# NTSB SEA85LA066: Cessna TU206F, N1539U, Seattle, WA, February 24, 1985

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: February 23, 1985, 19:05 local (Feb 24, 1985, 03:05 UTC)
- Place: Seattle, WA
- Coordinates: 47.539993, -122.30941 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=47.5400&lon=-122.3094&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- ADs cited in the narratives: [AD 84-10-01 R1](https://openairdocs.org/ad/84-10-01-R1) (OpenAirDocs)
- NTSB case key (mKey): 40121
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA85LA066
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/40121/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA85LA066

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, descent
  - fluid,fuel - exhaustion
  - fuel system,cap - leak (cause)
  - fuel system,tank - improper (contributing factor)
  - maintenance,compliance with ad - poor, other maintenance personnel (cause)
- Forced landing, descent - emergency
- Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown
  - flare - misjudged, pilot in command (contributing factor)

## Analysis

THE ACFT LANDED SHORT OF RWY 13R AT BOEING FLD FOLLOWING A LOSS OF PWR DUE TO FUEL EXHAUSTION. THE ACFT WAS TOPPED OFF FOR A TTL OF 108 GALS OF FUEL BEFORE THIS THIRD LEG OF A X-COUNTRY FLT. THE PLT STATED THAT THE ENG CEASED OPERATING EN ROUTE, HOWEVER, PWR WAS REGAINED WHEN THE FUEL SELECTOR WAS SWITCHED FROM THE RIGHT TO THE LEFT MAIN TANK. WHILE BEING VECTORED FOR AN ILS APCH TO TACOMA ARPT, THE ENG CEASED OPERATING ONCE AGAIN. UPON BREAKING OUT OF THE OVERCAST THE PLT SPOTTED BOEING FLT AND ATTEMPTED THE LANDING THERE. BOTH THE LEFT AND RIGHT MAIN AN AUX TANKS WERE FOUND EMPTY AFTER THE ACCIDENT AND FUEL STAINS WERE VISIBLE BEHIND THE REFUELING CAPS ON BOTH MAIN TANKS. THE RIGHT MAIN FUEL CAP WAS TESTED AND FOUND TO LEAK SEVERLY. THE LEFT FUEL CAP TESTED NORMAL. AD 84-10-01 WHICH ADDRESSES LEAKAGE AROUND THE FILLER CAPS WAS REPORTED TO HAVE BEEN COMPLIED WITH 2 DAYS PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT. THE BLADDER IN THE LEFT MAIN TANK WAS FOUND STUCK UP AROUND THE NECK OF THE FILLER OPENING.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N1539U](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N1539U-1988-05-20), registration cancelled 1988-05-20, S/N U20602247 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA TU206F
- Registry model: [Cessna TU206F](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-tu206f) (registry code 2073353) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: U20602247
- Airframe hours: 620
- Engines: CONTINENTAL TSIO-520-C 285 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Edward Austin
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, February 21, 1985, 13 hours before
- Departed: CYPR, PRINCE RUPERT
- Destination: SEA, SEATTLE, WA
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: BFI, Boeing Field, runway 13R, 10,000 × 200 ft, grass/turf

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 53; commercial, private; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 1,260 total, 238 in this make and model, 1,050 as pilot in command, 52 in the last 90 days, 8 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/dark
- Wind: 120° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 2,000 ft broken
- Temperature: 64 °F, dew point 61 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: BFI

## 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 19850223030799A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19850223030799A), Feb 23, 1985: Cessna TU206F, Seattle, WA, Substantial damage. During ATC vectors engine quit. Landed short, out of fuel. Fuel cap leak, bladder up to filler neck. New annual.

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.

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