# NTSB ANC18LA073: Cessna A185, N70391, Fairbanks, AK, September 27, 2018 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: September 27, 2018, 15:00 local (23:00 UTC) - Place: Fairbanks, AK - Coordinates: 64.760559, -148.596389 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=64.7606&lon=-148.5964&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Enroute-cruise: Fuel exhaustion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report June 29, 2020 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 98392 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC18LA073 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/98392/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=98392 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC18LA073 ## Probable cause The total loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [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) - [Object/animal/substance: tree(s)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022020): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome; cases with it: [Cessna A185F, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022020/cases.md?model=2072821), [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: Fuel exhaustion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna A185F, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192/sequence.md?model=2072821), [All aircraft, 804 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192/sequence.md) - [Emergency descent: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440); cases with it: [Cessna A185F, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=2072821), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that, before departure for the 24-minute roundtrip flight, the airplane was refueled; 25 gallons of useable fuel was on board the airplane. The fuel quantity was confirmed with a custom-made fuel dipstick before departure. After landing at a lake, the pilot departed for the return flight. While in level cruise flight, at an altitude of about 1,000 ft above ground level (agl), the engine lost total power. In an effort to restore power, the pilot switched fuel tanks and activated the fuel boost pump to no avail. He performed an emergency descent to a landing on a small lake, during which the airplane impacted trees, the floats separated from the fuselage, and the airplane came to rest partially submerged with substantial damage to the wings and fuselage. Postaccident examination revealed that both left and right fuel tanks were intact; however, the fuel bladders were loose in the tank cavity with wrinkles present. About 2 gallons of fuel were recovered from the fuel tanks. The fuel line between the fuel pump and the fuel control unit was removed, and about 2 tablespoons of fluid that was light blue in color and consistent with 100LL AvGas was recovered. The fuel line between the fuel control unit and fuel manifold was removed, and no fluid was present. Examination of the engine revealed no evidence of malfunctions or anomalies. The airplane was equipped with optional long-range fuel tanks. According to the owner's manual, the total unusable fuel for an aircraft equipped with long-range fuel tanks is 6 gallons. The investigation was unable to determine if the loose fuel bladders were a result of the accident or recovery and what impact they would have had on fuel quantity and unusable fuel. However, given the lack of malfunctions or anomalies noted during the engine examination and the lack of fluid present in the fuel lines, it is likely that the engine lost power due to fuel exhaustion. ## Factual narrative On September 27, 2018, about 1500 Alaska daylight time, a float-equipped Cessna A185F airplane, N70391, sustained substantial damage during a forced landing following a total loss of engine power while in level cruise flight near Fairbanks, Alaska. The airline transport pilot was not injured. The airplane was registered to and operated by the pilot as a 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 visual flight rules (VFR) flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed. The flight departed Chena Marina Airport (AK28), Fairbanks, Alaska for an unknown lake in the Minto Flats near Fairbanks, Alaska with a planned return to AK28. According to the pilot, prior to departure for the 24-minute round trip flight, the airplane was refueled and a total of 25 gallons of useable fuel was on board the airplane. The fuel quantity was confirmed with a custom-made fuel dipstick prior to departure. After landing at an unknown lake in the Minto Flats, the pilot departed for the return leg to AK28. While in level cruise flight, at an altitude of about 1,000 feet above ground level (AGL), the engine lost all power. In an effort to restore power, the pilot switched fuel tanks and activated the fuel boost pump. When power was not restored, he performed an emergency descent to a small lake. During the emergency descent and landing, the airplane impacted trees, the floats separated from the fuselage and the airplane came to rest partially submerged, resulting in substantial damage to the wings and fuselage. A postaccident examination of the airframe and engine revealed that both left and right fuel tanks were intact and about 35 gallons of fluid was drained from the tanks. Of that 35 gallons, about 2 gallons of fuel was recovered. Examination of the fuel bladders revealed that both left and right bladders were loose in the tank cavity with wrinkles present. The fuel line between the fuel pump and the fuel control unit was removed and about 2 tablespoons of fluid light blue in color consistent with 100LL AvGas was recovered. The fuel line between the fuel control unit and fuel manifold was removed and no fluid was present. The airplane was equipped with optional long-range fuel tanks. According to the Cessna 185 Owner's Manual, the total unusable fuel for an aircraft equipped with long range fuel tanks is 6 gallons. Examination of the Continental IO-520 engine revealed no anomalies, or evidence of malfunction in any of the accessories. The cylinders, piston, valve train and crankshaft, and other internal components were all without evidence of anomaly or malfunction. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N70391](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N70391), registered now, S/N 18502144, built 1973 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna A185 (F) - 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: 18502144 - Year built: 1973 - Airframe hours: 4389.3 - Engines: Continental IO-520-D 300 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, September 27, 2017 - Departed: Fairbanks, AK - Destination: Fairbanks, AK - Equipment: Stall warning system ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 27; injuries: none; commercial, airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land, single-engine sea; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; last flight review July 5, 2018; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 3,150 total, 150 in this make and model, 1,828 as pilot in command, 242 in the last 90 days, 238 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 80° at 7 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Temperature: 52 °F, dew point 36 °F - Altimeter: 30.31 inHg - Observed at: PAFA ## 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 20180927014079A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20180927014079A), Sep 27, 2018: Cessna A185F, Fairbanks, AK, Substantial damage. Pilot stated during cruise his engine quit. He was at about 1000 feet above ground level. Pilot attempted to restart but was unsucessful. Pilot found a small… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on March 19, 2020, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=98392. 3.6 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 3.4 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40481391&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Photos (item 2, .PDF, 263 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40481392&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.