# NTSB NYC06LA054: Cessna 206, N308M, Lexington, KY, January 12, 2006 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: January 12, 2006, 14:55 local (19:55 UTC) - Place: Lexington, KY - Coordinates: 38.036666, -84.599998 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.0367&lon=-84.6000&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 2 minor - Status: Completed, report January 31, 2008 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 63082 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC06LA054 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/63082/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC06LA054 ## Probable cause Failure of the throttle cable. Contributing to the accident was unsuitable terrain for a forced landing. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(partial) - mech failure/malf, descent - throttle/power lever,cable - fatigue (cause) - In flight collision with terrain/water, emergency descent/landing - terrain condition - none suitable ## Analysis The airplane was in a descent for landing, about 3 miles from the destination airport, when the pilot adjusted the throttle to level the airplane. The engine continued to run at the power setting used for the descent, and further adjustments of the throttle produced no change in engine speed. Based on the wind and available engine power, the pilot elected to perform a forced landing to a parking lot. While maneuvering in the landing flare to avoid obstacles, the airplane dragged the left wing, landed hard, collapsed the nose gear, and then struck a curb before it came to rest. Examination of the airplane by Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspectors revealed a severed throttle cable. Examination of the cable by a National Transportation Safety Board metallurgist revealed the cable failed in fatigue. The wear around the housing was described as "uniform" and "severe" and consistent with exposure to contaminants, as well as vibration and bending loads. The cable was installed 4 years, and 1,200 hours prior to the accident. ## Factual narrative On January 12, 2006, at 1455 eastern standard time, a Cessna 206, N308M, was substantially damaged during collision with terrain following a forced landing to a parking lot, in Lexington, Kentucky. The certificated commercial pilot and the passenger sustained minor injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the flight that originated at Mount Sterling-Montgomery County Airport (IOB), Mount Sterling, Kentucky, and was destined for Blue Grass Airport (LEX), Lexington, Kentucky. No flight plan was filed for the positioning flight conducted under 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. In a written statement, the pilot explained that he was approximately 3 miles from the destination airport in a descent, when he applied power to level the airplane at the traffic pattern altitude, however, the application of throttle did not change the power setting. The engine continued to run at the power setting used for the descent, and further adjustments of the throttle produced no change in engine speed. Based on the wind and available engine power, the pilot elected to perform a forced landing to a parking lot. While maneuvering in the landing flare to avoid obstacles, the airplane dragged the left wing, landed hard, collapsed the nose gear, and then struck a curb before it came to rest. The pilot held a commercial pilot certificate with ratings for airplane single engine land, airplane multiengine land, and instrument airplane. He also held an instructor certificate with ratings for airplane single engine and airplane multiengine. The pilot reported 647 total hours of flight experience, 157 hours of which were in single engine airplanes. He reported 34 hours of experience in the same make and model as the accident airplane. The airplane was examined at the site by a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector, and all major components were accounted for at the scene. The airplane came to rest upright, on its main landing gear and its nose. The nose landing gear collapsed and separated during the landing sequence. According to FAA records, the airplane was manufactured in 1964, and had accrued 6,986 total aircraft hours. The airplane had been operated for 182 hours since its most recent annual inspection, which was performed on July 18, 2005. Examination of the engine compartment revealed a severed throttle cable. The throttle cable was removed, and forwarded to the National Transportation Safety Board's Materials Laboratory in Washington, D.C. Examination of the cable by a Safety Board metallurgist revealed that the cable, and its surrounding housing, failed due to fatigue. Examination of design drawings revealed that an elastomeric dust boot depicted in the drawings was not installed over the fractured pushrod housing at the point of the break, as prescribed. The wear around the housing was described as "uniform" and "severe" and consistent with exposure to contaminants, as well as vibration and bending loads. The cable was installed 4 years, and 1,200 hours prior to the accident. At 1454, the weather reported at LEX, included clear skies, and 10 miles of visibility. The wind was from 170 degrees at 10 knots. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N308M](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N308M-2017-05-15), registration cancelled 2017-05-15, S/N 2060092, built 1964 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 206 - Registry model: [Cessna 206](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-206) (registry code 2073302) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental IO-520 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-io-520-series) (registry code 17032, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 2060092 - Airframe hours: 6971 - Engines: Continental IO-520A 285 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: GMR Aerial Surveys, Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, July 1, 2005, 182 hours before - Departed: IOB, Mt. Sterling, KY - Destination: LEX, Lexington, KY - Airport: LEK, Blue Grass Airport ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 33; injuries: minor; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; last flight review October 1, 2005; seat: left; flight hours: 647 total, 34 in this make and model, 611 as pilot in command, 92 in the last 90 days, 13 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 180° at 11 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Temperature: 55 °F, dew point 36 °F - Altimeter: 29.94 inHg - Observed at: LEX, 1 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 20060112000749A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20060112000749A), Jan 12, 2006: Cessna 206CESSNA, Lexington, KY, Substantial damage. (-23) On 01/12/2006 N308M a Cessna 206 serial #2060092 contacted lex air traffic control @ 14:54 local time and informed them of engine power loss and could… 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.