# NTSB ANC12LA046: Cessna A185F, N1795R, Skwentna, AK, June 2, 2012 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: June 1, 2012, 16:00 local (Jun 2, 2012, 00:00 UTC) - Place: Skwentna, AK - Coordinates: 60.066665, -150.896667 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=60.0667&lon=-150.8967&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Enroute-cruise: Fuel starvation](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report February 27, 2013 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - Parties: FAA Anchorage FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 83877 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC12LA046 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/83877/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=83877 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC12LA046 ## Probable cause The pilot's improper fuel management, which resulted in fuel starvation and a total loss of engine power in cruise flight. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's failure to follow the checklist after the loss of engine power. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Use of equip/info: use of checklist](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063030): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna A185F, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063030/cases.md?model=2072821), [All aircraft, 336 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063030/cases.md) - [Fuel system: fuel selector/shutoff valve](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022823): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Not used/operated; cases with it: [Cessna A185F, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022823/cases.md?model=2072821), [All aircraft, 176 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022823/cases.md) - [Fluids: fuel](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010): Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware · Fluid management (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna A185F, 8 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md?model=2072821), [All aircraft, 1,695 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md) - [Fluids: fuel](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010): Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware · Fluid level (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna A185F, 8 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md?model=2072821), [All aircraft, 1,695 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Enroute-cruise: Fuel starvation](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna A185F, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191/sequence.md?model=2072821), [All aircraft, 733 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191/sequence.md) - [Enroute-cruise: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341); cases with it: [Cessna A185F, 9 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=2072821), [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md) - [Landing: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Cessna A185F, 36 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=2072821), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The private pilot and one passenger departed from a lake on a personal cross country flight. During the pilot’s preflight check, he noted that the right wing fuel tank contained about 32 gallons of fuel, and the left wing fuel tank contained about 5 gallons of fuel. About 8 miles south of the departure lake, at an altitude of about 2,000 feet mean sea level, the airplane’s engine lost power. The pilot said that he turned on the fuel boost pump, and the engine rpm rose momentarily but dropped again. He stated that he did not recall checking the fuel selector valve as part of his emergency restart procedures. He executed a forced landing in a marsh. The pilot stated that he always operated the airplane with the fuel selector valve in the “Both Tanks On” position; however, a postaccident inspection of the airplane revealed that the airplane’s fuel selector valve was in the “Left Tank Only” position. A postaccident engine run revealed no mechanical anomalies with the engine, and it operated normally at all power settings. An annual inspection of the airplane was completed on May 20, 2012, and the airplane had flown approximately four hours since the inspection. Both the normal “Before Takeoff” and the “Emergency Landing without Engine Power” checklists direct the pilot to check the fuel selector valve position. Given the lack of mechanical deficiencies with the airplane's engine and the discovery of the fuel selector valve in the “Left Tank Only” position, it is likely that the pilot did not check the fuel selector valve either during his preflight or after the loss of engine power. Considering the amount of fuel noted in the left wing fuel tank during the pilot’s preflight, it is also likely that the engine lost power due to fuel starvation. ## Factual narrative On June 1, 2012, about 1600 Alaska daylight time, a float-equipped Cessna A185F airplane, N1795R, sustained substantial damage during a forced landing, following a loss of engine power, near Skwentna, Alaska. The private pilot and sole passenger were not injured. The flight was being operated as a visual flight rules (VFR) personal cross-country flight under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 when the accident occurred. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and a VFR flight plan was filed and active. The flight originated from a private lake about 1545, and was destined to Anchorage, Alaska. In a telephone interview with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigator-in-charge (IIC), the pilot stated that after departure, about 8 miles south of the lake, at an altitude of approximately 2,000 feet mean sea level, the engine RPM began to drop. He turned on the auxiliary fuel boost pump, and the engine RPM rose briefly, but then dropped again. Unable to restart the engine, he selected an area of sparsely treed marsh, and executed an emergency approach and landing. Upon landing, the left wing contacted trees, sustaining substantial damage. He stated that he did not remember checking the fuel selector valve as part of his emergency restart procedures. The pilot said that during preflight, he noted that the right wing fuel tank contained about 32 gallons of fuel, and the left wing fuel tank held about 5 gallons. He said that he always flies the airplane with the fuel selector valve in the "Both Tanks" position. However, during a postaccident inspection by a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector, the fuel selector valve was found in the "Left Tank Only" position. No other preaccident mechanical anomalies were found during the inspection, and the inspector was able to drain approximately one gallon of fuel from the left wing fuel tank. The manufacturer's published procedures in the Pilot's Operating Handbook, Section I - OPERATING CHECKLIST, Page 1-5, BEFORE TAKEOFF checklist states, “(2) Fuel Selector Valve (if installed) -- BOTH ON.” The manufacturer’s published procedures in the Pilot's Operating Handbook, Section III - EMERGENCY PROCEDURES, Page 3-3, EMERGENCY LANDING WITHOUT ENGINE POWER checklist states, "If an engine stoppage occurs, establish a flaps up glide at 80 MPH. If time permits, attempt to restart the engine by checking for fuel quantity, proper fuel selector valve position, and mixture control setting." A postaccident engine run was performed by the pilot's mechanic. The engine was operated approximately eight minutes at cruise power, with the fuel still remaining in the airplane's left wing fuel tank. The engine ran normally for the entire run. After the engine run, the mechanic drained approximately one additional gallon of fuel from the left wing fuel tank. According to the pilot, the airplane had been flown approximately four hours total since it's last annual inspection wascompleted on May 20. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N1795R](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N1795R), registered now, S/N 18502511, built 1974 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA A185F - Registry model: [Cessna A185F](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-a185f) (registry code 2072821) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental IO-520 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-io-520-series) (registry code 17032, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 18502511 - Airframe hours: 4490 - Engines: CONT MOTOR IO 520 SERIES 285 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, May 20, 2012, 4 hours before - Departed: Skwentna, AK - Destination: PALH, Anchorage, AK - Flight plan: VFR ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 63; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review July 6, 2010; seat: left; flight hours: 2,035 total, 400 in this make and model, 4 in the last 90 days, 4 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 330° at 3 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 48 °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 20120601010879A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20120601010879A), Jun 1, 2012: Cessna A185F, Skw, AK, Substantial damage. Takeoff from iris lake, Alaska in cruise flight the engine began to mis-fire and then quit. Re-started by using the emergency fuel boost pump (spring loaded)… ## Other investigations on N1795R (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 ANC81DAG50](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC81DAG50), Jul 10, 1981: Cessna 185F (N1795R), Anchorage, AK, substantial damage ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on January 9, 2013, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=83877. 1.8 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 939 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40384093&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Record of Conversation - Pilot (item 2, .PDF, 67 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40384031&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation%20-%20Pilot-Master.PDF - Record of Conversation - Mechanic (item 3, .PDF, 24 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40384032&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation%20-%20Mechanic-Master.PDF - Photo 1. Photo of Fuel Selector (item 4, .PDF, 790 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40384033&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201.%20Photo%20of%20Fuel%20Selector-Master.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.