# Accident 20140919017709A: Cessna 180B, Near Clayton La, ME, September 19, 2014

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: September 19, 2014, 18:15 local time
- Place: Near Clayton La, ME
- Airport: N/A
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Maneuver
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 44.6949° N, 69.3826° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=44.6949&lon=-69.3826&mi=10
- Aircraft: N180GK, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N180GK-2018-02-09) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Cessna 180B (registry code 2072606, https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-180b) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Continental O-470 series (registry code 17026, https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-o-470-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 180B
- Reported engine: CONT MOTOR O-470 SERIES
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 1
- Pilot certificates: Private pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 1,150 total, 900 in this make and model, 55 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ERA14LA446](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA14LA446) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20140919017709A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

CESSNA 180, N180GK (FLOATPLANE)

ON 9/19/2014, AT APPROXIMATELY 17:30, PILOT ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ DEPARTED MUD POND (NEAR CHAMBERLAIN LAKE) WITH A FRIEND. THEY FLEW TO THE CLAYTON LAKE AREA AND AFTER ABOUT 40 ? 45 MINUTES THEY WERE AT 2500 FT. ALTITUDE AND 4 MILES NORTH OF LAKE ROSS. THEY FIRST HEARD A SLIGHT SQUEAL AND THEN THE ENGINE STARTED TO SPUTTER. A SHORT TIME LATER, THEY WERE AT 1500 FT AGL WHEN THE ENGINE AND PROP COMPLETELY STOPPED. HE COULD NOT MAKE THE LAKE BUT HE SAW A DIRT ROAD TO THE LEFT. AS HE TURNED TO LAND ON THE ROAD, THE RIGHT WING CLIPPED A 60 FT TREE, THEY HIT HARD ON THE FLOATS (SOMEWHAT SIDEWAYS) AND SLID INTO THE DITCH BESIDE THE DIRT ROAD. THE PILOT WAS SHAKEN BUT RELATIVELY UNINJURED. THE PASSENGER HIT HIS HEAD AND WAS BLEEDING FROM A 2 INCH GASH ON HIS HEAD. THEY COULD SEE & SMELL FUEL, SO THEY IMMEDIATELY CLIMBED OUT OF THE AIRCRAFT.

THE CRASH SCENE IS LOCATED NEAR CLATON LAKE, ME. IN T10 R15 WELS, LAT N46-33-03.02, LONG W69-41-05.13, A FEW MILES NORTH OF ROSS LAKE WHICH IS A VERY REMOTE LOCATION IN NORTH WESTERN MAINE. THE MAINE WARDEN SERVICE WAS THE FIRST TO ARRIVE AT THE SCENE AND MADE ARRANGEMENTS TO TRANSPORT BOTH MEN TO THE CLOSEST HOSPITAL IN MILLINOCKET (2 HOURS AWAY, OVER 90 MILES OF DIRT/SHALE ROADS). BOTH MEN WERE EXAMINED, TREATED AS NECESSARY AND RELEASED THE SAME DAY. THE WARDEN NOTICED FUEL DRIPPING FROM THE AIRCRAFT AND ESTIMATED THERE WERE AT LEAST 20 GALLONS OF FUEL ONBOARD.  HE ALSO NOTED THE PROP WAS STRAIGHT AND RELATIVELY UNDAMAGED INDICATING NO ENGINE POWER/ROTATION ON IMPACT.

STATE POLICE DESCRIBED THE AIRCRAFT AS DESTROYED WITH THE FLOATS CRUSHED UNDER THE FUSELAGE, BOTH WINGS DAMAGED, AFT FUSELAGE BUCKLED AND THE COCKPIT/PASSENGER AREA DAMAGED BUT RELATIVELY INTACT. THEIR ON-SCENE ANALYSIS WAS; RIGHT WING CLIPPED A TREE (60 FEET ABOVE GROUND), FLOATS THEN IMPACTED ROAD (60FT FROM TREE) AND SLID INTO DITCH (IT IS APPROXIMATELY 150 FT FROM THE TREE TO WHERE AIRCRAFT CAME TO REST).

SUBSEQUENT INVESTIGATION REVEALED THE #3 CYLINDER EXHAUST VALVE FAILED CAUSING LARGE HOLE IN #3 PISTON. NTSB IS HAVING ENGINE SENT TO CONTINENTAL FOR FURTHER EVALUATION. ENGINE HAD 605 HOURS SINCE FACTORY REMAN.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB ERA14LA446](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA14LA446), Sep 19, 2014: Cessna 180B (N180GK), Piscataquis County, ME, substantial damage. Probable cause: The fatigue fracture of the No. 3 exhaust valve, which initiated at the outer surface of the valve stem and resulted in the subsequent total loss of engine power over terrain unsuitable for landing.

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft 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. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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