# NTSB ANC03LA039: Cessna 207, N207SE, Aniak, AK, April 5, 2003 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: April 5, 2003, 13:30 local (17:30 UTC) - Place: Aniak, AK - Coordinates: 61.8525, -159.550003 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=61.8525&lon=-159.5500&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report November 25, 2003 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - Parties: FAA-AL-ANC FSDO 03 - NTSB case key (mKey): 56757 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC03LA039 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/56757/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC03LA039 ## Probable cause The pilot's improper fuel management, and subsequent fuel starvation during cruise flight. A factor contributing to the accident was unsuitable terrain for a forced landing. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, cruise - fluid,fuel - starvation (cause) - fuel management - improper, pilot in command (cause) - Forced landing, emergency descent/landing - In flight collision with object, emergency descent/landing - terrain condition - none suitable (contributing factor) - object - tree(s) ## Analysis The commercial certificated pilot was conducting a cross-country maintenance test flight following a recent engine overhaul. The airplane's engine was recently installed by company maintenance personnel, and the pilot was putting flight hours on the engine. During the flight, the engine oil pressure was indicating about 50 psi. The pilot made a slight change in the engine rpm and manifold pressure settings, and the oil pressure rose rapidly to the top of the operating range. The engine cylinder and oil temperature readings did not change. The engine then lost power. The pilot switched the fuel selector from the left tank to the right tank and activated the engine boost pump. Engine power was not restored, and he switched the selector back to the left tank. The pilot indicated the engine sounded as if it were firing on all cylinders, but only at an idle. The pilot also reported that, "I do not know whether the left fuel tank was completely exhausted of fuel or not. The engine went from power to idle immediately, without any sputtering or coughing." During a forced landing, the airplane collided with trees. An FAA inspector traveled to the accident scene and examined the airplane. He reported that the left fuel tank was empty. The right fuel tank contained about 15 gallons of fuel. He found no evidence of fuel leaking, and the engine and propeller controls were properly attached. The inspector started the engine, but due to broken engine mounts, the engine was not operated above an idle, however throttle movement was applied enough to elicit an increase in rpm. The FAA inspector also reported that the operator sent the engine to a maintenance facility where it operated at full power on an engine test stand. ## Factual narrative On April 5, 2003, about 1330 Alaska standard time, a wheel-equipped Cessna 207 airplane, N207SE, sustained substantial damage when it lost engine power and collided with trees during a forced landing, about 16 miles northwest of Aniak, Alaska. The airplane was being operated as a visual flight rules (VFR) cross-country maintenance test flight from St. Mary's, Alaska, to Aniak, under Title 14, CFR Part 91, when the accident occurred. The airplane was operated by Hageland Aviation Inc., Anchorage, Alaska. The commercial certificated pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and VFR company flight following procedures were in effect. During a telephone conversation with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigator-in-charge (IIC), on April 5, the director of operations for the operator reported that the airplane's engine was recently installed by company maintenance personnel after the engine was overhauled. The engine was overhauled by a maintenance facility in Anchorage, and the pilot was putting flight hours on the engine. The director of operations said the pilot noticed a change in the engine oil pressure, and the engine began to lose power. The pilot made a forced landing in remote terrain. During the emergency landing, the airplane collided with trees and received damage to the right main landing gear, the nose gear, and the fuselage. In the Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report (NTSB Form 6120.1) submitted by the pilot, the pilot reported that during the flight, the engine oil pressure was indicating about 50 psi. He made a slight change in the engine rpm and manifold pressure settings, and the oil pressure rose rapidly to the top of the operating range. The engine cylinder and oil temperature readings did not change. The pilot climbed the airplane to about 2,800 feet msl, and discussed the engine parameters with other company personnel via radio. As the airplane was approaching Aniak, the pilot said the engine lost power. He switched the fuel selector from the left tank to the right tank and activated the engine boost pump. Engine power was not restored, and he switched the selector back to the left tank. The pilot indicated the engine sounded as if it was firing on all cylinders, but only at an idle. The pilot also indicated that, "I do not know whether the left fuel tank was completely exhausted of fuel or not. The engine went from power to idle immediately, without any sputtering or coughing." A Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) aviation safety inspector from the Anchorage Flight Standards District Office (FSDO) traveled to the accident scene on April 9, 2003, and examined the accident airplane. He reported that the left fuel tank was empty. The right fuel tank contained about 15 gallons of fuel. He found no evidence of fuel leaking, and the engine and propeller controls were properly attached. The inspector started the engine, but due to broken engine mounts, the engine was not operated above an idle, however throttle movement was applied enough to elicit an increase in rpm. The FAA inspector also reported that the operator sent the engine to a maintenance facility in Anchorage where it was installed and operated on an engine test stand. On April 16, the engine was operated on the stand at full power. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N207SE](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N207SE-2009-01-16), registration cancelled 2009-01-16, S/N 20700237, built 1973 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 207 - Registry model: [Cessna 207](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-207) (registry code 2073602) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental IO-520 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-io-520-series) (registry code 17032, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 20700237 - Engines: CONTINENTAL IO-520-F 300 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Flight test, Part 91 - Operator: Hageland Aviation Inc. - Registered owner: Gussic Ventures - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: PASM, ST. MARY'S, AK - Destination: PANI, ANIAK, AK - Flight plan: Company VFR ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 47; injuries: none; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 25,000 total, 15,000 in this make and model, 184 in the last 90 days, 70 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 6,500 ft broken - Temperature: -0 °F ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20030405009309A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20030405009309A), Apr 5, 2003: Cessna 207, Aniak, AK, Substantial damage. (-23) During cruise flight, pilot adjusted engine from 25 squared to 25.4 squared. After engine adjustment, engine oil pressure rose from 50 PSI to top of… ## Other investigations on N207SE (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 ANC00LA008](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC00LA008), Oct 27, 1999: Cessna 207 (N207SE), Bethel, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's inadequate evaluation of the weather, and his decision to initiate flight into adverse weather conditions. Factors in the accident were adverse weather consisting of low ceilings and… 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.