# NTSB ANC07LA071: Cessna 185E, N70020, Talkeetna, AK, July 31, 2007 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: July 31, 2007, 15:30 local (23:30 UTC) - Place: Talkeetna, AK - Coordinates: 62.255832, -149.900283 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=62.2558&lon=-149.9003&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report March 31, 2008 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - Parties: Anchorage FSDO-03 - NTSB case key (mKey): 66380 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC07LA071 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/66380/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC07LA071 ## Probable cause The loss of engine power during cruise flight due to an improperly repaired airbox. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power, cruise - normal - throttle/power lever,linkage - missing (cause) - throttle/power lever,bellcrank - not secured (cause) - maintenance,installation - improper, other maintenance personnel (cause) - throttle/power lever - inoperative (cause) - In flight collision with object, emergency descent/landing - object - tree(s) ## Analysis The float-equipped airplane was being operated by the commercial pilot as a VFR cross-country flight in conjunction with his guiding service. The pilot said that he departed one lake en route to another, and about 20 minutes into the flight, the engine went to idle rpm. He said he pushed the throttle forward, and turned the airplane toward a lake, but the airplane descended into trees short of the lake. The airplane sustained extensive damage to the wings and fuselage. The pilot said that there were no known mechanical problems with the airplane prior to the flight. The airplane was examined, and it was found that the support shaft for the throttle and mixture bell cranks was missing, which disconnected the throttle control and allowed the engine to go to idle. The air induction box assembly was examined by the NTSB investigator, and it was discovered that the air box had been repaired with incorrectly substituted parts. The air box (PN 1650012-1) was the correct air box; however, a weld repair had been performed around the shaft support bushings on both sides of the box. The correct solid shaft bushings had been replaced with earlier generation roller bearings. The inappropriate installation did not allow for the support shaft to be properly pinned in place, and did not allow for the redundant safety of the correct installation. The correct parts installation would preclude the support shaft from migrating out of the air box if either shaft end spacer were missing. An examination of the airplane's maintenance log books did not reveal any entries pertaining to the air box repair. ## Factual narrative On July 31, 2007, about 1530 Alaska daylight time, a float-equipped Cessna 185E airplane, N70020, sustained substantial damage when it collided with trees during an emergency descent/landing, following a loss of engine power during cruise flight, about 6 miles southeast of Talkeetna, Alaska. The airplane was being operated by the pilot as a visual flight rules (VFR) cross-country flight in conjunction with his fish guiding service under Title 14, CFR Part 91, when the accident occurred. The commercial certificated pilot and sole passenger were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed. The flight departed Stephan Lake, Alaska, about 1500. During a telephone conversation with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigator-in-charge (IIC) on August 1, the pilot said he was flying from Stephan Lake to Lake Hood, Alaska, cruising at 2,500 feet msl, and was about 20 minutes into the flight when the airplane's engine went to idle rpm, and the airplane started to descend. The pilot said he pushed the throttle forward, and he thought the engine rpm increased slightly, then returned to idle. He said he had turned the airplane toward a lake, but it descended too rapidly, and he landed in trees short of the lake. The airplane sustained extensive damage to the wings and fuselage. The pilot said that the airplane had sat on the water at Stephan Lake for two days prior to the flight, and that he drained the fuel tank sumps prior to takeoff. He said the airplane's fuel tanks were half-full on departure, which was more than enough fuel for the trip. The pilot said that there were no known mechanical problems with the airplane prior to the flight. After being recovered, the airplane was examined by a certificated aircraft mechanic. The mechanic discovered that the support shaft for the throttle and mixture bell cranks was missing. The air induction box assembly was examined by the IIC, and it was discovered that the air box had been repaired with incorrectly substituted parts. The air box (PN 1650012-1) installed in the accident airplane was the correct air box, however, a weld repair had been performed around the shaft support bushings on both sides of the box. The correct solid shaft bushings had been replaced with earlier generation roller bearings. The inappropriate installation did not allow for the support shaft to be properly pinned in place, and did not allow for the redundant safety of the correct installation, which would preclude the shaft from migrating out of the air box if either shaft end spacer were missing. An examination of the airplane's maintenance log books did not reveal any entries pertaining to the air box repair. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N70020](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N70020-2010-04-02), registration cancelled 2010-04-02, S/N 18501895, built 1971 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 185E - Registry model: [Cessna A185E](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-a185e) (registry code 2072818) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental IO-520 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-io-520-series) (registry code 17032, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 18501895 - Airframe hours: 3693 - Engines: Continental IO-520-O24 300 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Other work use, Part 91 - Registered owner: James Bailey - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, July 1, 2006 - Departed: Stephan Lake, AK - Destination: PALH, Lake Hood, AK ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 67; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, single-engine sea; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review July 1, 2005; seat: left; flight hours: 8,980 total, 6,000 in this make and model, 65 in the last 90 days, 35 in the last 30 days, 6 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 5° at 170 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 2,500 ft overcast - Temperature: 61 °F - Altimeter: 30.02 inHg ## 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 20070731018089A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20070731018089A), Jul 31, 2007: Cessna A185E, Talkeetna, AK, Substantial damage. (-23) On 31 July, 2007 at 1500 local Alaska time, float equipped Cessna CE-185, N70020 departed stephan lake on a flight to lake hood, anchorage, AK. Thirty… ## Other investigations on N70020 (4) 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 ANC93FA081](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC93FA081), Jun 6, 1993: Cessna A185E (N70020), Anchorage, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: THE PILOT IN COMMAND EXCEEDING THE MAXIMUM AUTHORIZED GROSS TAKEOFF WEIGHT OF THE AIRPLANE AND HIS FAILURE TO COMPENSATE FOR THE WIND CONDITIONS. A FACTOR IN THE ACCIDENT WAS THE GUSTY WIND CONDITION. - [NTSB ANC80DA019](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC80DA019), Dec 6, 1979: Cessna 185 (N70020), Akiachak, AK, substantial damage - [NTSB ANC75AA024](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC75AA024), Sep 12, 1974: Cessna 185 (N70020), Bethel, AK, substantial damage - [NTSB ANC72DAG70](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC72DAG70), Nov 6, 1971: Cessna 185 (N70020), Glennallen, AK, substantial damage 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.