# NTSB SEA99LA136: Cessna 182G, N2492R, Freeland, WA, August 9, 1999 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: August 9, 1999, 13:45 local (20:45 UTC) - Place: Freeland, WA - Coordinates: 48.010566, -122.540512 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=48.0106&lon=-122.5405&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor, 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report January 18, 2001 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 47022 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA99LA136 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/47022/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA99LA136 ## Probable cause The pilot-in-command's improper use of carburetor heat and overload of the nose gear assembly during the forced landing. Contributing factors were carburetor icing conditions, the ditch and fence. ## Analysis The pilot reported that while en route to Everett at 1,800 feet above sea level he noticed a degradation of engine RPM and attempted to correct for the condition without success. Application of carburetor heat merely aggravated the RPM loss and, unable to maintain altitude, he maneuvered the aircraft to a field for a forced landing. During the landing roll the aircraft impacted a barbed wire fence and then a ditch during which the nose gear assembly separated from the airframe. Post-crash examination revealed no evidence of airframe, fuel or engine malfunction. Estimated ambient air temperature (19 degrees C.) and dew point temperature (14 degrees C.) at the aircraft's cruise altitude were consistent with moderate carburetor icing conditions. ## Factual narrative On August 9, 1999, approximately 1345 Pacific daylight time, a Cessna 182G, N2492R, registered to and being operated by a private pilot, was substantially damaged during an on-ground collision with a fence and ditch following an emergency landing in an open field approximately three miles east of Freeland, Washington. Visual meteorological conditions existed and no flight plan had been filed. The pilot was uninjured and the passenger sustained minor injuries. The flight, which was personal, was to have been operated under 14CFR91, and originated from Port Townsend, approximately 10 minutes prior to the accident. The pilot reported in a telephonic interview with the investigator-in-charge that while en route to Everett he noticed a degradation of engine RPM and attempted to correct for the condition without success. Application of carburetor heat merely aggravated the RPM loss, and the pilot, unable to maintain altitude, maneuvered the aircraft to a field for a forced landing. During the landing roll the aircraft impacted a barbed wire fence and then a ditch during which the nose gear assembly separated from the airframe (refer to photographs 1,2 and 3). The pilot also provided a written statement in which he stated that "during the cruise portion of the flight while reaching over to lean the mixture I noticed that the EGT was already at full lean (the six o'clock position on my gauge). As this was unusual I thought I would check with a mechanic at Paine prior to my return flight to Bellingham. I checked all gauges to see if there was any other anomaly and seeing none, proceeded with the flight." Additionally, he reported that "as we flew over the southwest corner of Useless Bay at 1800 feet AGL the engine began to run rough. Within a few seconds the RPM's dropped noticeably and we began to lose altitude." The pilot also reported to an inspector with the Federal Aviation Administration's (FAA) Flight Standards District Office (Renton FSDO) that he was "at 1800 feet when he started losing RPM, [he] tried to apply carb[uretor] heat - no good." A maintenance inspector from the FAA's Renton FSDO examined the aircraft's fuel and air intake system, as well as the engine aircraft recovery from the site. The inspector reported the following findings: 1. Fuel in both fuel tanks. 2. The gascolator bowl contained fuel and no water. 3. The carburetor was broken off the engine. 4. The carburetor fuel line had fuel in it. 5. The "Brackett" air filter was found unobstructed and its seal was intact. 6. The alternate air intake was unblocked. 7. The crankshaft was rotated and compression was verified on all six cylinders as well as crankshaft/accessory drive continuity. 8. The magnetos were rotated and generated a spark to all six cylinders. 9. The carburetor heat box was intact. 10. There was no visible blockage of the exhaust system. 11. The fuel selector was in the "OFF" position (placed there by the pilot following the accident). The aviation surface weather observation taken at 1353 at Paine field (nine nautical miles east of the site) reported a surface temperature and dew point of 21 and 16 degrees Centigrade respectively at an airport surface elevation of 606 feel above mean sea level. The average atmospheric lapse rate is approximately 2 degrees Centigrade per 1000 feet. A carburetor icing probability chart (Transport Canada), which provides carburetor icing probability as a function of temperature and dew point, is provided as ATTACHMENT CI-I. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power, cruise - weather condition - carburetor icing conditions (contributing factor) - carburetor heat - improper use of, pilot in command (cause) - Forced landing, emergency descent/landing - Gear collapsed, landing - roll - landing gear,nose gear assembly - overload (cause) - terrain condition - ditch (contributing factor) - object - fence (contributing factor) ## Aircraft - Registration: [N2492R](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N2492R-2014-12-22), registration cancelled 2014-12-22, S/N 18255592, built 1964 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 182G - Registry model: [Cessna 182G](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-182g) (registry code 2072716) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental O-470 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-o-470-series) (registry code 17026, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 18255592 - Airframe hours: 3143 - Engines: Continental O-470R 230 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Foster, Charles, P. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, April 21, 1999, 41 hours before - Departed: 0S9, PORT TOWNSEND, WA - Destination: PAE, EVERETT, WA ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 55; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 1,034 total, 49 in this make and model, 980 as pilot in command, 41 in the last 90 days, 19 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 310° at 7 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 70 °F, dew point 61 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: PAE, 9 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 19990809044269A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19990809044269A), Aug 9, 1999: Cessna 182G, Clinton, WA, No damage. (-23) At cruise pilot went to lean out engine; review of engine EGT reflected it was at maximum. A/c engine started to run rough. Application of carburetor… From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date; 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.