# NTSB CEN15LA333: Cessna 182, N1685R, Watertown, WI, August 1, 2015 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: August 1, 2015, 17:45 local (22:45 UTC) - Place: Watertown, WI - Coordinates: 43.165832, -88.719444 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=43.1658&lon=-88.7194&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Approach-VFR pattern downwind: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious - Status: Completed, report February 17, 2016 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA FSDO - SAIBs cited in the narratives: [SAIB CE-09-35](https://openairdocs.org/saib/CE-09-35) (OpenAirDocs) - NTSB case key (mKey): 91694 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN15LA333 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/91694/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=91694 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN15LA333 ## Probable cause The total loss of engine power due to carburetor icing. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Temp/humidity/pressure: conducive to carburetor icing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03031030): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on equipment (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna R182, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03031030/cases.md?model=2072734), [All aircraft, 435 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03031030/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Approach-VFR pattern downwind: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna R182, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=2072734), [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md) - [Approach-VFR pattern base: Other weather encounter](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400); cases with it: [Cessna R182, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400/sequence.md?model=2072734), [All aircraft, 1,127 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400/sequence.md) - [Approach-VFR pattern base: Fuel related](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/190); cases with it: [Cessna R182, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/190/sequence.md?model=2072734), [All aircraft, 361 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/190/sequence.md) ## Analysis The private pilot was planning to conduct some practice takeoffs and landings. The pilot reported that he conducted a normal preflight and that the airplane had about 75 gallons of fuel on board. Shortly after takeoff and while on the base leg to the runway, the engine lost power. The pilot pushed the throttle, mixture, and prop levers full forward and then turned the auxiliary fuel pump on, but the engine did not respond. The airplane subsequently impacted trees near a residence and then came to rest on its right side. On-scene examination revealed that the left wing's fuel bladder tank appeared intact but that it was absent of fuel and that the right wing's bladder tank was torn and contained about 2 gallons of fuel. However, the examination was unable to determine the quantity of fuel that may have leaked out after the fuel system was compromised during the accident. An engine test run was conducted, and the engine started and ran with no abnormalities noted. A review of the carburetor icing probability chart indicated that the airplane was operating in weather conditions associated with a serious risk of carburetor ice accumulation at glide power settings. The pilot was on the base leg of the traffic pattern, and he likely reduced engine power to a glide power setting because he was approaching the runway for landing. ## Factual narrative On August 1, 2015, about 1745 central daylight time, a Cessna 182 airplane, N1685R lost engine power while in the traffic pattern at the Watertown Municipal Airport (KRYV), Watertown, Wisconsin. The airplane impacted trees and was substantially damaged. The private rated pilot was seriously injured. The airplane was registered to and operated by a private individual under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan was filed for the local flight. The pilot reported that he planned on doing some practice pattern work, including some touch-and-goes landings in preparation for a flight review. He added that the preflight and taxi were uneventful, and then he departed. While on the base leg, the engine lost power; he advanced the throttle, mixture, and prop levers full forward, and then turned the auxiliary fuel pump on. The engine did not respond, he was unable to locate an open area for an emergency landing, so he decided to aim for nearby trees to arrest his descent. The pilot reported that the airplane had about 75 gallons of fuel on board. The responding Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspectors reported that the airplane came to rest on its right side near a residence. The empennage separated from the fuselage, with heavy damage to the right wing and fuselage. The left wing's fuel bladder appeared intact but absence any fuel, the right wing's bladder tank was torn, and contained about two gallons of fuel. The inspector wasn't able to determine the quantity of fuel that may have leaked out after the fuel system was compromised during the accident. The airplane was recovered, and an engine test run was performed. An external fuel source was connected to the airplane; the engine was then started and run. No abnormalities were noted. At 1755, the automated weather observation facility located at KRYV recorded a temperature of 82 degrees Fahrenheit (F), dew point 60 F. The carburetor icing probability chart included in Federal Aviation Administration Special Airworthiness Information Bulletin No. CE-09-35, Carburetor Icing Prevention, indicated that the airplane was operating in an area that was associated with a serious risk of carburetor ice accumulation at glide power settings. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N1685R](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N1685R-2018-02-28), registration cancelled 2018-02-28, S/N R18200514, built 1978 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 182 - Registry model: [Cessna R182](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-r182) (registry code 2072734) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming TI0-540 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-ti0-540-series) (registry code 41533, turbo-prop) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: R18200514 - Year built: 1978 - Airframe hours: 4545.2 - Engines: Lycoming O-540 235 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, October 9, 2014 - Departed: KRYV, Watertown, WI - Destination: KRYV, Watertown, WI - Airport: KRYV, Watertown Municipal ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 82; injuries: serious; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 1,976 total, 1,561 in this make and model, 1,734 as pilot in command, 3 in the last 90 days, 1 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 280° at 6 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 82 °F, dew point 61 °F - Altimeter: 29.87 inHg - Observed at: KRYV ## 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 20150801012869A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20150801012869A), Aug 1, 2015: Cessna R182, Watertown, WI, Substantial damage. The mishap aircraft was operating in the pattern on a left downwind for runway 29 at the Watertown Municipal Airport (kryv) when it experienced a power loss,… ## Docket (5 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on January 12, 2016, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=91694. 1.9 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 967 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40435515&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Report from Federal Agency (item 2, .PDF, 21 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40435516&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Report%20from%20Federal%20Agency-Master.PDF - Weather Reports and Records (item 3, .PDF, 38 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40435517&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Weather%20Reports%20and%20Records-Master.PDF - Carb Icing Chart (item 4, .PDF, 66 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40435518&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Carb%20Icing%20Chart-Master.PDF - Photos (Courtesy of FAA) (item 5, .PDF, 2 photos, 833 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40435519&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photos%20(Courtesy%20of%20FAA)-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.