# NTSB WPR10CA401: Cessna 180D, N6475X, Hillsboro, OR, August 13, 2010 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: August 13, 2010, 16:00 local (23:00 UTC) - Place: Hillsboro, OR - Coordinates: 45.42361, -122.938613 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=45.4236&lon=-122.9386&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Approach-VFR pattern base: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report March 16, 2011 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 76958 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR10CA401 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/76958/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=76958 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR10CA401 ## Probable cause A loss of engine power due to fuel starvation resulting from unporting when the pilot entered into a slip during the turn to the final approach leg. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Performance/control parameters: yaw control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062024): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not specified (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 180D, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062024/cases.md?model=2072610), [All aircraft, 149 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062024/cases.md) - [Fluids: fuel](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010): Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware · Incorrect use/operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 180D, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md?model=2072610), [All aircraft, 1,695 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Approach-VFR pattern base: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 180D, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=2072610), [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md) - [Emergency descent: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440); cases with it: [Cessna 180D, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=2072610), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092); cases with it: [Cessna 180D, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md?model=2072610), [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot performed a preflight inspection for the cross-country flight, which included checking the fuel tanks. He used a calibrated stick and determined that he had 15 gallons in the right fuel tank and 10 gallons in the left fuel tank; he flew the majority of the flight with the right fuel tank selected. Upon reaching the destination airport, as he was switching from the right fuel tank position to the "BOTH" position, the engine surged. As the pilot made a left turn onto the base leg of the traffic pattern, he noted that the airplane was slightly high. He initiated a left slip to lose altitude. When he leveled the airplane, the engine began to surge as if it were out of fuel. The pilot reported that he tried to maintain engine power by pumping the throttle back and forth, but was unable to retain power. Determining that he would not be able to maneuver the airplane to the runway, the pilot opted to perform a forced landing on a dirt path. The airplane landed hard and the right main landing gear collapsed. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical problems with the airplane. Cessna issued guidance to pilots not to perform slips with less than 1/4 tank of fuel; however, the guidance was issued after the airplane's handbook was published. The pilot further stated that if he had maintained a correct airspeed for the approach, it would not have been necessary for him to maneuver the airplane in a slip. ## Factual narrative The pilot performed a preflight inspection for the cross-country flight, which included checking the fuel tanks. He used a calibrated stick, and determined that he had 15 gallons in the right fuel tank and 10 gallons in the left fuel tank; he flew the majority of the flight with the right fuel tank selected. Upon reaching the destination airport, as he was switching from the right fuel tank position to the BOTH position, the engine surged. As the pilot made a left turn onto base, he noted that the airplane was slightly high so he initiated a left slip to lose altitude. When he leveled the airplane, the engine began to surge as if it were out of fuel. The pilot reported that he tried to maintain engine power by “pumping the throttle but was unable to get any power.” The pilot stated that he was not going to make the runway, so he made a forced landing on a dirt path. The airplane landed hard and the right main landing gear collapsed. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical problems with the airplane. Also, his statement noted that he should have been at the correct airspeed for the approach, which would have made it unnecessary to slip the airplane, and that he should not have slipped the airplane to the left in order to keep fuel available to the engine. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N6475X](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N6475X), registered now, S/N 18050975, built 1961 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 180D - Registry model: [Cessna 180D](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-180d) (registry code 2072610) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental O-470 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-o-470-series) (registry code 17026, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 18050975 - Engines: CONT MOTOR O-470 SERIES 230 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: BFI, Seattle, WA - Destination: 7S3, Hillsboro, OR - Flight plan: Company VFR - Airport: 7S3, Stark's Twin Oaks Airpark, runway 02, 2,465 × 48 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 60; injuries: minor; airline transport, commercial, student; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land, multi-engine sea, single-engine sea; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; last flight review November 18, 2009; seat: left; flight hours: 18,709 total, 1,982 in this make and model, 16,924 as pilot in command, 63 in the last 90 days, 15 in the last 30 days, 6 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 30° at 15 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 91 °F - Altimeter: 29.85 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 20100813041279A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20100813041279A), Aug 13, 2010: Cessna 180D, Hillsboro, OR, Substantial damage. Pilot left seattle with 25 gallons fuel, and flew to Hillsboro on right tank until empty. Switched to both position on fuel selector passing hio airport, and… ## Other investigations on N6475X (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 ANC70A0026](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC70A0026), Sep 16, 1969: Cessna 180D (N6475X), Chitina, AK, substantial damage ## Docket (1 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 1, 2010, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=76958. 329 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 329 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40336684&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.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.