# NTSB CEN15LA243: Cessna TR182, N4645T, Tulia, TX, May 27, 2015 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: May 26, 2015, 23:50 local (May 27, 2015, 04:50 UTC) - Place: Tulia, TX - Coordinates: 34.479999, -101.919998 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.4800&lon=-101.9200&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Enroute-cruise: Loss of engine power (partial)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report May 16, 2016 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA - LBB FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 91267 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN15LA243 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/91267/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=91267 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN15LA243 ## Probable cause The partial loss of engine power for reasons that could not be determined because postaccident examination of the engine revealed no mechanical anomalies that would have precluded normal operation. ## 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); cases with it: [Cessna TR182, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md?model=2072735), [All aircraft, 2,247 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md) - [Terrain](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021000): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome; cases with it: [Cessna TR182, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021000/cases.md?model=2072735), [All aircraft, 267 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021000/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Enroute-cruise: Loss of engine power (partial)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna TR182, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342/sequence.md?model=2072735), [All aircraft, 1,858 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342/sequence.md) - [Landing: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096); cases with it: [Cessna TR182, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md?model=2072735), [All aircraft, 2,287 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md) ## Analysis The airline transport pilot was conducting a personal, cross-country flight. The pilot reported that, while in cruise flight and as he was preparing to descend the airplane, the engine experienced a reduction in power. The pilot's attempts to troubleshoot the power reduction power were unsuccessful. Due to the reduced available power, the airplane was unable to reach an airport, so the pilot conducted a forced landing to a field. During the landing, the nose landing gear dug into the soft terrain, and the airplane nosed over. Postaccident examination of the airplane did not reveal any anomalies. During a subsequent engine test run, the engine operated normally with no anomalies noted. Weather conditions on the ground at the time of the accident were conducive to moderate carburetor icing at cruise power settings; however, the temperature and dew point at 9,000 ft, the altitude at which the initial power loss occurred, could not be determined. The reason for the engine power loss could not be determined. ## Factual narrative On May 26, 2015, about 2350 central daylight time, a Cessna TR182, N4645T, nosed over during a forced landing following a partial loss of engine power near Tulia, Texas. The pilot was not injured. The airplane sustained substantial damage to its wings, vertical tail, and fuselage. The airplane was registered to a private individual and operated by the pilot under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the flight, which operated on an instrument flight rules flight plan. The flight originated from the Western Nebraska Regional Airport, Scottsbluff, Nebraska, about 1930. The pilot reported that after departure the airplane was climbed to 9,000 feet above mean sea level (msl) for cruise. Upon reaching 9,000 feet he set the engine controls for cruise power of 23 inches of manifold pressure, 2,300 rpm, and leaned to 150 degrees rich of peak exhaust gas temperature. As he was planning his descent, the engine suddenly experienced a reduction in power to 1,000 rpm. The pilot attempted to troubleshoot the engine problem by increasing the mixture, propeller, and throttle controls, switching the fuel selector from "both" to the left tank, turning on the auxiliary boost pump, and applying carburetor heat. He then turned toward the Hale County Airport (PVW), near Plainview, Texas, and contacted air traffic control (ATC). He said that the engine began to sputter, and turning off the auxiliary fuel pump resulted in the engine returning to 1,000 rpm. He then switched to the right fuel tank and attempted the procedures from the emergency checklist with no change in engine power. He then attempted closing the throttle and re-advancing it but there was no change in power production from the engine. At this time he realized that he would not be able to reach PVW and informed ATC. The ATC controller informed the pilot that the Swisher County Municipal Airport (I06) was at his 9 o'clock position and the pilot diverted toward I06. When he was heading toward I06, he realized that he would not be able to glide to the airport and made a forced landing to a field during night light conditions. He stated that during the landing roll the airplane's nose landing gear dug into the soft ground and the airplane nosed over. Examination of the airplane by Federal Aviation Administration Inspectors at the accident scene did not reveal any anomalies. Fuel was present in the wing tanks, and no outward indications of a mechanical problem were observed. A subsequent examination of the airplane by the NTSB Investigator in Charge, after removal from the field, also revealed no anomalies although the airplane's wings had been removed for transport. An engine test run was performed with the engine still mounted to the fuselage. Due to the removal of the wings, a temporary fuel tank was connected to the left wing's fuel line. The remainder of the airplane's fuel system was not altered. The damagedpropeller was replaced with a surrogate propeller for the engine run. The engine started normally and was allowed to warm up before advancing the throttle. The engine was able to produce full power during the test run. Several sequences of rapid power application were performed and the engine responded as expected. No defects in engine operation were noted during the test run. The reported weather conditions at PVW, about 24 miles south of the accident site, at 2355, included a temperature of 18 degrees Celsius and a dew point of 14 degrees Celsius. According to a carburetor icing probability chart, the surface temperature and dew point were in a range of susceptibility for moderate carburetor icing at cruise power settings, however, the temperature and dew point at 9,000 feet, where the initial power loss occurred, could not be determined. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N4645T](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4645T-2019-03-25), registration cancelled 2019-03-25, S/N R18201722 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA TR182 (NO SERIES) - Registry model: [Cessna TR182](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-tr182) (registry code 2072735) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: R18201722 - Year built: 1981 - Airframe hours: 3749 - Engines: Lycoming O-540-L3C5D 235 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, May 1, 2015 - Departed: BFF, Scottsbluff, NE - Destination: LBB, Lubbock, TX - Flight plan: IFR - Equipment: Auto-pilot, Stall warning system ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 34; injuries: none; airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; last flight review August 7, 2014; seat: left; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 5,337 total, 8 in this make and model, 4,999 as pilot in command, 28 in the last 90 days, 8 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/dark - Wind: 110° at 5 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 64 °F, dew point 57 °F - Altimeter: 30.02 inHg - Observed at: PVW, 24 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 20150526007889A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20150526007889A), May 26, 2015: Cessna TR182, Tulia, TX, Substantial damage. On may 26, 2015, at 2337 CDT, a Cessna 182 bearing registration number N4645T, was enroute at 9,000 feet mean sea level (MSL) from scottsbluff, NE to lubbock,… ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on March 9, 2016, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=91267. 2.3 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 2.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40437588&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Carburetor Icing Probability Chart (item 2, .PDF, 156 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40437589&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Carburetor%20Icing%20Probability%20Chart-Master.PDF - Record of Conversation with FAA Inspector (item 3, .PDF, 53 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40437590&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation%20with%20FAA%20Inspector-Master.PDF - Filed Notes of Engine Test Run (item 4, .PDF, 37 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40437591&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Filed%20Notes%20of%20Engine%20Test%20Run-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.