# NTSB WPR09LA423: Cessna TU206G, N682RC, Ballard, WA, August 28, 2009 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: August 28, 2009, 06:48 local (13:48 UTC) - Place: Ballard, WA - Coordinates: 47.666667, -122.033332 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=47.6667&lon=-122.0333&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Enroute-cruise: Electrical system malf/failure](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/332) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report July 22, 2010 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 74621 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR09LA423 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/74621/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=74621 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR09LA423 ## Probable cause The pilot's precautionary water landing with partially extended landing gear. Contributing to the accident was the unidentified anomaly with the airplane's electrical system, which rendered the gear position indicator system inoperative. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Landing gear system: gear position and warning](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023260): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Inoperative (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna TU206G, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023260/cases.md?model=2073357), [All aircraft, 37 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023260/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: use of equip/system](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna TU206G, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015/cases.md?model=2073357), [All aircraft, 1,391 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015/cases.md) - [Electrical power system: dC generation system](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022430): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Inoperative (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna TU206G, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022430/cases.md?model=2073357), [All aircraft, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022430/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Enroute-cruise: Electrical system malf/failure](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/332) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna TU206G, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/332/sequence.md?model=2073357), [All aircraft, 182 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/332/sequence.md) - [Enroute-cruise: Attempted remediation/recovery](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060); cases with it: [Cessna TU206G, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md?model=2073357), [All aircraft, 1,422 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096); cases with it: [Cessna TU206G, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md?model=2073357), [All aircraft, 2,287 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that about 15 minutes after taking off from a runway in an amphibious airplane, all electrical power was lost. The pilot also observed that the fuel gauges indicated empty, and he became concerned about continuing his flight over populated areas. Therefore, he chose to make a precautionary water landing to a nearby marina to check his fuel state and investigate the electrical problem. Prior to landing, the pilot reported that he attempted to hand pump the landing gear up. He was able to visually confirm that both of the front gear were raised, however, due to the electrical failure, the gear position indicator was inoperative and he was unable to verify if the main gear were retracted. During the water landing, the left main aft gear was still extended and upon touchdown, the left pontoon lifted and the right wing tip impacted the water. The airplane pitched forward and nosed over. The reason for the electrical failure was not determined due to damage from the airplane's immersion in salt water. ## Factual narrative On August 28, 2009, about 0648 Pacific daylight time, a Cessna TU206G, N682RC, nosed over during landing in the Shilshole Bay, Ballard, Washington. The pilot owned and operated the amphibious airplane. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the personal flight, and no flight plan had been filed. The airplane was substantially damaged, and the commercial pilot received a minor injury. The flight was performed under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91, and it originated in Bremerton, Washington, about 0630. The pilot reported to the National Transportation Safety Board investigator that about 15 minutes after taking off from the Bremerton National Airport, he experienced an electrical problem with his airplane. All electric current was lost. As a result, the airplane's fuel gauges indicated empty and he became concerned about flying over populated areas. Rather than continuing his intended flight to Payne Field, in Everett, Washington, the pilot opted to land in the Shilshole Bay marina to check his fuel state and investigate the electrical problem. The pilot stated that he attempted to raise the landing gear by using the emergency gear retraction hand pump. He was able to confirm that both of the front gear were raised into the pontoons. However, the left main aft gear was still extended; it did not fully retract. Upon touchdown in the water, the extended gear lifted the left pontoon up, and the right wing tip impacted the water. The airplane pitched forward, nosed over, and came to rest upside down in the salt water. The pilot further reported that without electrical power, the gear position indicator was inoperative. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) representatives examined the airplane following its recovery from the water. Due to the airplane's immersion in the water, no determination was made regarding the preimpact functionality of the airplane's electrical system. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N682RC](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N682RC-2009-11-04), registration cancelled 2009-11-04, S/N U20605537, built 1980 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA TU206G - Registry model: [Cessna TU206G](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-tu206g) (registry code 2073357) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental TSIO-520 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-tsio-520-series) (registry code 17040, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: U20605537 - Airframe hours: 2802 - Engines: CONT MOTOR TSIO-520 SER 310 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal; Special, Restricted (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, April 10, 2009, 31 hours before - Departed: PWT, Bremerton, WA - Destination: PAE, Everett, WA ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 51; injuries: minor; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, single-engine sea, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; last flight review June 12, 2009; seat: left; flight hours: 1,214 total, 251 in this make and model, 36 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 61 °F - Altimeter: 30.07 inHg ## 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 20090828017789A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20090828017789A), Aug 28, 2009: Cessna TU206G, Ballard, WA, Substantial damage. On 08-28-09, N682RC left bremerton, WA, about 0630. After takeoff the pilot experienced an electrical problem with his airplane, and all current was lost.… ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 18, 2010, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=74621. 812 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 712 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40318545&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Airplane, Bottom View Showing Extended Aft Gear. FAA Photo. (item 2, .PDF, 28 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40330829&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Airplane,%20Bottom%20View%20Showing%20Extended%20Aft%20Gear.%20FAA%20Photo.-Master.PDF - Airplane's Left Wing, Top View. FAA Photo (item 3, .PDF, 30 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40330830&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Airplane%27s%20Left%20Wing,%20Top%20View.%20FAA%20Photo-Master.PDF - Airplane's Left Wing, Bottom View. FAA Photo. (item 4, .PDF, 42 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40330831&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Airplane%27s%20Left%20Wing,%20Bottom%20View.%20FAA%20Photo.-Master.PDF 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.