# NTSB LAX01LA034: Cessna 185F, N185CY, Carson City, NV, November 5, 2000 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: November 5, 2000, 12:10 local (20:10 UTC) - Place: Carson City, NV - Coordinates: 39.259258, -119.789207 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.2593&lon=-119.7892&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report January 2, 2002 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 50595 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX01LA034 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/50595/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX01LA034 ## Probable cause Fuel starvation precipitated by the pilot's continued use of the fuel selector valve that was not seating in the detents properly. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power, takeoff - initial climb - fluid,fuel - starvation (cause) - operation with known deficiencies in equipment - continued, pilot in command (contributing factor) - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, emergency landing after takeoff - terrain condition - berm ## Analysis During a forced landing due to a loss of engine power, the airplane struck a berm, sheared off the landing gear, damaged both wings, and the fuselage. On takeoff the engine became quiet. The pilot heard the engine surge a couple of times, like it was running out of fuel. He also indicated that there was 80 gallons of fuel on board the airplane at the time of the accident. Witnesses heard the engine pop two or three times and saw a puff of white/bluish smoke emanating from the engine. An engine inspection was conducted, which included a fuel system and ignition system check. There were no mechanical anomalies found. A plastic ridge located around the fuel selector valve had been depressed and deformed down to allow the valve to not seat properly in any of the three position detents. The pilot stated that when the engine quit he did not physically or visually verify the fuel selector valve position. ## Factual narrative On November 5, 2000, at 1210 hours Pacific standard time, a Cessna 185F, N185CY, lost engine power on departure and impacted terrain on airport property at Carson City, Nevada. The airplane was operated by the owner under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91 as a personal flight. The airplane sustained substantial damage, and the private pilot was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the personal flight and no flight plan had been filed. A Safety Board investigator interviewed the pilot. He stated that on climb out the engine "got quiet," and there was a subsequent loss of engine power. The airplane was past the departure end of the runway when the pilot made the emergency landing. In the pilot's written statement to the Safety Board he indicated that there was 80 gallons of fuel on board the airplane at the time of the accident. A Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector interviewed the pilot. The pilot stated that he was conducting a maximum angle climb after takeoff when the engine quit. He tried to turn 90 degrees to the runway to land on a perimeter road inside the airport, however, the airplane impacted a berm and sheared off the landing gear, and some of his right wing. The airplane crossed the road, the left wing contacted the ground, and "deformed his fuselage." The pilot further stated that during the engine failure he did not look at or switch anything inside the airplane. The engine surged a couple of times as if it was running out of fuel. According to witnesses interviewed by the FAA, the engine popped two or three times and blew out puffs of white/bluish smoke, like it was burning oil before it quit. An engine inspection was conducted under the supervision of the FAA inspector. No discrepancies were noted with the ignition, induction, exhaust, oil, or fuel systems. The compression check was normal. The only item of note was the fuel selector valve. The inspector noted that the valve has a plastic ridge around it. It allows the valve to be placed in the forward both on, right tank, or left tank detents. The plastic ridge on the fuel selector housing had been depressed and deformed down to allow the fuel selector valve to move to the aft position (fuel off position). ## Aircraft - Registration: [N185CY](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N185CY), registered now, S/N 18502839, built 1975 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 185F - Registry model: [Cessna A185F](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-a185f) (registry code 2072821) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental IO-520 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-io-520-series) (registry code 17032, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 18502839 - Airframe hours: 2300 - Engines: Continental IO-520-D 280 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: William J. Nye - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, December 1, 1999, 100 hours before - Departed: CXP - Airport: CXP, Carson, runway 27, 5,900 × 75 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 54; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 3,000 total, 3,000 in this make and model, 3,000 as pilot in command, 10 in the last 90 days, 4 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: variable at 3 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 7,000 ft overcast - Temperature: 126 °F, dew point 86 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: RNO, 22 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 20001105025229A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20001105025229A), Nov 5, 2000: Cessna A185F, Carson City, NV, Substantial damage. (-23) Read my attached ptrs report first for details! This owner/operator was performing a maximum climb after take-off and the engine lost power at approx.… ## Other investigations on N185CY (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 WPR14CA073](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR14CA073), Dec 22, 2013: Cessna A185F (N185CY), Carson City, NV, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during landing which resulted in the airplane veering off the runway and nosing over. 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.