Monday, April 17, 2017

Loss of Engine Power (Partial): Cessna 182E Skylane, N9362X; accident occurred April 15, 2017 in Willow, Alaska




































The National Transportation Safety Board did not travel to the scene of this accident.

Additional Participating Entities:

Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office; Anchorage, Alaska
Continental Motors
 
Aviation Accident Factual Report - National Transportation Safety Board:https://app.ntsb.gov/pdf


Investigation Docket - National Transportation Safety Board: https://dms.ntsb.gov/pubdms

http://registry.faa.gov/N9362X 

Location: Willow, AK
Accident Number: ANC17LA020
Date & Time: 04/15/2017, 1610 AKD
Registration: N9362X
Aircraft: CESSNA 182
Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Defining Event: Loss of engine power (partial)
Injuries: 1 Minor
Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General Aviation - Personal

On April 15, 2017, about 1610 Alaska daylight time, a Cessna 182E, N9362X, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Willow, Alaska. The pilot received minor injuries. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight.

The pilot reported that he planned to fly from Big Lake Airport (BGQ), Big Lake, Alaska to Talkeetna Airport (TKA), Talkeetna, Alaska, which was a 30 minute flight. Before the flight he checked the fuel quantity at 1/4 of a tank in each of the two wing fuel tanks. He estimated that would be sufficient for 1 hour of flight time. After the airplane departed BGQ about 1600, while flying north at 800 feet about 4 miles from the highway, he observed that the manifold pressure was low, (below the 23 inches that he set) and the airplane performance was poor. He turned on the carburetor heat and climbed to 1,200 feet. The engine started running "very rough" and the pilot searched for an airstrip to land. With no airstrips nearby, he initiated a turn toward the George Parks Highway and set up for a landing on the highway to the south. The pilot stated that during the approach to land, about 60 ft, he observed power lines across the wind screen, and he attempted to add power and climb, but the airplane impacted the lines, pitched down, and impacted the road, then slid on its nose into trees along the highway. It came to rest in a vertical nose-down attitude. The pilot egressed and noted strong fuel fumes and fuel leakage on the ground. He was transported to a local hospital and treated for minor injuries. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage. See figure 1.


Figure 1. N9362X Cessna 182 at the accident scene along the George Parks Highway.

According to a Federal Aviation Administration Inspector who responded to the accident site, the nose gear was sheared off and both main landing gear legs had power lines wrapped around them. The airplane had struck power lines that were strung across the highway.

Pilot Information

Certificate:Private 
Age: 51, Male
Airplane Rating(s): Single-engine Land; Single-engine Sea
Seat Occupied: Left
Other Aircraft Rating(s): None
Restraint Used:
Instrument Rating(s): None
Second Pilot Present: No
Instructor Rating(s): None
Toxicology Performed: No
Medical Certification: Class 3 Without Waivers/Limitations
Last FAA Medical Exam: 02/04/2016
Occupational Pilot:No 
Last Flight Review or Equivalent: 05/27/2015
Flight Time:  (Estimated) 1800 hours (Total, all aircraft), 350 hours (Total, this make and model), 10 hours (Last 90 days, all aircraft) 

Aircraft and Owner/Operator Information

Aircraft Make: CESSNA
Registration: N9362X
Model/Series:182 E 
Aircraft Category: Airplane
Year of Manufacture:1962 
Amateur Built: No
Airworthiness Certificate:Normal 
Serial Number: 18253762
Landing Gear Type: Tricycle
Seats: 4
Date/Type of Last Inspection: 04/23/2016, Annual
Certified Max Gross Wt.: 2348 lbs
Time Since Last Inspection: 82.4 Hours
Engines: 1 Reciprocating
Airframe Total Time: 4972.7 Hours at time of accident
Engine Manufacturer: Continental Motors
ELT:Installed 
Engine Model/Series: O-470 R
Registered Owner: HILL ROBERT P
Rated Power: 230 hp
Operator: On file
Operating Certificate(s) Held:None  

