# NTSB ANC10LA074: Cessna U206G, N9815M, Homer, AK, August 19, 2010 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: August 19, 2010, 14:08 local (22:08 UTC) - Place: Homer, AK - Coordinates: 59.568054, -150.905273 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=59.5681&lon=-150.9053&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Enroute-cruise: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 4 uninjured - Status: Completed, report May 26, 2011 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 77070 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC10LA074 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/77070/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=77070 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC10LA074 ## Probable cause The loss of engine power for an undetermined reason, resulting in an off-airport emergency landing and subsequent nose over. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Not determined](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000): Not determined › Not determined · Unknown/Not determined (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna U206G, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md?model=2073356), [All aircraft, 2,247 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md) - [Terrain: rough terrain](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021015): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome; cases with it: [Cessna U206G, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021015/cases.md?model=2073356), [All aircraft, 442 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021015/cases.md) - [Engine (reciprocating)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058500): Aircraft › Aircraft power plant · Inoperative (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna U206G, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058500/cases.md?model=2073356), [All aircraft, 497 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058500/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Enroute-cruise: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna U206G, 10 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=2073356), [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md) - [Enroute-cruise: Emergency descent initiated](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/130); cases with it: [Cessna U206G, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/130/sequence.md?model=2073356), [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: [Cessna U206G, 16 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=2073356), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096); cases with it: [Cessna U206G, 9 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md?model=2073356), [All aircraft, 2,287 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that during descent, about 18 miles east of the destination airport, the airplane experienced a sudden and complete loss of engine power. After several unsuccessful attempts to restart the engine, the pilot made an emergency landing on a glacier. During the landing roll the airplane encountered a crevasse and nosed over. After the landing, the pilot reported seeing fuel leaking from both fuel caps on top of the wings and from the engine cowling. After the airplane was recovered, a Federal Aviation Administration inspector removed about 8 gallons of fuel from each of the two main fuel tanks. Fuel was also found in both header tanks. The inspector said the fuel appeared to be clear and free of water and other contaminants and flowed freely from the fuel tanks to the engine. The airplane was refueled prior to the flight, and fuel samples from the commercial fuel facility showed no signs of contamination. The engine was installed on an engine test stand and run through a series of power settings. No oil/fuel leaks or mechanical anomalies were found. No reason for the loss of engine power was discovered during the postaccident inspections. ## Factual narrative On August 19, 2010, about 1408 Alaska daylight time a Cessna U206G airplane, N9815M, sustained substantial damage during an off-airport emergency landing, about 18 miles east of Homer, Alaska. The airplane was being operated by Homer Air Inc., Homer, as a visual flight rules (VFR) sightseeing flight under 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 135, when the accident occurred. The commercial pilot and the three passengers were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and VFR company flight following procedures were in effect. The flight departed Homer about 1050. In a written statement dated August 23, the pilot reported that about 18 miles east of Homer, at an altitude of 5,000 feet msl, the airplane had a sudden and complete loss of power. He wrote that he switched fuel tanks, and turned on the fuel boost pump, but the windmilling engine failed to restart. During an emergency landing on the Grewink Glacier, the airplane encountered a crevasse and nosed over. After exiting the airplane, the pilot said he saw fuel leaking from both wing-top fuel caps and the engine cowl. He said the airplane sustained substantial damage to the wings and the vertical stabilizer. During interviews with the NTSB investigator-in-charge (IIC), an FAA inspector who was at the site during the airplane's recovery, said after righting the airplane, he removed about 8 gallons of fuel from each of the two main fuel tanks. He said the fuel appeared to be clear and free of water and other contaminants. He said fuel flow was established from the fuel tanks to the engine. The airplane was refueled prior to the flight, and fuel samples obtained from the commercial fuel facility showed the fuel was clear, free of water and sediment, and the appropriate color and smell. No reports of fuel contamination had been received by the fuel supplier. A review of the airplane's engine and airframe logbooks by the IIC and the FAA did not disclose any mechanical anomalies. On November 10, 2010, under the supervision of the NTSB IIC and a representative of the engine manufacturer, the engine was removed from the airplane and installed on an engine test stand. The engine was successfully run through a series of power settings. No leaks or mechanical anomalies were discovered during the test runs. The fuel system was removed from the airplane by the NTSB IIC and examined. No anomalies were found with the fuel and vent systems. The fuel tanks and lines were free of contamination. The ignition system was examined by the IIC. All the wire bundles and connections appeared to be intact. The ignition switch was removed and bench tested for function, and no anomalies were found. No evidence was discovered during any of the postaccident examinations of any preimpact mechanical abnormalities. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N9815M](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N9815M-2015-03-20), registration cancelled 2015-03-20, S/N U20604572, built 1978 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA U206G - Registry model: [Cessna U206G](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-u206g) (registry code 2073356) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental IO-520 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-io-520-series) (registry code 17032, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: U20604572 - Airframe hours: 16754 - Engines: CONT MOTOR IO 520 SERIES 300 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Part 135 - Operator: Homer Air Inc., doing business as Homer Air Inc. - Registered owner: Meridian Aviation Services LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, August 16, 2010 - Departed: PAHO, Homer, AK - Destination: PAHO, Homer, AK - Flight plan: Company VFR ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 29; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review May 12, 2010; seat: left; flight hours: 8,200 total, 4,000 in this make and model, 8,000 as pilot in command, 193 in the last 90 days, 56 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none ## 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 20100819043879A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20100819043879A), Aug 19, 2010: Cessna U206G, Homer, AK, Substantial damage. At approximately 1410 ast at an altitude of 5000' MSL, there was a sudden total power failure. The pilot immediately switched from the right fuel tank to the… ## Docket (9 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on March 29, 2011, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=77070. 1.6 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 602 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40345761&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Additional Pilot Statement (item 2, .PDF, 83 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40345763&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Additional%20Pilot%20Statement-Master.PDF - Passenger Statements (item 3, .PDF, 7 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40345769&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Passenger%20Statements-Redacted.PDF - Operator Statements (item 4, .PDF, 616 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40345770&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Operator%20Statements-Redacted.PDF - Record of Conversation - FAA (item 5, .PDF, 53 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40345762&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation%20-%20FAA-Master.PDF - Fuel Test (item 6, .PDF, 39 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40345766&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Fuel%20Test-Redacted.PDF - Fuel Log (item 7, .PDF, 79 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40345767&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Fuel%20Log-Redacted.PDF - Engine Run Log (item 8, .PDF, 38 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40345768&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Engine%20Run%20Log-Redacted.PDF - Statement of Party Representatives to NTSB Investigation (item 9, .PDF, 55 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40345765&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Statement%20of%20Party%20Representatives%20to%20NTSB%20Investigation-Redacted.PDF 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.