# NTSB ANC17LA024: Cessna U206F, N9575G, Noatak, AK, May 23, 2017 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: May 22, 2017, 18:23 local (May 23, 2017, 02:23 UTC) - Place: Noatak, AK - Coordinates: 68.471389, -162.225006 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=68.4714&lon=-162.2250&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Taxi](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/250) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Taxi: Fire/smoke (non-impact)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/150) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report November 6, 2019 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - Parties: Textron Aviation, Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 95224 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC17LA024 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/95224/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=95224 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC17LA024 ## Probable cause A fire in the airplane's cabin, which initiated for reasons that could not be determined due to extensive thermal damage. ## 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) ## Analysis The commercial pilot reported that, after landing at a remote, unimproved off-airport landing site, he taxied the airplane to the end of the strip, and he turned around while raising the flaps. Immediately thereafter, he felt heat on the left side of his face. Subsequently, he saw flames in the aft cabin near the right cargo door. Both the pilot and passenger immediately exited the airplane. The cockpit, baggage area, right wing, left wing fuel cell, fuselage section forward of the vertical stabilizer, and the contents of the airplane were mostly consumed by fire. Due to the extensive thermal damage, the source of the fire could not be determined. ## Factual narrative On May 22, 2017, about 1823 Alaska daylight time, a Cessna U206F airplane, N9575G, was destroyed following a fire while taxiing, after landing at a remote unimproved off airport landing site near Noatak, Alaska. The airplane was registered to and operated by Golden Eagle Outfitters, as a visual flight rules flight under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 135 when the accident occurred. The certificated commercial pilot and one passenger were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and company flight following procedures were in effect. The flight departed Ralph Wein Memorial Airport (OTZ), Kotzebue, Alaska at about 1800. The pilot reported that after landing, at the remote unimproved off-airport landing site, he taxied to the end of the strip and turned around while raising the airplane's flaps. Immediately thereafter, he felt heat on the left side of his face, he glanced out the left side pilot window, and then turned his head to the right, when he noticed flames in the aft cabin near the right-side cargo door. Both the pilot and passenger immediately exited the airplane. The pilot stated that he attempted to regain access to the burning airplane through the right-side cargo door but was unable due to the heat and flames. The passenger provided a list of items that were onboard the airplane at the time of the accident, that included, in part: two duffel bags with personal and camping gear, two action packers with camp food and research supplies, two sealed packages of AA and AAA alkaline batteries, two laptop computers equipped with lithium batteries, a partial can of Coleman camp stove fuel and camp stove, a sealed 12-volt battery, field shovel, soil probe and stream flow meter. A review of the airplanes maintenance records revealed that on March 11, 2017, the right main fuel bladder had been replaced and a new fuel bladder assembly installed with new gaskets and clips. In addition, the fuel selector was replaced with a rebuilt fuel selector. On July 13, 2017, the NTSB IIC, along with a Federal Aviation Administration safety inspector from the Fairbanks Flight Standards District Office and a representative from Textron Aviation examined the airframe and engine at the facilities of Alaska Claims Services, Inc., Wasilla, Alaska. The cockpit, baggage area, right wing, left wing fuel cell and fuselage section forward of the vertical stabilizer, along with the contents of the airplane were largely consumed by fire. The fuel selector was located and exhibited extensive thermal damage. The fuel lines were melted through, however, all the B-nuts attaching the aluminum fuel lines to the fuel selector appeared to be in place. ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Taxi: Fire/smoke (non-impact)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/150) (defining event) ## Aircraft - Registration: [N9575G](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N9575G), registered now, S/N U20601775, built 1972 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA U206F - Registry model: [Cessna U206F](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-u206f) (registry code 2073333) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental IO-520 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-io-520-series) (registry code 17032, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: U20601775 - Year built: 1972 - Airframe hours: 14189 - Engines: Continental IO-520 300 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Fire: On-Ground - Flight: Part 135 - Operator: Golden Eagle Outfitters - Registered owner: Golden Eagle Outfitters - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, May 1, 2017 - Departed: Kotzebue, AK - Destination: Noatak, AK - Flight plan: Company VFR - Equipment: Satellite tracking device ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 35; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; last flight review February 27, 2017; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 9,300 total, 5,000 in this make and model, 9,300 as pilot in command, 259 in the last 90 days, 70 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 280° at 9 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 55 °F, dew point 27 °F - Altimeter: 29.70 inHg - Observed at: PATZ, 38 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 20170522011009A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20170522011009A), May 22, 2017: Cessna U206F, Kotzebue, AK, Destroyed. On may 22 2017 at 17:57 local time PIC took off from Kotzebue airport (paot) on a routine flight with one passenger, who PIC has flown to the same location for… ## Other investigations on N9575G (3) 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 ANC13CA002](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC13CA002), Oct 9, 2012: Cessna U206F (N9575G), Buckland, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's loss of airplane control during final approach in gusty wind conditions. - [NTSB ANC98LA013](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC98LA013), Dec 16, 1997: Cessna 206 (N9575G), Mnt. Village, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's improper flare and recovery from a bounced landing. - [NTSB ANC80DAG18](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC80DAG18), Dec 4, 1979: Cessna 206 (N9575G), Marshall, AK, substantial damage ## Docket (5 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on July 26, 2019, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=95224. 1.9 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 911 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40474608&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Passenger Statement (item 2, .PDF, 43 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40474604&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Passenger%20Statement-Master.PDF - Maintenance Records (item 3, .PDF, 259 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40474605&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Maintenance%20Records-Master.PDF - Statement of Party Representatives to NTSB Investigation (item 4, .PDF, 236 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40474606&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Statement%20of%20Party%20Representatives%20to%20NTSB%20Investigation-Master.PDF - Photos (item 5, .PDF, 2 photos, 420 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40474607&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photos-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.