Friday, June 26, 2020

Cessna 182R Skylane, N958HP: Accidents occurred June 24, 2020 and April 14, 2016

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. 

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

Additional Participating Entity: 

Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office; Irving, Texas


Location: Winfield, TX
Accident Number: CEN20LA245
Date & Time: 06/24/2020, 1401 CDT
Registration: N958HP
Aircraft: Cessna 182
Injuries:1 Serious 
Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General Aviation - Aerial Observation 

On June 24, 2020, about 1401 central daylight time, a Cessna 182R airplane, N958HP, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Winfield, Texas. The pilot sustained serious injuries. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 91 pipeline patrol flight.

The pilot stated that she departed Cushing Municipal Airport (CUH), Cushing, Oklahoma, with a full fuel load (88 gallons useable) and intended to make a fuel stop at Mount Pleasant Regional Airport (OSA), Mount Pleasant, Texas, before continuing onto Ennis Municipal Airport (F41), Ennis, Texas, where she planned to stay overnight. According to automatic dependent surveillance-broadcast (ADS-B) data, the flight departed CUH about 0953.

The pilot stated that the flight was uneventful until the airplane crossed over US Interstate 30 near Winfield, Texas, at which point she turned from the pipeline right-of-away toward her planned fuel stop at OSA. However, shortly after crossing US Interstate 30, the engine began to "sputter" and "run rough." The pilot attempted to restore engine power by "switching fuel tanks a couple of times" and selecting a full-rich fuel mixture; however, she was unable to restore engine power and it "surged" between idle and a high rpm a couple of times before it had a total loss of engine power. She did not recall hearing the engine backfire or feeling any excessive vibration before the total loss of engine power.

The pilot stated that she had made a couple turns over US Interstate 30 while the engine was running rough and that the vehicle traffic precluded a safe landing on the roadway; there were also high-voltage power lines and antennas in the vicinity. She subsequently located an open field for a forced landing, but the airplane was unable to stop before it collided with a fence and tree line that bordered the field. The pilot stated that she was wearing her 3-point safety harness throughout the flight.

The pilot stated that she generally flies with the fuel selector positioned on BOTH and, as such, does not normally select the right or left fuel tank during a flight. The pilot stated that she does reposition the fuel selector to the left tank before refueling, but also follows a checklist to ensure that she repositions the fuel selector to BOTH before takeoff. She recalled repositioning the fuel selector twice after the engine began running rough but did not remember which fuel selector positions she had attempted. The pilot was unsure if the fuel selector was positioned on BOTH before the engine began to run rough.

The pilot reported that the average fuel consumption rate was 10-11 gallons per hour (gph) for the Cessna 182R airplane, and that the company requires their pilots to land for fuel after 5 hours of flying. The pilot stated that she prefers to calculate her fuel remaining based on how long she has been flying and does not rely on the airplane's analog fuel quantity gauges because they are often inaccurate. The pilot noted that after 4.1 hours of flight time the airplane should still have had about 44 gallons of fuel remaining.

The pilot stated that a typical observation flight is flown about 700 ft above ground level while the pilot observes the pipeline right-of-way for evidence of encroachment, heavy machinery, fire, and pipeline leaks. The pilot noted that most of her attention during the flight had been dedicated to observing the ground. Additionally, the pilot reported that the pipeline company had recently complained that there had been some activity along the right-of-way that should have been spotted and reported during a previous flight, and, as a result, she had deliberately paid more attention to the right-of-way than she had on previous flights.

On March 20, 2020, the engine, a Continental Motors O-470-U18B, serial number 1038697, was remanufactured at the factory. According to maintenance documentation, the engine had accumulated 55.9 hours since it was installed on the airplane.

The airplane wreckage was recovered from the accident site to a secured location and will be examined at a future date. 

Aircraft and Owner/Operator Information

Aircraft Make: Cessna
Registration: N958HP
Model/Series:182 R 
Aircraft Category: Airplane
Amateur Built: No
Operator: Brentco Aerial Patrol
Operating Certificate(s) Held: None 

Meteorological Information and Flight Plan

Conditions at Accident Site: Visual Conditions
Condition of Light:Day 
Observation Facility, Elevation: OSA, 364 ft msl
Observation Time: 1355 CDT
Distance from Accident Site: 10 Nautical Miles
Temperature/Dew Point: 31°C / 21°C
Lowest Cloud Condition: Scattered / 3800 ft agl
Wind Speed/Gusts, Direction: Calm / ,
Lowest Ceiling: None
Visibility:  7 Miles
Altimeter Setting: 29.91 inches Hg
Type of Flight Plan Filed: Company VFR
Departure Point: Cushing, OK (CUH)
Destination: Mount Pleasant, TX (OSA)

