# NTSB CEN18LA321: Cessna A188, N4996R, Sedalia, MO, August 6, 2018 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: August 6, 2018, 15:15 local (20:15 UTC) - Place: Sedalia, MO - Coordinates: 38.704444, -93.228332 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.7044&lon=-93.2283&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report December 16, 2019 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration; MKC FSDO, Lycoming Engines - NTSB case key (mKey): 98013 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN18LA321 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/98013/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=98013 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN18LA321 ## Probable cause A total loss of engine power during low-altitude maneuvering for reasons that could not be determined due to postimpact fire damage. ## 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 A188B, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md?model=2073005), [All aircraft, 2,247 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md) - [Object/animal/substance: tree(s)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022020): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome; cases with it: [Cessna A188B, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022020/cases.md?model=2073005), [All aircraft, 933 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022020/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna A188B, 8 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=2073005), [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md) - [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Attempted remediation/recovery](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060); cases with it: [Cessna A188B, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md?model=2073005), [All aircraft, 1,422 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md) - [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240); cases with it: [Cessna A188B, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=2073005), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md) - [Landing: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440); cases with it: [Cessna A188B, 14 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=2073005), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md) - [Uncontrolled descent: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Cessna A188B, 24 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=2073005), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The commercial pilot was conducting an agricultural application flight. He stated that he felt a loss of engine power when he pulled up during a second pass over a field. He pushed the throttle and mixture controls forward, but the engine power did not increase. He dumped the payload and then located a landing area. The pilot flew the airplane at its best glide speed, and the airplane struck a tree short of the landing area. Subsequently, the airplane spun right. He pulled the control stick back and applied right rudder to maintain the airplane in an upright attitude before it impacted the ground and erupted into a postimpact fire. Postaccident examination of the airplane revealed that the two propeller blades were relatively straight, consistent with a lack of torsion, indicating that the engine lost all power before impact. Postimpact fire destroyed the engine, engine accessories, and airframe, which precluded functional testing of any components. The reason for the loss of engine power could not be determined. ## Factual narrative On August 6, 2018, at 1515 central daylight time, a Cessna A188B, N4996R, experienced a total loss of engine power and impacted terrain during an aerial application flight about 10 miles north of Sedalia, Missouri. The airplane was destroyed by impact forces and post-crash fire. The commercial pilot sustained minor injuries. The airplane was registered to an individual and operated by Lloyd Darter Aviation under Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 137 as an aerial application flight that was not operating on a flight plan. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The local flight originated from Marshall Memorial Municipal Airport (MHL), Marshall, Missouri about 1430. The pilot did not submit a National Transportation Safety Board Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident/Incident Report (form 6120), as required under Part 830. The pilot provided a written statement to the Federal Aviation Administration Inspector assigned to the accident investigation. The pilot stated that during the second pass over an agricultural field, he pulled up and "felt a loss of power." He stated that he pushed the throttle and mixture controls full forward but there were "no results." He dumped the payload and located a landing area. He said he flew the airplane's best glide speed and struck a tree short of the landing area, spinning the airplane to the right. He pulled the control stick back and applied right rudder to maintain the airplane in an upright attitude prior to impacting the ground. Post-accident examination of the airplane revealed the airframe was consumed by post-crash fire from the empennage, to the engine firewall, and to the mid-wingspan of both wings. Ground scarring was limited to the airplane's planform with nose-down crushing. The flaps were in the retracted position. Neither of the two propeller blades displayed S-shaped bending and were relatively straight, consistent with a lack of torsion. The bottom half of the engine case was melted to the accessory section exposing the crankshaft and accessory gears. The internal engine drive and valve train components were connected, secure, and did not display any fractures. The engine accessories were destroyed by the fire. The number four-cylinder fuel line with an attached adapter leading from the fuel manifold was loose and was pulled out by hand. The remaining fuel lines were attached and secure in the fuel manifold. The fuel line, the fuel line adapter fitting, and the manifold were removed for metallurgical examination at the National Transportation Safety Board Material Laboratory. The metallurgical examination revealed the fuel line with its adapter fitting were separated from the fuel manifold. The adapter had tapered pipe thread where it would screw into the fuel manifold. Examination of the adapter fitting did not reveal evidence of thread deformation on the fitting. The first few threads of the adapter appeared to contain aluminum material from the fuelmanifold. The threaded port on the fuel manifold for the number-four fuel line exhibited deformation and the appearance of incipient melting of the aluminum housing. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N4996R](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4996R-2020-09-04), registration cancelled 2020-09-04, S/N 18802483T, built 1975 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna A188 (B) - Registry model: [Cessna A188B](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-a188b) (registry code 2073005) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental IO-520 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-io-520-series) (registry code 17032, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 18802483T - Year built: 1975 - Airframe hours: 9077 - Engines: Lycoming IO-540-S1A5 290 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Fire: On-Ground - Flight: Aerial application, Part 137 - Operator: Lloyd Darter Aviation - Registered owner: Lloyd Darter - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, May 10, 2018 - Departed: MHL, Marshall, MO - Destination: MHL, Marshall, MO ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 27; injuries: minor; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2; last flight review June 29, 2019; seat: center ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 220° at 9 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 91 °F, dew point 70 °F - Altimeter: 30.02 inHg - Observed at: DMO, 10 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 20180806010319A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20180806010319A), Aug 6, 2018: Cessna A188B, Hughesville, MO, Destroyed. While maneuvering during aerial application, the aircraft's engine lost power. The pilot initiated an emergency descent into a field. The aircraft impacted… ## Docket (7 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on September 19, 2019, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=98013. 2.0 MB in all. - Email Request to Pilot for NTSB 6120 Form (item 1, .PDF, 472 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40475996&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Email%20Request%20to%20Pilot%20for%20NTSB%206120%20Form-Master.PDF - Pilot Statement (item 2, .PDF, 317 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40475997&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%20Statement-Master.PDF - Record of Examination (item 3, .PDF, 89 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40475998&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Examination-Master.PDF - Airframe Logbook Excerpt (item 4, .PDF, 128 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40476002&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Airframe%20Logbook%20Excerpt-Master.PDF - Photo (item 5, .PDF, 215 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40476005&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo-Master.PDF - Engine Logbook Excerpt (item 6, .PDF, 507 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40476082&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Engine%20Logbook%20Excerpt-Master.PDF - Statement of Party Representatives to NTSB Investigation - Lycoming (item 7, .PDF, 259 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40476083&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Statement%20of%20Party%20Representatives%20to%20NTSB%20Investigation%20-%20Lycoming-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.