ANC99LA052

The amphibious airplane was about 300 feet above the ground, on short final to land on the runway, when the engine quit. The airplane landed in soft mud with the wheels extended, and flipped over. Postaccident examination revealed fuel in both wing tanks. Bench testing revealed the engine driven fuel pump would not pump fuel, and drew air into the pump when primed and operated. Disassembly did not reveal any blockages, damaged seals, or sources of the air leak.

On April 27, 1999, at 1409 Alaska daylight time, an amphibious float equipped, Cessna 185 airplane, N93311, sustained substantial damage when it landed short of runway 26 at the Juneau International Airport, Juneau, Alaska. The commercial pilot received minor injuries. The passenger received serious injuries. The flight was operated under 14 CFR Part 135 as an on-demand air taxi by Ward Air, Inc., of Juneau. The flight departed Hawk Inlet, Alaska, for Juneau at 1359. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident, and a company VFR flight plan was on file.

The pilot told two FAA inspectors at the scene that the engine suddenly quit when the airplane was 300 feet above the ground, during final approach to land. The pilot indicated that he turned on the electric fuel pump, but the engine did not restart. He also stated he retracted the flaps to attempt to increase the glide distance. The airplane landed in soft mud short of the runway, and nosed over. The pilot said that both occupants were wearing shoulder harnesses at the time of the accident. The pilot repeated these statements to the NTSB investigator-in-charge (IIC) during a telephone interview on April 28.

The passenger stated to the IIC he was not wearing a shoulder harness, and was not aware that there was one.

Initial inspection of the airplane by FAA inspectors revealed that the engine crankshaft was intact, and fuel was present in both wing tanks. The flaps were extended to 30 degrees, the landing gear handle was down, and the wheels were extended. The FAA inspectors applied power to the electric boost pump and confirmed that it operated normally. No other mechanical anomalies were noted with the engine.

The engine driven fuel pump, Continental Motors (TCM) part number 64905A6R, was flow tested on a test bench under the direction of the NTSB IIC on May 3, 1999. The pump repeatedly would not maintain a prime, had air drawn into the system, and would not pump fuel. Disassembly of the pump did not reveal any visible passage or orifice blockages, nor torn gaskets or seals. A telephone conversation by the NTSB IIC with the TCM chief accident investigator on June 15 revealed that the likely source of air into the pump was either the forward fuel seal, or a blocked vapor tower jet.

Additionally, the Emergency Locator Transmitter (ELT), Sharc-7 model # 7J4-193, did not operate during the accident. Inspection of the ELT at the NTSB laboratory on June 10 revealed that the ELT was installed in the airplane in November 1998. The installed battery pack was manufactured in February 1999, and installed into the ELT on an unknown date between February 1999 and April 27, 1999. One of the internal battery terminal connectors was found fractured, and disconnected. Microscopic examination at the NTSB materials laboratory revealed tool markings on the connector consistent with those left by pliers. Installation of the adjacent battery required bending the connector and wire out of the way.