Wreckage and Impact Information

Crew Injuries: 1 Serious
Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Passenger Injuries: N/A
Aircraft Fire: None
Ground Injuries: N/A
Aircraft Explosion:None 
Total Injuries: 1 Serious
Latitude, Longitude: 33.164167, -95.147500 (est)

View of airplane from front.
Photo courtesy of the Federal Aviation Administration


Additional Participating Entity: 
Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office; Grand Rapids, Michigan 

Aviation Accident Final Report - National Transportation Safety Board:  https://app.ntsb.gov/pdf

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

Location: Moorestown, MI
Accident Number: GAA16CA196
Date & Time: 04/14/2016, 0917 EST
Registration: N958HP
Aircraft: CESSNA 182
Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Defining Event: Birdstrike
Injuries: 1 Minor
Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General Aviation - Aerial Observation

Analysis

The pilot reported during day visual meteorological conditions, he struck a goose at an altitude of about 2000 mean sea level while in cruise flight. The wind screen was shattered after the impact. The pilot further reported that he continued to the nearest airport and landed without further incident.

A postaccident examination revealed substantial damage to the wind screen.

According to the pilot there were no preimpact mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation.

Probable Cause and Findings

The National Transportation Safety Board determines the probable cause(s) of this accident to be:
An in-flight bird strike, which resulted in windscreen damage.

Findings

Environmental issues
Animal(s)/bird(s) - Effect on equipment (Cause)

Factual Information

History of Flight

Enroute-cruise
Birdstrike (Defining event)

Pilot Information

Certificate: Commercial
Age: 58, Male
Airplane Rating(s): Multi-engine Land; Single-engine Land
Seat Occupied: Left
Other Aircraft Rating(s): None
Restraint Used:
Instrument Rating(s): Airplane
Second Pilot Present: No
Instructor Rating(s): Airplane Single-engine; Instrument Airplane
Toxicology Performed: No
Medical Certification: Class 2 With Waivers/Limitations
Last FAA Medical Exam: 10/14/2015
Occupational Pilot: Yes
Last Flight Review or Equivalent: 08/25/2015
Flight Time:  (Estimated) 21307 hours (Total, all aircraft), 9000 hours (Total, this make and model), 21024 hours (Pilot In Command, all aircraft), 151 hours (Last 90 days, all aircraft), 62 hours (Last 30 days, all aircraft), 6.7 hours (Last 24 hours, all aircraft)

Aircraft and Owner/Operator Information

Aircraft Make: CESSNA
Registration: N958HP
Model/Series: 182 R
Aircraft Category: Airplane
Year of Manufacture:
Amateur Built: No
Airworthiness Certificate: Normal
Serial Number: 18267923
Landing Gear Type: Tricycle
Seats: 4
Date/Type of Last Inspection: 03/23/2016, 100 Hour
Certified Max Gross Wt.: 3100 lbs
Time Since Last Inspection:
Engines: 1 Reciprocating
Airframe Total Time: 16656.6 Hours as of last inspection
Engine Manufacturer:Continental 
ELT: C126 installed, not activated
Engine Model/Series: O-470-U
Registered Owner: BRENTCO AERIAL PATROL
Rated Power: 230 hp
Operator: Robert E. Metzger
Operating Certificate(s) Held: None

Meteorological Information and Flight Plan

Conditions at Accident Site: Visual Conditions
Condition of Light: Day
Observation Facility, Elevation: KGOV, 1149 ft msl
Distance from Accident Site: 19 Nautical Miles
Observation Time: 1315 UTC
Direction from Accident Site: 59°
Lowest Cloud Condition:
Visibility:  10 Miles
Lowest Ceiling: Overcast / 7000 ft agl
Visibility (RVR):
Wind Speed/Gusts: Calm /
Turbulence Type Forecast/Actual: / None
Wind Direction:
Turbulence Severity Forecast/Actual: / N/A
Altimeter Setting: 30.39 inches Hg
Temperature/Dew Point: 1°C / -1°C
Precipitation and Obscuration: No Obscuration; No Precipitation
Departure Point: LIMA, OH (AOH)
Type of Flight Plan Filed: Company VFR
Destination: PORT HURON, MI (PHN)
Type of Clearance: None
Departure Time: 0645 EDT
Type of Airspace: Class G

Airport Information

Airport: ROSCOMMON COUNTY - BLODGETT ME (HTL)
Runway Surface Type: N/A
Airport Elevation: 1149 ft
Runway Surface Condition: Unknown
Runway Used: N/A
IFR Approach:None 
Runway Length/Width:
VFR Approach/Landing: None

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: 44.522222, -85.103056 (est)

1 comment:

  1. Excellent poise to take a bird through the windshield yet remained focused and disciplined. Did not lose control of the airplane. Did not allow a bad situation to become worse. Superb.

    ReplyDelete