# NTSB SEA95LA179: Cessna T188C, N9574J, Mattawa, WA, August 10, 1995 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: August 9, 1995, 19:30 local (Aug 10, 1995, 02:30 UTC) - Place: Mattawa, WA - Coordinates: 46.799938, -119.149299 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=46.7999&lon=-119.1493&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report April 18, 1996 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 42218 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA95LA179 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/42218/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA95LA179 ## Probable cause A PARTIAL 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, maneuvering - aerial application - reason for occurrence undetermined (cause) - fuel system,screen - blocked(partial) - Forced landing, emergency landing - In flight collision with terrain/water, emergency landing ## Analysis THE PILOT REPORTED THAT THE ENGINE LOST PARTIAL POWER DURING AN AERIAL APPLICATION MANEUVER. A FORCED LANDING WAS MADE TO AN ADJACENT FIELD. DURING THE POSTCRASH INSPECTION, NO EVIDENCE WAS FOUND TO INDICATE A MECHANICAL FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION. A 'FUZZY' SUBSTANCE WAS FOUND ON THE BACK SIDE OF THE FUEL MANIFOLD SCREEN. THE SUBSTANCE PARTIALLY COVERED THE SCREEN IN THE AREA WHERE FUEL WOULD NATURALLY CONCENTRATE AND APPEARED TO HAVE BEEN ON THE SCREEN FOR AN EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME. NO DETERMINATION COULD BE MADE REGARDING THE SUBSTANCE AND ITS INFLUENCE ON ENGINE OPERATION. THE AIRPLANE HAD BEEN FREQUENTLY OPERATED DURING PREVIOUS FLIGHTS AT FULL POWER SETTINGS WITH NO PROBLEMS NOTED. ## Factual narrative On August 9, 1995, about 1930 Pacific daylight time, N9574J, a Cessna T188C, operated by B & R Aerial Crop Care, Inc., collided with terrain during an emergency landing in Mattawa, Washington, and was substantially damaged. The emergency landing was precipitated by a partial loss of engine power while maneuvering for an aerial application. The commercial pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan had been filed. The local flight was conducted under 14 CFR 137. In a written statement, the pilot reported that he took off with 170 gallons of spray mix and flew five miles to the spray site. The pilot stated that as he pulled up from the first spray pass of the second load, he made a right turn, then rolled into a left turn to re-enter another spray pass. As the airplane entered the left turn, the engine lost partial power. The pilot extended the flaps to 20 degrees and applied full power. The engine did not react, and the pilot applied the remaining flaps and initiated a forced landing to the adjacent field. During the landing, the airplane collided with the terrain. The airplane spun around and slid sideways before coming to rest. The engine was removed to a secured facility for teardown and inspection. The inspection was witnessed by Federal Aviation Administration inspectors from the Spokane, Washington, Flight Standards Field Office. No evidence was found to indicate a mechanical failure or malfunction during the inspection. The inspectors noted a small amount of a "fuzzy" type substance on the back side of the screen in the manifold valve. One inspector reported that the substance partially covered the screen in an area where fuel would naturally concentrate. The inspector also stated that the substance appeared to have been on the screen for an extended period of time. The inspector also stated that the airplane had been frequently operated under full power settings without difficulty. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N9574J](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N9574J-1997-11-12), registration cancelled 1997-11-12, S/N T18803824T (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA T188C - Registry model: [Cessna T188C](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-t188c) (registry code 2073012) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: T18803824T - Airframe hours: 4879 - Engines: CONTINENTAL TSIO-520 310 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Aerial application, Part 137 - Registered owner: B & R Aerial Crop Care, Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, January 20, 1995, 375 hours before ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 27; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: front; flight hours: 1,210 total, 884 in this make and model, 1,151 as pilot in command ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 270° at 2 knots - Visibility: 30 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 79 °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 19950809047049A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19950809047049A), Aug 9, 1995: Cessna T188C, Mattawa, WA, Substantial damage. Lost power on spray run. Landed in near field. Found fuel screen partially blocked by fuzzy material. ## Other investigations on N9574J (1) 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. - [NTSB SEA86LA161](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA86LA161), Jul 1, 1986: Cessna T-188-C (N9574J), Othello, WA, destroyed 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.