# NTSB GAA16CA272: Cessna U206G, N4596U, Chinita Bay, AK, May 23, 2016 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: May 23, 2016, 09:30 local (17:30 UTC) - Place: Chinita Bay, AK - Coordinates: 60.660297, -150.900268 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=60.6603&lon=-150.9003&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Taxi](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/250) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Taxi: Dragged wing/rotor/float/other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/093) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 5 uninjured - Status: Completed, report October 27, 2016 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents - Parties: Federal Aviation Aministration - NTSB case key (mKey): 93296 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA16CA272 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/93296/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=93296 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA16CA272 ## Probable cause The pilot's selection of unsuitable terrain for taxi, resulting in a tail strike and aft fuselage substantial damage. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Info processing/decision: decision making/judgment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna U206G, 15 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md?model=2073356), [All aircraft, 3,098 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md) - [Terrain: rough terrain](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021015): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Decision related to condition (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna U206G, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021015/cases.md?model=2073356), [All aircraft, 442 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021015/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Taxi: Dragged wing/rotor/float/other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/093) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna U206G, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/093/sequence.md?model=2073356), [All aircraft, 319 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/093/sequence.md) ## Analysis According to the pilot, after landing he taxied the tri-cycle landing gear-equipped airplane on a rocky, soft sand beach and the nose wheel bounced off of a sand berm. He reported that when the nose wheel bounced, the tail section contacted the ground. He recalled that he parked the airplane, inspected the empennage and determined the damage to be minor, and departed on a subsequent flight. However, a subsequent inspection of the empennage by the company's mechanic revealed that the aft fuselage bulkhead had sustained substantial damage. The pilot reported that prior to the taxi there were no mechanical malfunctions or anomalies with the airplane or any of its systems that would have prevented normal flight operations. ## Factual narrative According to the pilot, after landing he taxied the tri-cycle landing gear-equipped airplane on a rocky, soft sand beach and the nose wheel bounced off of a sand berm. He reported that when the nose wheel bounced, the tail section contacted the ground. He recalled that he parked the airplane, inspected the empennage and determined the damage to be minor, and departed on a subsequent flight. However, a subsequent inspection of the empennage by the company's mechanic revealed that the aft fuselage bulkhead had sustained substantial damage. The pilot reported that prior to the taxi there were no mechanical malfunctions or anomalies with the airplane or any of its systems that would have prevented normal flight operations. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N4596U](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N4596U), registered now, S/N U20604990, built 1979 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA U206G (200) - Registry model: [Cessna U206G](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-u206g) (registry code 2073356) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental IO-520 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-io-520-series) (registry code 17032, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: U20604990 - Year built: 1979 - Airframe hours: 18703 - Engines: Continental IO-540-F 300 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Part 135 - Operator: Rustair Inc - Registered owner: Rustair Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, March 30, 2016 - Departed: PALH, Anchorage, AK - Destination: Chinita Bay, AK - Flight plan: Company VFR - Equipment: Stall warning system, Handheld GPS, Satellite tracking device ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 61; injuries: none; flight instructor, airline transport, commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine sea, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review February 4, 2016; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 13,000 total, 6,000 in this make and model, 12,900 as pilot in command, 60 in the last 90 days, 24 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 300° at 8 knots, gusting 19 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Temperature: 61 °F, dew point 36 °F - Altimeter: 29.97 inHg - Observed at: PAWD, 56 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 20160523009159A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20160523009159A), May 23, 2016: Cessna U206G, Chinitna Bay Ai, AK, Substantial damage. During a maneuver to reverse direction and reposition the nose wheel bounced over sand berm?s along the edge of the runway. As the nose wheel bounced up the… ## Other investigations on N4596U (2) 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 ANC10LA056](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC10LA056), Jun 30, 2010: Cessna U206G (N4596U), Iliamna, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The total loss of engine power during cruise flight due to a fractured crankshaft. - [NTSB ANC95LA126](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC95LA126), Aug 2, 1995: Cessna 206G (N4596U), Skwentna, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: THE PILOT'S IMPROPER HANDLING OF THE AIRCRAFT (PROLONGED YAWING MANEUVER DURING STEP TAXI TURN), WHICH RESULTED IN UNCOVERING OF THE FUEL TANK OUTLETS AND SUBSEQUENT FUEL STARVATION DURING TAKEOFF. ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on September 23, 2016, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=93296. 2.2 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 1.9 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40444707&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Photos (Courtesy of Operator) (item 2, .PDF, 2 photos, 358 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40444708&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photos%20(Courtesy%20of%20Operator)-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.