# NTSB LAX03LA087: Cessna 182A, N5029D, The Gap, AZ, February 10, 2003 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: February 10, 2003, 14:16 local (21:16 UTC) - Place: The Gap, AZ - Coordinates: 36.325553, -111.483055 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.3256&lon=-111.4831&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report October 28, 2004 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 56496 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX03LA087 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/56496/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=56496 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX03LA087 ## Probable cause A total loss of engine power for undetermined reasons. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power, cruise - normal - reason for occurrence undetermined (cause) - Forced landing, descent - emergency - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, emergency landing - terrain condition - soft (contributing factor) ## Analysis After flying for 1.6 hours, and while cruising at 9,500 feet msl, all engine power was lost. The pilot made a forced landing in soft desert terrain, resulting in the airplane abruptly decelerating in a nose down attitude. According to the pilot, the airplane's fuel tanks were full when she initiated the flight. En route, the sky was clear of clouds. The pilot stated that when the mishap occurred, she felt a "slight shudder and noticed that the sound of the engine went to idle." The pilot reportedly applied full carburetor heat, enrichened the mixture, and repositioned the fuel selector to the "both tanks" position. However, engine power was not restored, and the propeller continued rotating at idle speed throughout the forced landing. Subsequently, the airplane's engine was examined. It was run up to full power, and no evidence of any mechanical abnormality was found. The cause of the nonmechanical loss of engine power was not determined. ## Factual narrative On February 10, 2003, about 1416 mountain standard time, a Cessna 182A, N5029D, experienced a loss of engine power while cruising near The Gap, Arizona. The commercial pilot made a forced landing on sandy desert terrain. The airplane abruptly decelerated in a nose down attitude and was substantially damaged. The pilot sustained minor injuries. The airplane was operated by the pilot on a personal flight under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed. The flight originated from Bullhead City, Arizona, about 1240. The pilot reported to the National Transportation Safety Board investigator that the mishap occurred after taking off with full fuel tanks. While cruising about 9,500 feet mean sea level (msl), the engine developed 2,300 rpm at 22 inches of manifold pressure. The sky was clear of clouds. The pilot reported she felt a "slight shudder and noticed that the sound of the engine went to idle." She then applied full carburetor heat, enrichened the mixture, and repositioned the fuel selector to the "both tanks" position. Engine power was not restored, and the propeller continued rotating at idle speed throughout the subsequent forced landing. The pilot additionally indicated that during the landing she observed a road beneath the airplane, but misjudged her approach and touched down 100 feet from the road in the soft desert terrain, elevation about 6,000 feet msl. The pilot did not extend the airplane's manually activated wing flaps for the landing. The airplane was recovered from the accident site and was examined. At the request of the Safety Board investigator, a Federal Aviation Administration inspector oversaw the examination. According to the FAA, the engine's top spark plugs appeared to have no abnormal wear signatures, and the leads tested okay. Fuel was evident in the gasolator. The exhaust system appeared intact, with no signs of leakage. The engine was started and run up to full power without any abnormalities noted. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N5029D](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N5029D), registered now, S/N 51129 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 182A - Registry model: [Cessna 182A](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-182a) (registry code 2072704) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 51129 - Airframe hours: 3803 - Engines: Continental O-470 230 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Lottie K. Theut - Registered owner: Mike Bishop - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, December 17, 2002, 25 hours before - Departed: A09, Bullhead City, AZ - Destination: GJT, GRAND JUNCTION, CO ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 61; injuries: minor; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review March 19, 2001; seat: left; flight hours: 1,451 total, 30 in this make and model, 1,347 as pilot in command, 47 in the last 90 days, 38 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 300° at 7 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 46 °F, dew point 3 °F - Altimeter: 30.18 inHg - Observed at: GCN, 45 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 20030210002069A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20030210002069A), Feb 10, 2003: Cessna 182A, Tubacity, AZ, Substantial damage. (-23) Aircraft made a forced landing north of tuba city, Arizona. Pilot states that during cruise flight at about 9500 feet, the aircraft lost power, she did… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 25, 2004, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=56496. 321 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 283 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40383827&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - FAA Inspector's Report (item 2, .PDF, 38 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40212462&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=FAA%20Inspector%27s%20Report-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.