# NTSB ANC08LA089: Dehavilland DHC-3, N61FE, Iliamna, AK, July 22, 2008 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: July 22, 2008, 13:00 local (21:00 UTC) - Place: Iliamna, AK - Coordinates: 59.753887, -154.911117 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=59.7539&lon=-154.9111&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Enroute-cruise: Powerplant sys/comp malf/fail](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/340) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report April 15, 2009 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - Parties: Anchorage FSDO-03 - NTSB case key (mKey): 68519 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC08LA089 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/68519/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC08LA089 ## Probable cause A total loss of engine power due to the separation of the number 8 cylinder from the engine, which separated an oil line, resulting in a loss of oil and oil pressure. Contributing to the accident was the float-equipped airplane's forced landing on a road. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Engine (reciprocating): recip eng cyl section](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058530): Aircraft › Aircraft power plant · Failure (probable cause); cases with it: [All aircraft, 373 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058530/cases.md) - [Object/animal/substance: tree(s)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022020): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome; cases with it: [All aircraft, 933 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022020/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Enroute-cruise: Powerplant sys/comp malf/fail](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/340) (defining event); cases with it: [All aircraft, 820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/340/sequence.md) - [Enroute-cruise: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341); cases with it: [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md) - [Enroute-descent: Emergency descent initiated](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/130); cases with it: [All aircraft, 42 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/130/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The solo airline transport pilot was making a local reconnaissance flight in a float-equipped airplane under 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 in conjunction with a wilderness lodge business. The pilot said that he was scouting local lakes and rivers for fish and, while returning to a float pond near the lodge, the airplane's engine lost oil pressure and then lost power. The pilot said that he descended to a road, and that after he touched the floats on the road the left wing struck a tree, causing the airplane to depart the roadway. The airplane sustained damage to the left wing's leading edge and fuselage. A mechanic said that the number 8 cylinder separated from the engine, causing an oil line to separate. ## Factual narrative On July 22, 2008, about 1300 Alaska daylight time, a float-equipped, de Havilland DHC-3 Otter airplane, N61FE, sustained substantial damage when it struck a tree while landing on a road, following an emergency descent, about 4 miles north of Iliamna, Alaska. The airplane was being operated by Rainbow King Lodge Inc., Iliamna, as a visual flight rules (VFR) local flight, in conjunction with its guiding business. The solo commercial pilot was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed. During a telephone conversation with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigator-in-charge (IIC) on July 23, the pilot said he was scouting local lakes and rivers for fish. He said while returning to a float pond near the lodge, the airplane's engine lost oil pressure, and quit. The pilot said he descended to a road, and after touching the floats on the road, the left wing struck a tree, causing the airplane to depart the roadway. He said the airplane sustained damage to the wing's leading edge, and believed the wing might be bent aft. After examination by the pilot and an aviation mechanic, the pilot said the number eight cylinder had separated from the engine, pulling off an oil line. He said the engine had 19 hours since overhaul. ## Aircraft - Registration: N61FE (not matched to a registry record) - Reported make and model: DEHAVILLAND DHC-3 - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 61 - Airframe hours: 15000 - Engines: Pratt &Whitney R1340 600 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Other work use, Part 91 - Operator: Rainbow King Lodge Inc - Registered owner: Rainbow King Lodge Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, May 1, 2008 - Departed: Iliamna, AK ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 61; injuries: none; airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; last flight review November 15, 2007; seat: left; flight hours: 20,000 total, 3,000 in this make and model, 20,000 as pilot in command, 75 in the last 90 days, 75 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 61 °F, dew point 43 °F - Altimeter: 29.82 inHg - Observed at: PAIL, 1 nm away ## 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 20080722843169A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20080722843169A), Jul 22, 2008: Dhav DHC3, Iliamna, AK, Substantial damage. (-23) After take-off [privacy data omitted] was informed that his aircraft was trailing smoke. [privacy data omitted] Saw that he was losing oil pressure… 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.