# NTSB SEA94LA242: Cessna P206D, N8761Z, Lopez, WA, September 18, 1994 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: September 18, 1994, 16:30 local (23:30 UTC) - Place: Lopez, WA - Coordinates: 48.4892, -122.870269 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=48.4892&lon=-122.8703&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor, 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report March 13, 1995 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 42026 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA94LA242 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/42026/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA94LA242 ## Probable cause A WORN THROTTLE CONTROL LEVER. ## 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, takeoff - initial climb - throttle/power lever,linkage - worn (cause) - throttle/power lever,linkage - disconnected - Forced landing, descent - emergency - Nose over, landing - roll - terrain condition - rough/uneven ## Analysis SHORTLY AFTER TAKEOFF THE ENGINE LOST POWER. THE PILOT INITIATED A FORCED LANDING TO A NEARBY AIRSTRIP. THE AIRPLANE LANDED SHORT AND NOSED OVER. INSPECTION OF THE ENGINE REVEALED THAT THE THROTTLE CONTROL LEVER DISPLAYED ELONGATED WEARING WHERE THE THROTTLE CONTROL LEVER ATTACHES TO THE THROTTLE LINKAGE. THE WEARING ALLOWED THE ENCOMPASSING BRASS TO WEAR THROUGH AND THE LINKAGE TO DISCONNECT FROM THE LEVER. ## Factual narrative On September 18, 1994, at 1630 Pacific daylight time, a Cessna P206D, N8761Z, experienced a loss of engine power shortly after take off from an airstrip on Center Island, Washington. The pilot executed a forced landing to a nearby private airstrip on Decatur Island, located six miles northeast of Lopez, Washington. During the landing roll, the airplane nosed over and was substantially damaged. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan was filed. The private pilot sustained minor injuries and the passenger was not injured. The flight was departing for Fall City, Washington on a personal flight. During a telephone interview and subsequent written statement, the pilot reported that the engine decreased power to idle just after take off from the airstrip on Center Island. The pilot opted to initiate a forced landing to an airstrip on Decatur Island that is approximately one-quarter of a mile from Center Island. The airplane touched down approximately 100 yards short of the airstrip and nosed over. During the post accident inspection, the throttle control lever was found to have elongated wear where the throttle control lever attaches to the air throttle assembly. Consequently, the wear resulted in the encompassing brass to wear through. Evidence indicates that the lever was not sufficiently tightened, thus allowing movement of the lever. This throttle control lever is of the old style which did not incorporate a hardened bushing. The new style lever incorporates a hardened bushing, as seen in the attached Figure 12-02. Air Throttle Assembly, item six. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N8761Z](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N8761Z), registered now, S/N P206-0561, built 1968 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA P206D - Registry model: [Cessna P206D](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-p206d) (registry code 2073338) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental IO-520 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-io-520-series) (registry code 17032, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: P2060561 - Airframe hours: 3200 - Engines: CONTINENTAL IO-520-A 285 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Haag, Walter G. - Registered owner: Haag, Walter G. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, July 5, 1994, 30 hours before - Departed: CENTER ISLAND, WA - Destination: FALL CITY, WA - Airport: Decatur Shores, runway 33, 2,550 × 200 ft, gravel ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 43; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 704 total, 323 in this make and model, 27 in the last 90 days, 8 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 50 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 70 °F ## 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 19940918028269A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19940918028269A), Sep 18, 1994: Cessna P206D, Decatur Island, WA, Substantial damage. Engine idled on climbout. Nosed over short of another Island strip. Worn throttle lever disconnected. 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.