OpenAirDocs.org

19991017042549A

Accident · Destroyed
Open the Markdown

FAA accident report · Cessna A185E · Lake Wales, FL · October 17, 1999

FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal

© OpenStreetMap
Date
October 17, 1999 · 18:30 local
Place
Lake Wales, FL
Phase of flight
Normal Cruise
Operating rules
General operating rules (Part 91)
Damage
Destroyed
Aircraft
N85PR
NTSB investigation
NTSBMIA00LA009
Reported as
Cessna A185E
Reported engine
Continental IO520D
People aboard
2
Fatal injuries
0
Pilot’s flight hours
1,970 total110 in this make and model15 in the last 90 days
N85PRRegistration cancelled Jul 10, 2000 · Cessna A185ES/N 18501777Airframe modelCessna A185E

From the FAA’s Accident/Incident Data System (AIDS), through its Aviation Safety Information Portal, as reported. The NTSB investigates accidents separately, and its record of an accident is the fuller one. The aircraft is matched to the registry by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

What happened

The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.

(.4)The pilot stated that during cruise flight about 700-800 feet MSL, the engine experienced a gradual loss of power. He attempted to correct the loss of power situation but was unable. While descending for a forced landing, the airplane collided with a tree then the ground and nosed over. Post accident examination of the airplane by an FAA airworthiness inspector revealed that the mixture control at the fuel metering valve was found about half way between midrange and idle cutoff. The mixture control cable was found separated from the rod end which was still attached to the bellcrank (mixture) at the airbox assembly. Damage to about 11 threads at the end of the mixture cable was noted. Maintenance records were reportedly destroyed in the fire. The IA who performed the last annual inspection stated to the FAA inspector that the aircraft owner adjusted the mixture cable rod-end to attain the correct cushion and he (IA) checked it but failed to check the jam nut at the rod end for security. The owner stated that he did not adjust the engine controls in the engine compartment and thought the IA adjusted the engine controls. The pilot is not a certificated mechanic. (-23)attached inspector's statement

As the FAA filed it

(.4)THE PILOT STATED THAT DURING CRUISE FLIGHT ABOUT 700-800 FEET MSL, THE ENGINE EXPERIENCED A GRADUAL LOSS OF POWER. HE ATTEMPTED TO CORRECT THE LOSS OF POWER SITUATION BUT WAS UNABLE. WHILE DESCENDING FOR A FORCED LANDING, THE AIRPLANE COLLIDED WITH A TREE THEN THE GROUND AND NOSED OVER. POST ACCIDENT EXAMINATION OF THE AIRPLANE BY AN FAA AIRWORTHINESS INSPECTOR REVEALED THAT THE MIXTURE CONTROL AT THE FUEL METERING VALVE WAS FOUND ABOUT HALF WAY BETWEEN MIDRANGE AND IDLE CUTOFF. THE MIXTURE CONTROL CABLE WAS FOUND SEPARATED FROM THE ROD END WHICH WAS STILL ATTACHED TO THE BELLCRANK (MIXTURE) AT THE AIRBOX ASSEMBLY. DAMAGE TO ABOUT 11 THREADS AT THE END OF THE MIXTURE CABLE WAS NOTED. MAINTENANCE RECORDS WERE REPORTEDLY DESTROYED IN THE FIRE. THE IA WHO PERFORMED THE LAST ANNUAL INSPECTION STATED TO THE FAA INSPECTOR THAT THE AIRCRAFT OWNER ADJUSTED THE MIXTURE CABLE ROD-END TO ATTAIN THE CORRECT CUSHION AND HE (IA) CHECKED IT BUT FAILED TO CHECK THE JAM NUT AT THE ROD END FOR SECURITY. THE OWNER STATED THAT HE DID NOT ADJUST THE ENGINE CONTROLS IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT AND THOUGHT THE IA ADJUSTED THE ENGINE CONTROLS. THE PILOT IS NOT A CERTIFICATED MECHANIC. (-23)ATTACHED INSPECTOR'S STATEMENT

NTSB investigation

The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.

NTSB MIA00LA009Accident · Minor injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportLake Wales, FLThe partial loss of engine power due to the inadequate annual inspection of the airplane by the mechanic with IA for his failure to assure that the mixture control cable jam nut at the rod end was secured following the reported adjustment by the airplane…Oct 17, 1999 · Substantial damage