# NTSB ANC91LA096: De Havilland DHC-2, N5538G, King Salmon, AK, July 5, 1991

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: July 4, 1991, 19:30 local (Jul 5, 1991, 03:30 UTC)
- Place: King Salmon, AK
- Coordinates: 56.959899, -158.58023 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=56.9599&lon=-158.5802&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 6 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report March 24, 1993
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office
- NTSB case key (mKey): 5577
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC91LA096
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/5577/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC91LA096

## Probable cause

THE FORCED LANDING ON THE ROUGH TERRAIN AND THE ENGINE POWER LOSS DUE TO THE FAILURE OF THE ENGINE COLLECTOR INTERMEDIATE BEARINGS.

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Loss of engine power(partial) - mech failure/malf, cruise - normal
  - engine assembly,bearing - failure,total (cause)
- Forced landing, descent - uncontrolled
- In flight collision with terrain/water, landing - flare/touchdown
  - terrain condition - rough/uneven
  - terrain condition - none suitable (cause)

## Analysis

ABOUT 15 MINUTES AFTER TAKEOFF WHILE IN CRUISE FLIGHT, THE ENGINE BEGAN RUNNING ROUGH AND SMOKING, THEN LOST POWER. A FORCED LANDING WAS MADE ON THE TUNDRA. DISASSEMBLY OF THE ENGINE REVEALED THAT THE 3 COLLECTOR INTERMEDIATE SEARINGS AND FAILED.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N5538G (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: DE HAVILLAND DHC-2
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 1295
- Airframe hours: 11655
- Engines: P&W R-985 450 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Business, Part 91
- Operator: Michael L. Cusack, doing business as King Salmon Lodge
- Registered owner: Beaver, Ltd.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, June 1, 1991, 57 hours before
- Departed: NONE, IGIUGIG, AK
- Flight plan: Company VFR

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 42; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, single-engine sea; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 2,900 total, 600 in this make and model, 2,700 as pilot in command, 75 in the last 90 days, 75 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 360° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 40 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 3,500 ft broken

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.

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