- Date
- August 2, 2008, 10:00 local (14:00 UTC)
- Place
- Westerly, RI
- Injuries
- 1 minor
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Approach
- Aircraft
- N42366Cessna 182L
- Defining event
- Approach-VFR pattern base: Loss of engine power (total)
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report January 22, 2009
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- Parties
- FAA/FSDO
- FAA report
- 20080802842599A
- Case key
- 68590
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
A loss of power due to a partial blockage of the air induction system.
Findings · 1
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.
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
A Cessna 182L experienced a loss of power approximately 1,200 feet above sea level while 2 miles from its destination airport. The pilot had just applied carburetor heat while entering the base leg of the airport traffic pattern when the loss of power occurred. The pilot attempted to restore power but was unable. After determining that he would not be able to glide to the runway, he ditched the airplane in a river. Post-accident examination of the aircraft revealed that the wing was substantially damaged and that there was nesting material and the remains of a rodent in the inlet of the carburetor.
Factual narrative
A Cessna 182L experienced a loss of power approximately 1,200 feet above sea level, while 2 miles from its destination airport. The pilot had just applied carburetor heat while entering the base leg of the airport traffic pattern when the loss of power occurred. The pilot attempted to restore power but was unable. After determining that he would not be able to glide to the runway, he ditched the airplane in a river. Post accident examination of the airframe revealed that the wing was substantially damaged. Post accident examination of the engine revealed nesting material and the remains of a rodent in the inlet of the carburetor.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N42366
- Reported as
- Cessna 182L
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 18258987
- Airframe hours
- 3,870.32
- Engine
- Continental O-470-R, 230 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · February 1, 2008 · 6.2 hours before
- Departed
- 4B9 · Simsbury, CT
- Destination
- WST · Westerly, RI
- Airport
- WST · Westerly State Airport, runway 07, 4,010 × 100 ft, asphalt
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
- 42
- Injuries
- Minor
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Without waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- September 1, 2006
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 690 total · 212 in this make and model · 600 as pilot in command · 2 in the last 90 days · 2 in the last 30 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 170° at 7 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 79 °F, dew point 70 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.73 inHg
- Observed at
- WST, 3 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 N42366 · 1
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.