# NTSB CHI04LA023: Cessna A185E, N3399L, Cedarville, MI, October 14, 2003 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: October 14, 2003, 18:00 local (22:00 UTC) - Place: Cedarville, MI - Coordinates: 45.989269, -84.359092 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=45.9893&lon=-84.3591&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report February 24, 2005 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 58268 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI04LA023 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/58268/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI04LA023 ## Probable cause A loss of engine power for undetermined reasons. A factor associated with the accident was the rough terrain on which the airplane was landed. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power, cruise - reason for occurrence undetermined (cause) - Forced landing, emergency descent/landing - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - flare/touchdown - terrain condition - rough/uneven (contributing factor) ## Analysis The airplane contacted rough terrain during an off airport forced landing following a loss of engine power. The pilot reported he had 11 gallons of fuel on board for the 15 minute flight and approximately 10 minutes after takeoff, the engine lost power. He reported he activated the fuel pump and the engine momentarily gained power. He stated the fuel selector was on "Both", the left fuel tank was indicating empty, and the right fuel tank was varying between 1/8 and 1/4 full. The pilot reported he was over a heavily wooded area when the engine lost power and he picked out a small clearing in which to land the airplane. He stated the clearing contained logs, rocks, stumps, and ruts, which were contacted during the forced landing. Post accident inspection of the airplane revealed 12 gallons of fuel were drained from the right fuel tank and a little over 2 gallons of fuel were drained from the left fuel tank. The fuel selector was found in the "Both" position. The inspection failed to reveal any mechanical failure/malfunction that would have resulted in the loss of engine power. ## Factual narrative On October 14, 2003, at 1800 eastern daylight time, a Cessna A185E, N3399L, contacted rough terrain during an off airport forced landing following a loss of engine power about 10 miles east of Cedarville, Michigan. The commercial pilot was not injured. The airplane received substantial damage. The 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight was operating in visual meteorological conditions without a flight plan. The flight originated from the Albert J. Lindberg Airport, Cedarville, Michigan, at 1750. The pilot reported he had flown 4.1 hours since the airplane was last fueled and he calculated that he had 11 gallons of fuel remaining for the 15 minute flight. He reported that approximately 10 minutes after takeoff, the engine lost power. The pilot stated he activated the fuel pump and the engine momentarily gained power. He stated the fuel selector was on "Both", the left fuel tank was indicating empty, and the right fuel tank was varying between 1/8 and 1/4 full. The pilot reported he was over a heavily wooded area when the engine lost power and he picked out a small clearing in which to land the airplane. He stated the clearing contained logs, rocks, stumps, and ruts, which resulted in the airplane stopping "very quick" after touchdown. The pilot reported he exited the airplane and walked a couple miles out of the woods to get help. The company that recovered N3399L from the woods reported they drained 12 gallons of fuel from the right fuel tank and a little over 2 gallons of fuel from the left fuel tank. They also reported the fuel selector was positioned on "Both" when they saw the airplane. The pilot also stated the he always flew the airplane with the fuel selector on "Both." Post accident inspection of the airplane and engine by an airworthiness inspector from the Federal Aviation Administration failed to reveal any mechanical failure/malfunction that would have resulted in the loss of engine power. The engine driven fuel pump was removed from the engine. The pump operated normally when tested. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N3399L](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N3399L), registered now, S/N 185-1351 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna A185E - Registry model: [Cessna A185E](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-a185e) (registry code 2072818) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental IO-520 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-io-520-series) (registry code 17032, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 185-1351 - Airframe hours: 4630 - Engines: Continental IO-520-D23 285 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Lonnie E. Avra - Registered owner: Cockburn Investments, Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, November 8, 2002, 134 hours before - Departed: 5Y1, Hessel, MI - Destination: Y66, Drumman Island, MI ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 54; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review February 12, 2003; seat: left; flight hours: 3,248 total, 1,580 in this make and model, 3,124 as pilot in command, 156 in the last 90 days, 57 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 330° at 16 knots, gusting 21 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 4,900 ft broken - Temperature: 48 °F, dew point 45 °F - Altimeter: 29.55 inHg - Observed at: CIU, 23 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 20031014035069A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20031014035069A), Oct 14, 2003: Cessna A185E, Cedarville, MI, Substantial damage. (-23) He departed the hessel airport (5Y1) enroute to drummond island so that he could refuel. At about the midpoint of the planned 18 minute flight the engine… ## Other investigations on N3399L (1) 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. - [NTSB ANC82DAG13](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC82DAG13), Dec 5, 1981: Cessna 185 (N3399L), Sleetmute, AK, substantial damage 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.