# NTSB CEN09LA024: Cessna A185F, N93291, Angleton, TX, October 19, 2008 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: October 19, 2008, 15:30 local (20:30 UTC) - Place: Angleton, TX - Coordinates: 29.248888, -95.328056 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.2489&lon=-95.3281&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Approach: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report January 29, 2009 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: Teledyne Continental Motors, FAA FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 69315 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN09LA024 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/69315/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN09LA024 ## Probable cause The loss of engine power for undetermined reasons. Contributing to the accident was the lack of suitable terrain for the pilot to execute the forced landing. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Engine (reciprocating)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058500): Aircraft › Aircraft power plant · Failure (probable cause) - [Terrain](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021000): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Ability to respond/compensate (probable cause) - [Object/animal/substance: tree(s)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022020): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome ## Analysis The engine lost power when the pilot initiated a practice missed approach procedure during a flight intended to check on some of the features of a newly installed auto pilot system on the single-engine airplane. During the forced landing, the right wing collided with trees at the approach end of the selected forced landing area. The engine was run on the airframe after the airplane was recovered to a secure location. A review of the maintenance records revealed that the engine had accumulated a total of 194.6 hours since the last major overhaul. During the engine test run, the engine ran normally for about 7 minutes, then lost fuel pressure and stopped running. A detailed examination of the airframe and engine fuel system did not reveal any discrepancies or anomalies. The engine was run again at high power settings following the examination and did not stop. The reason of the loss of engine power could not be duplicated or determined. ## Factual narrative On October 19, 2008, at about 1530 central daylight time, a single-engine Cessna A185F airplane, N93291, was substantially damaged during a forced landing following a reported loss of engine power while executing a missed approach procedure following a practice instrument landing system (ILS) approach at the Brazoria County Airport (KLBX), near Angleton, Texas. The commercial pilot, sole occupant of the airplane, was not injured. The airplane was registered to and operated by a private individual. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed throughout the area for the 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 flight. No flight plan was filed for the local personal flight. The 1976 model airplane was powered by a 300-horsepower fuel injected Continental IO-520D engine, serial number 554473-H. The engine had accumulated a total of 194.6 hours since it was last overhauled on January 24, 2003. The pilot reported that the airplane was recovered from a local paint shop the day prior to the accident. The airplane had been at the paint shop for several weeks while the airplane was completely re-painted. The pilot reported to local authorities that the purpose of the local flight was to flight test some of the features on a newly installed auto pilot system on the airplane. The pilot reported that the engine experienced a partial loss of power when he initiated a practice missed approach procedure from Runway 17. The pilot added that he attempted to regain engine power as he initiated a 180-degree turn to return to the airport when the engine lost total power. The pilot elected to execute the forced landing in an open field. During the forced landing to the open field, the airplane was not able to clear the tall trees on the approach end of the field and the left wing collided with the trees. The airplane came to rest in the upright position and there was no fire. An FAA inspector, who traveled to the accident site reported that the damage to the tail-wheel-equipped airplane consisted of a collapsed right main landing gear strut and the right wing was also damaged. The outboard portions of both wings were also damaged when the wings collided with the top of the trees prior to ground impact. All three propeller blades were bend aft around the engine cowling. None of the blades had any signs of rotational damage and the propeller spinner was undamaged. The pilot reported having accumulated a total of 1,245 hours of which 44 were in the same make and model, with 11 hours in the preceding 90 days. The airplane was transported to a secure location near Lancaster, Texas, for further examination. The damage to the engine was minor and the investigator-in-charge elected to attempt to run the engine. In preparation for the engine run, the propeller was replaced and an external fuel container was attached to the left side fuel system. The engine was run while the engine was still mounted on the airframe. The engine was successfully run for the first seven minutes. Afew seconds later, the fuel pressure dropped and the engine stopped running. The airframe was moved back into the hangar where a detailed examination of the fuel system was accomplished. No discrepancies or anomalies were noted with the airframe and engine fuel system. The engine was run a second time at high power settings for over 8 minutes without further anomalies. The investigation concluded that the reason for the reported loss of engine power could not be determined. ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Approach: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) (defining event) - [Emergency descent: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440) - [Landing: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470) ## Aircraft - Registration: N93291 (not matched to a registry record) - Reported make and model: CESSNA A185F - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 18503212 - Airframe hours: 1994.6 - Engines: CONT MOTOR IO 520 300 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, July 19, 2008, 11.3 hours before - Departed: KLBX, Angleton, TX - Destination: KIWS, Houston, TX - Airport: KLBX, Brazoria County Airport, runway 17, 7,000 × 100 ft ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 57; injuries: none; commercial, flight instructor, private; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review August 23, 2007; seat: left; flight hours: 1,245 total, 44 in this make and model, 1,143 as pilot in command, 11 in the last 90 days, 2 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 90° at 7 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 77 °F, dew point 63 °F - Altimeter: 30.15 inHg - Observed at: KLBX, 3 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 20081019848949A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20081019848949A), Oct 19, 2008: Cessna A185F, Angleton/Lake, TX, Substantial damage. (-23) The pilot in command of N93291 was conducting ILS practices approaches at the Brazoria County Airport (lbx), he was the sole occupant on board the… 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.