# NTSB ANC12LA051: Dehavilland DHC-2, N121KT, Talkeetna, AK, June 14, 2012 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: June 13, 2012, 19:15 local (Jun 14, 2012, 03:15 UTC) - Place: Talkeetna, AK - Coordinates: 62.349998, -150.28334 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=62.3500&lon=-150.2833&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Enroute-climb to cruise: Loss of engine power (partial)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 7 uninjured - Status: Completed, report November 5, 2012 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 83966 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC12LA051 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/83966/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=83966 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC12LA051 ## Probable cause The loss of engine power after departure due to the separation of an engine cylinder. ## 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: [Dehavilland DHC-2 MK. I(L20A), 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058530/cases.md?model=2808002), [All aircraft, 373 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058530/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Enroute-climb to cruise: Loss of engine power (partial)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342) (defining event); cases with it: [Dehavilland DHC-2 MK. I(L20A), 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342/sequence.md?model=2808002), [All aircraft, 1,858 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342/sequence.md) - [Enroute-climb to cruise: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341); cases with it: [Dehavilland DHC-2 MK. I(L20A), 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=2808002), [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md) - [Emergency descent: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Dehavilland DHC-2 MK. I(L20A), 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=2808002), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot and six passengers were on an air tour flight over a remote area. After departure, and about 1200 feet above the ground, the engine began to run rough followed by a total loss of engine power. The pilot made a forced landing to a gravel bar along a river. On landing, the airplane bounced over logs and ditches and sustained substantial damage. A postaccident examination revealed that the No. 2 cylinder head had cracks radiating from the spark plug hole throughout the cylinder head, and it had begun to separate from the cylinder base. ## Factual narrative On June 13, 2012, about 1915 Alaska daylight time, a de Havilland DHC-2 airplane, N121KT, sustained substantial damage during a forced landing, following a loss of engine power after takeoff from the Talkeetna Airport (PATK), Talkeetna, Alaska. The certificated commercial pilot, and six passengers were not injured. The airplane was registered to, and operated by Rusts Flying Service, doing business as K2 Aviation, under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal regulations Part 135, as a visual flight rules (VFR) sightseeing flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and company flight following procedures were in effect. The pilot reported that he had departed runway 18, at PATK, on a scenic tour flight, and had reduced power to a cruise climb setting. At approximately 1200 feet above the ground, the engine began to run rough, and lose power. The pilot turned back toward PATK, and performed emergency procedures to restore power. The engine continued to run rough at reduced power, and the pilot could not maintain altitude, followed by a total loss of engine power. He made a forced landing to a sand bar on the Chulitna River. On landing the airplane bounced over logs and ditches, and sustained substantial damage to the horizontal stabilizer, elevators, empennage, and main landing gear. After the aircraft was recovered, a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector from the Anchorage Flight Standards District Office (FSDO), examined the airplane in Talkeetna, on June 14. The inspector reported that the number two cylinder head had cracks radiating from the spark plug hole throughout the cylinder head, and it had begun to separate from the cylinder base. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N121KT](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N121KT), registered now, S/N 1407, built 1958 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: DEHAVILLAND DHC-2 - Registry model: [Dehavilland DHC-2 MK. I(L20A)](https://openairdocs.org/model/dehavilland-dhc-2-mk-i-l20a) (registry code 2808002) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Pratt & Whitney R-985 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-r-985-series) (registry code 52008, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 1407 - Airframe hours: 14901 - Engines: Pratt & Whitney R-985 450 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Part 135 - Operator: Rustair Inc, doing business as K2 Aviation - Registered owner: Rustair Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, June 2, 2012, 13 hours before - Departed: PATK, Talkeetna, AK - Destination: Talkeetna, AK - Flight plan: Company VFR - Airport: PATK, Talkeetna Airport ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 41; injuries: none; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine sea; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; last flight review May 30, 2012; seat: left; flight hours: 5,338 total, 287 in this make and model, 5,244 as pilot in command, 95 in the last 90 days, 73 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 200° at 7 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 54 °F, dew point 45 °F - Altimeter: 29.97 inHg - Observed at: PATK, 5 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 20120613012689A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20120613012689A), Jun 13, 2012: Dehavilland DHC-2 MK. I(L20A), Talkeetna, AK, Substantial damage. On June 13, 2012 at 1908 adt, N121KT tookoff from tka when at 1500 MSL, the pilot experienced a rough engine and a loss of power. The pilot turned back to tka… ## Other investigations on N121KT (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 ANC13CA018](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC13CA018), Dec 17, 2012: Dehavilland DHC-2 MK. I(L20A) (N121KT), Skwentna, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's loss of control while landing in gusting wind conditions. ## Docket (1 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on July 27, 2012, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=83966. 579 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 579 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40372836&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-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.