DFW08LA226

NTSB accident investigation · Cessna 182D · Orange Grove, TX · September 5, 2008

Accident · Serious injuriesLimited investigationFinal report
Date
September 5, 2008, 18:20 local (23:20 UTC)
Place
Orange Grove, TX
Injuries
1 serious, 2 minor
Damage
Substantial damage
Phase of flight
Enroute
Aircraft
N8979XCessna 182D
Defining event
Enroute-cruise: Loss of engine power (total)
Weather
Visual (VMC) · Day
Status
Completed · report January 29, 2009
Report
Approved by Office Director
Parties
FAA FSDO
FAA report
20080905848109A
Case key
68893

From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.

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Probable cause

A total loss of engine power due to an improperly installed intake manifold tube.

Findings · 3

NTSB’s coded findings. Those marked are part of the probable cause; the rest are factors or other findings. Under each, the cases with the same finding.

Power plant: air intakeAircraft › Aircraft power plant · MalfunctionCessna 182D: 1 caseAll aircraft: 50 casesProbable cause
Power plant: air intakeAircraft › Aircraft power plant · Incorrect service/maintenanceCessna 182D: 1 caseAll aircraft: 50 casesProbable cause
Maintenance: installationPersonnel issues › Task performance · OtherCessna 182D: 1 caseAll aircraft: 371 casesProbable cause

Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event is the one that best describes the accident. Under each, the cases with the same event anywhere in their sequence.

Analysis

The private pilot stated that he was at an altitude of 3,500 feet when the engine stopped producing power. He made a forced landing to field and struck a cedar post with the airplane's nose wheel and subsequently flipped over resulting in structural damage to the vertical stabilizer. Examination of the engine revealed that the left side intake tube elbow remained attached to the intake manifold hose with the hose clamp still attached. The intake manifold hose was found not secured to the intake manifold No. 2 tube assembly.

Factual narrative

On September 5, 2008, approximately 1820 central daylight time, N8979X, a single-engine Cessna 182 airplane, sustained substantial damage after is made a forced landing to a field after a loss of engine power. The certified private pilot and a passenger sustained minor injuries. The other passenger sustained serious injuries. The airplane was registered to Sky S the Limit Parachute Center, Beeville, Texas, and was operated by the pilot. No flight plan was filed for the flight that originated at Alice International Airport (ALI), Alice, Texas, about 1800, and was destined for Beeville Municipal Airport (BEA), Beeville, Texas. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the personal flight conducted under 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. A Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) aviation safety inspector performed an on-scene examination of the airplane and interviewed the pilot. According to the inspector, the pilot was returning to his home airport when the accident occurred. The pilot stated that he was at an altitude of 3,500 feet when the engine stopped producing power. He made a forced landing to field and struck a cedar post with the airplane's nose wheel and subsequently flipped over resulting in structural damage to the vertical stabilizer. Examination of the airplane revealed there was 60 gallons of light blue aviation fuel onboard (30 gallons in each tank). There was fuel present in the fuel lines to the gascolator bowl, which was full. Fuel in the gascolator bowl was absent of water and debris. Examination of the engine revealed that the left side intake tube elbow remained attached to the intake manifold hose with the hose clamp still attached. The intake manifold hose was found not secured to the intake manifold No. 2 tube assembly. The pilot held a private pilot certificate for airplane single-engine land. He was also a certified senior parachute rigger for both back and chest. The pilot's last second class FAA medical certificate was issued on March 15, 2005, and had the following limitations: "Must wear lenses for distant, have glasses for near vision. Not valid for any class after March 31, 2006." At the time of the medical, he reported a total of 3,100 hours. At the time this report was completed, the pilot had not submitted NTSB form 6120.1, Pilot/Operator Accident/Incident Report.

Aircraft

Registration
N8979X
Reported as
Cessna 182D
Category
Airplane
Serial number
18253379
Engine
Cont Motor O-470, 230 horsepower, reciprocating
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Personal · Part 91
Operator
Gary S. Morgan
Registered owner
Sky'S The Limit Parachute Center
Airworthiness certificate
Standard, Normal
Departed
ALI · Alice, TX
Destination
BEA · Beeville, TX
Airport
None

Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

Role
Pilot
Age
59
Injuries
Minor
Certificate
Private
Airplane ratings
Single-engine land
Medical
Class 2, With waivers/limitations
Seat
Left
Flight hours
3,100 total

Weather

Conditions
Visual (VMC) · Day
Wind
90° at 7 knots
Visibility
10 statute miles
Temperature
90 °F, dew point 61 °F
Altimeter
29.82 inHg
Observed at
KVCT, 41 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.

Other investigations on N8979X · 1

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.