# NTSB DFW07CA127: Cessna 182L, N3356R, Cheneyville, LA, June 2, 2007 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: June 2, 2007, 09:00 local (14:00 UTC) - Place: Cheneyville, LA - Coordinates: 30.9563888888889, -92.2338888888889 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.9564&lon=-92.2339&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report July 25, 2007 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Baton Rouge, La FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 65915 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DFW07CA127 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/65915/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DFW07CA127 ## Probable cause The loss of engine power while climbing due to the pilot's failure to refuel the airplane prior to fuel exhaustion. A factor associated with the accident was the soft terrain at the forced landing site. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, climb - fluid,fuel - exhaustion (cause) - refueling - not performed, pilot in command (cause) - Forced landing, emergency descent/landing - Loss of control - on ground/water, emergency landing - Nose over, emergency landing - terrain condition - soft (contributing factor) ## Analysis The private pilot reported that shortly after takeoff, the engine of his single-engine airplane developed an abnormal fluctuation while climbing through 1,300 feet MSL. As a precaution, the pilot elected to return to the departure airport; however, while turning to the airport, the engine lost power, and he prepared for a forced landing to an open field. Prior to the forced landing, he noticed freshly dug ditches on both side of the field, and he repositioned to an adjacent field to the right of his initial landing spot. The pilot added that the engine began to surge when the airplane was about 300 feet above the ground, which extended his glide. The airplane touched down on soft ground, the tires sunk in, and the airplane nosed-over. Examination of the airplane revealed the fuel bladders in both wings were not breached and there was no evidence of fuel stains around the vented fuel caps. Approximately 1-gallon of light blue fuel was drained from the right tank, and less than 1-gallon of light blue fuel was drained from the left tank. The fuel was free of water and debris. The engine mounted fuel strainer bowl was empty, and the fuel screen was clean. The pilot reported that he did a preflight inspection of the airplane, but did not visually inspect the fuel tanks. Instead he relied on a fuel flow meter installed in the cockpit, which indicated a total of 43.6 gallons. The pilot reported that the gauge was usually accurate, and he was unaware of what happened to the fuel he thought was onboard. ## Factual narrative The 450-hour private pilot reported that shortly after takeoff, the engine of his single-engine airplane developed an abnormal engine fluctuation while climbing through an altitude of 1,300 feet MSL. As a precaution, the pilot elected to return to the departure airport; however, while turning back to the airport, the engine lost power and he prepared for a forced landing to an open field. Prior to the forced landing, the pilot noticed freshly dug ditches on both side of the field, so he repositioned to an adjacent field located to the right of his initial landing spot. The pilot added that the engine began to surge when the airplane was about 300 feet above the ground, which extended his glide. The airplane touched down on soft ground, the tires sunk in the soft ground and the airplane nosed-over. Examination of the airplane revealed the fuel bladders in both wings were not breached and there was no evidence of fuel stains around the vented fuel caps. Approximately 1-gallon of light blue colored fuel was drained from the right tank, and less than 1-gallon of light blue colored fuel was drained from the left tank. The fuel was found to be free of water and debris. The engine mounted fuel strainer bowl was found empty and the fuel screen was also absent of debris. The pilot reported that he did a pre-flight inspection of the airplane, but did not visually inspect the fuel tanks. Instead he relied on a fuel flow meter installed in the cockpit, which indicated a total of 43.6 gallons. The pilot reported that the gauge was usually accurate and he was unaware of what happened to the fuel he thought was onboard. Weather at the departure airport was reported as calm winds, visibility 8 statute miles, and clear skies. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N3356R](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N3356R-2013-04-30), registration cancelled 2013-04-30, S/N 18258656, built 1967 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 182L - Registry model: [Cessna 182L](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-182l) (registry code 2072726) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental O-470 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-o-470-series) (registry code 17026, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 18258656 - Airframe hours: 3371.87 - Engines: Continental 0470R42B reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Randy A. McBride - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, June 1, 2006 - Departed: 2R6, BUNKIE, LA - Destination: 2L0, TEMECULA, CA - Airport: AEX, Alexandria Intl ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 48; injuries: minor; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review August 1, 2006; seat: left; flight hours: 450 total, 427 in this make and model, 450 as pilot in command, 6 in the last 90 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 8 statute miles - Temperature: 81 °F, dew point 70 °F - Altimeter: 29.10 inHg - Observed at: AEX, 25 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 20070602009129A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20070602009129A), Jun 2, 2007: Cessna 182L, Cheneyville, LA, Substantial damage. (-23) During cruise the engine started to run rough and then it quit. The owner/pilot tried to restart the engine but could not, and set up for an emergency… ## Other investigations on N3356R (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 NYC73ANE15](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC73ANE15), Jan 6, 1973: Cessna 182L (N3356R), Easton, CT, destroyed 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.