cylinder, fuel-injected, turbocharged Continental engine producing 285 HP at 2,700 RPM. The turbocharger is a Garrett unit with an automatic wastegate (an improvement over the manual wastegate on earlier TSIO-520-C engines). TBO 1,400 hours.
The -H variant is widely considered an improvement over the -C:
- Automatic wastegate (vs manual on -C) reduces pilot workload
- Improved oil cooling
- Better cylinder cooling baffling
- More reliable fuel-injection metering
That said, the TSIO-520-H still requires careful cylinder management. CHTs above 380°F shorten cylinder life rapidly. Most T210K/L aircraft now have aftermarket engine monitors (JPI, EI) installed for real-time CHT/EGT data.
Variants & History
| Feature | T210G-J (1967-1969) | T210K-L (1970-1972) | 210K-L (NA) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Engine | TSIO-520-C | TSIO-520-H | IO-520-L |
| Max gross | 3,400 lbs | 3,800 lbs (+400) | 3,800 lbs |
| Useful load | ~1,220 lbs | ~1,490 lbs (+270) | ~1,560 lbs |
| Fuel capacity | 65 gal | 90 gal (+25) | 90 gal |
| Cruise (FL180) | 195 KTAS | 200 KTAS (+5) | N/A (NA loses power) |
| Range at FL180 | 800 NM | 900 NM | N/A |
| Service ceiling | 27,000 ft | 27,000 ft | 17,300 ft |
| Field overhaul | $50,500–$65,500 | $45,000-$60,000 | $38,000-$48,000 |
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Performance
200 KTAS cruise at FL180 (75% power), 1,010 FPM sea-level climb, 17.5 GPH at max cruise. Service ceiling 27,000 ft (most pilots operate FL170-200 due to oxygen and pilot workload).
Real-world cross-country: Two adults + bags + 90 gallons at FL180 yields 950+ NM range with 45-min reserves. Four adults + 60 gallons at FL180 yields 650 NM range -- typical for business legs of 4-5 hours.
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Valuation Factors
| Condition | Price Range |
|---|---|
| Project / mid-time turbo | $85,000-$110,000 |
| Flying but tired | $105,000-$135,000 |
| Well-maintained | $130,000-$165,000 |
| Recent SMOH / fresh turbo | $155,000-$195,000 |
T210K/L trade $20,000-$30,000 above equivalent NA 210K/L due to turbo capability. Turbo condition is the dominant valuation factor.
ADs & Common Problems
210 universal concerns apply. T210K/L-specific:
- Turbocharger condition: Inspect for shaft play, oil seepage, blade damage. Turbo replacement: $5,000-$10,000.
- Wastegate operation: Automatic wastegate must operate smoothly through full power range. Wastegate overhaul: $1,500-$3,000.
- Cylinder CHT history: Review engine monitor data for CHT excursions. Recurring high CHTs suggest cylinder problems ahead.
- Exhaust system condition: Turbo exhausts run hot and crack. Inspect for cracks, weeping, weld failures.
- Gear pump and hydraulic system: Same engine-driven/electric pump transition as NA K/L; verify which is installed.
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