Meteorological Information and Flight Plan

Conditions at Accident Site: Visual Conditions
Condition of Light: Day
Observation Facility, Elevation: PATK, 356 ft msl
Distance from Accident Site: 18 Nautical Miles
Observation Time: 1553 UTC
Direction from Accident Site: 358°
Lowest Cloud Condition: Scattered / 20000 ft agl
Visibility:  10 Miles
Lowest Ceiling: None
Visibility (RVR):
Wind Speed/Gusts: Calm /
Turbulence Type Forecast/Actual:
Wind Direction:
Turbulence Severity Forecast/Actual: 
Altimeter Setting: 30 inches Hg
Temperature/Dew Point: 11°C / -8°C
Precipitation and Obscuration: No Obscuration; No Precipitation
Departure Point: BIG LAKE, AK (BGQ)
Type of Flight Plan Filed: None
Destination: TALKEETNA, AK (TKA)
Type of Clearance: None
Departure Time: 1547 AKD
Type of Airspace: Class G  

Wreckage and Impact Information

Crew Injuries: 1 Minor
Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Passenger Injuries: N/A
Aircraft Fire: None
Ground Injuries: N/A
Aircraft Explosion: None
Total Injuries: 1 Minor
Latitude, Longitude: 62.024444, -150.073333 (est) 

Tests And Research

A postaccident examination of the airframe and engine was conducted by the National Transportation Safety Board Investigator-in-Charge (IIC) and a technical representative from Continental Motors. The engine was intact with all accessories, fuel and oil lines attached securely. Impact damage was sustained to the air intake, air filter, exhaust pipe and right engine mounts. The carburetor and propeller controls and cable linkages were verified as continuous and fully controllable. The crankshaft rotated freely, and continuity was confirmed to all six cylinders. The engine piston domes, cylinders and valves exhibited normal combustion signatures. The spark plugs exhibited normal wear signatures. Both magnetos produced spark at individual ignition leads and magneto timing was measured at 22° for each. The carburetor was intact with fuel present and no contamination noted. The propeller was attached and moved freely by hand. Both propeller blades exhibited torsional twisting and chordwise scratching. The gascolator fuel strainer was intact with fuel present in the bowl that was consistent with 100LL aviation fuel with a small amount of debris at the bottom. The fuel caps were secure on the wing fuel tanks and fuel was present in each tank. Examination of the airframe and fuel system did not reveal evidence of any preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation.

Additional Information

A review of fuel receipts and quality checks provided by Sheldon Air Service at TKA revealed that the airplane was fueled with 29.9 gallons of 100LL on April 14. The fuel truck daily fuel quality report indicated satisfactory quality checks on that day. According to the pilot, the only flight that was made since that fueling was from TKA to GGQ earlier on the accident day. The pilot reported that he used 14 gph for his flight planning.
Saturday afternoon, a Cessna 182 crashed near Mile 90 of the Parks Highway.

Emergency crews responded around 4:00 p.m. to a crashed aircraft, including Alaska State Troopers and personnel from multiple EMS divisions in the Upper Valley.

The crashed aircraft is registered to Robert Hill of Naknek, Alaska, according to the Federal Aviation Administration, but there is no confirmation at this time of who was piloting the aircraft.

The pilot was transported from the scene of the crash to Mat-Su Regional Medical Center by ambulance, and was reportedly conscious at the time he was taken from the scene. The Alaska State Troopers have identified the pilot as 51-year-old Ronald Scott Hernandez of King Salmon. Troopers say Hernandez suffered minor injuries.

Matanuska Electric Association confirmed that the crash caused a power loss to about 2,600 customers. Matanuska Electric Association was able to re-route electricity for about 1,500 of its members within two hours. Final repairs were completed early on Sunday morning.

Original article can be found here:   http://www.alaskapublic.org

WILLOW, Alaska (KTUU) UPDATE:

According to Chief Mahlon Greene with the Caswell fire department the pilot tried to land on the highway and hit some power lines before landing in a ditch propped up on the trees.

The pilot of the private plane has minor injuries and was the only person on board, according to Chief Greene.

Firefighters say the highway was never completely shut down, but Alaska State Troopers are still on the scene.

Chief Greene says the NTSB will investigate the crash.

ORIGINAL STORY:

Willow Firefighters say they have been put on standby as the Caswell fire department responds to a plane crash near milepost 89 of the Parks Highway.

One person is being transported to the hospital, but the extent of their injuries is unknown at this time, according to first responders.

Around 4:30 p.m., Matanuska Electric Association posted on its Facebook page a power outage at the Stevens Substation affecting more than 2,000 members. It's unclear if the outage is related to the plane crash at this time. 

Original article can be found here: http://www.ktuu.com

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