# NTSB CEN21LA358: Cessna 182, N148LP, Patterson, LA, July 27, 2021

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report
- Date: July 27, 2021, 08:30 local (13:30 UTC)
- Place: Patterson, LA
- Coordinates: 29.714558, -91.298547 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.7146&lon=-91.2985&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Enroute: Powerplant sys/comp malf/fail](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/340)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Investigation class: Class 3
- NTSB office: Central Region
- Parties: FAA FSDO`
- NTSB case key (mKey): 103645
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN21LA358
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/103645/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=103645
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN21LA358

## Probable cause

The mechanic’s failure to properly secure the throttle arm rendering it loose and inoperable after takeoff, which resulted in a total loss of engine power.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Engine controls: power lever](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057603): Aircraft › Aircraft power plant · Not serviced/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 182T, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057603/cases.md?model=2072703), [All aircraft, 95 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057603/cases.md)
- [Aircraft](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01050000): Aircraft › Aircraft power plant · Failure (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 182T, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01050000/cases.md?model=2072703), [All aircraft, 151 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01050000/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Prior to flight: Aircraft maintenance event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/040); cases with it: [Cessna 182T, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/040/sequence.md?model=2072703), [All aircraft, 484 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/040/sequence.md)
- [Enroute: Powerplant sys/comp malf/fail](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/340) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 182T, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/340/sequence.md?model=2072703), [All aircraft, 820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/340/sequence.md)
- [Enroute: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341); cases with it: [Cessna 182T, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=2072703), [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md)
- [Landing: Ditching](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/441); cases with it: [Cessna 182T, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/441/sequence.md?model=2072703), [All aircraft, 186 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/441/sequence.md)

## Analysis

According to the pilot, shortly after takeoff, the engine would not respond to throttle inputs. The engine then went to idle without pilot input, and the pilot performed a forced landing to a marsh. During the forced landing, the airplane nosed over and was substantially damaged. Postaccident examination of the airplane found that the nut used to properly secure the throttle control to the fuel servo was loose. The associated cotter pin was not located. The pilot reported that the airplane’s most recent maintenance occurred on April 1, 2021. The mechanic likely did not install the cotter pin at that time. The accident airplane flew about 438 hours between that date and the accident date. During that time, the nut likely loosened until the throttle control was no longer secured, resulting in a total loss of engine power during the accident flight.

## Factual narrative

On July 27, 2021, about 0830 central daylight time, a Cessna 182T airplane, N148LP, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Patterson, Louisiana. The pilot sustained minor injuries. The flight was operated under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a business flight. The pilot reported that, shortly after departing, he leveled the airplane at an altitude of 2,000 ft and pulled back the throttle, but the engine did not respond. The engine rpm began to reach maximum speed as the pilot turned the airplane toward the departure airport. The engine then went to idle, and the pilot was unable to restore engine power, so he performed a forced landing to a marsh. During the landing, the airplane nosed over, and the forward fuselage sustained substantial damage. Postaccident examination of the airplane found that the nut used to secure the throttle on the throttle arm was loose. The associated cotter pin, which holds the nut in place, was not located in the engine compartment. The pilot reported that the airplane’s most recent maintenance occurred on April 1, 2021, and that the airplane flew about 438 hours between that date and the accident date.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N148LP](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N148LP-2022-06-04), registration cancelled 2022-06-04, S/N 18281148, built 2002 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 182 (T)
- Registry model: [Cessna 182T](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-182t) (registry code 2072703) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming IO-540 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-540-series) (registry code 41530, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 18281148
- Year built: 2002
- Airframe hours: 5476.6
- Engines: Continental IO-540-AB1A5 230 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Business, Part 91
- Operator: Westbank Fishing LLC
- Registered owner: Westbank Fishing LLC
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, April 1, 2021, 437.6 hours before
- Departed: KPTN, Patterson, LA
- Flight plan: Company VFR
- Airport: PTN
- Equipment: Handheld GPS, Electronic multifunction display, Auto-pilot, ADS-B, Stall warning system, Satellite tracking device, Onboard weather

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 57; injuries: minor; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review April 9, 2021; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 19,834 total, 5,000 in this make and model, 19,523 as pilot in command, 440 in the last 90 days, 8.2 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 79 °F, dew point 79 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: KPTN, 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 20210727012029A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20210727012029A), Jul 27, 2021: Cessna 182T, Patterson, LA, Substantial damage. Pilot took off from kptn. Climbed to 2000' and leveled off. Without pilot input engine went to full power. Pilot tried three times to adjust engine throttle…

## Docket (2 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on November 8, 2022, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=103645. 7.8 MB in all.

- Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 7.7 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14593147&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Scan_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Case findings (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 125 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14592232&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Case%20Findings%20CEN21LA358-Rel.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.

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