# Accident 20221005016789A: Cessna A185F, Fairbanks, AK, October 5, 2022

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: October 5, 2022, 16:00 local time
- Place: Fairbanks, AK
- Airport: Chena Marina
- Damage: Minor damage
- Phase of flight: Taxi
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 64.8129° N, 147.9214° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=64.8129&lon=-147.9214&mi=10
- Aircraft: N217C, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N217C-2026-03-28) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Cessna A185F (registry code 2072821, https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-a185f) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Continental IO-520 series (registry code 17032, https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-io-520-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA A185F
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 1
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Private pilot
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ANC23FA001](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC23FA001) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20221005016789A

## Narrative

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

PILOT IN COMMAND (PIC) ATTEMPTED TO TAKE OFF FROM FLOAT POND BUT NEVER GOT AIRBORNE.  WHILE TAXIING BACK FOR ANOTHER TAKE OFF ATTEMPT, ENGINE POWER WAS REDUCED AND PILOT ATTEMPTED LEFT TURN, THE NOSE OF LEFT FLOAT SUBMERGED UNDER WATER CAUSING THE AIRCRAFT TO NOSE OVER.  THE ACTION OF THE NOSE OVER CAUSED A SHIFT IN THE GEAR/LOAD BEHIND THE PILOT TO COME FORWARD, RESTRICTING THE PIC FROM EXITING AIRCRAFT.  THE AIRCAFT SANK IN THE WATER SUBMERGING THE CREW COMPARTMENT.  TYPE CERTIFICATE DATA SHEET STATES MAX GROSS WEIGHT OF 3320 FOR FLOATPLANE LEAVING 1245 POUNDS OF USEFUL LOAD.  ESTIMATED MAX GROSS WEIGHT OF AIRCRAFT AT TIME OF ACCIDENT WAS 3594 LBS.  AIRCRAFT WAS ESTIMATED TO BE 274 LBS OVER GROSS.  ALL FUEL TANKS WERE VERIFIED FULL AT ACCIDENT SITE, EVIDENCE OF FUEL LEAKING FROM CAPS.  CARGO BEHIND THE PILOT DID NOT SHOW EVIDENCE OF BEING SECURED TO PREVENT SHIFT DURING FLIGHT.

INVESITGATION LED TO DISCOVERY OF MAINTENANCE PERFORMED ON FLOATS BY PILOT^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ AND TWO FASTENER HOLES ON BOTTOM OF EACH FLOAT WERE LEFT UNFILLED, ALLOWING WATER TO ENTER FRONT CHAMBER OF FLOATS.  ALSO OBSERVED TWO PATCHES ON BOTTOM OF FLOATS THAT WERE SEVERLY CORRODED.

## 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 ANC23FA001](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC23FA001), Oct 6, 2022: Cessna A185F (N217C), Fairbanks, AK, no damage, 1 fatal. Probable cause: The improperly maintained floats, which allowed water to fill the front compartments and resulted in the airplane nosing over during taxi. Contributing to the fatal injury of the pilot was the…

## Other reports on N217C (1)

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.

- [Incident 19930717034749I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19930717034749I), Jul 17, 1993: Cessna A185F (N217C), Leeville, LA, Minor damage. Aircraft struck superstructure of fishing vessel with right float on liftoff from fishermans bay.

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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