# NTSB WPR12LA411: Cessna A185F, N80SS, Cambria, CA, September 9, 2012 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: September 9, 2012, 15:45 local (22:45 UTC) - Place: Cambria, CA - Coordinates: 35.735553, -121.337501 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.7356&lon=-121.3375&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Enroute-cruise: Loss of engine power (partial)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report December 15, 2014 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 84989 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR12LA411 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/84989/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=84989 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR12LA411 ## Probable cause A partial loss of engine power during cruise flight for reasons that could not be determined because the airplane sank in the ocean and was not recovered. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Not determined](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000): Not determined › Not determined · Unknown/Not determined (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna A185F, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md?model=2072821), [All aircraft, 2,247 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Enroute-cruise: Loss of engine power (partial)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna A185F, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342/sequence.md?model=2072821), [All aircraft, 1,858 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342/sequence.md) - [Unknown: Unknown or undetermined](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/000); cases with it: [Cessna A185F, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/000/sequence.md?model=2072821), [All aircraft, 1,703 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/000/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that, while in cruise flight over the ocean in the float-equipped airplane, the engine experienced a partial loss of power. The airplane was unable to maintain altitude, and the pilot subsequently made a forced landing on the water. After the pilot and his son were rescued, the airplane sank, and the wreckage was not recovered. Although the pilot reported that there might have been a problem with the turbocharger wastegate, the reason for the loss of engine power could not be determined because the airplane sank. ## Factual narrative On September 9, 2012, about 1545 Pacific daylight time, a float equipped Cessna A185F, N80SS, made an emergency landing in the Pacific Ocean, about 16 miles northwest of Cambria, California. The commercial pilot operated the airplane under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a cross-country flight. The pilot and one passenger were not injured. The airplane subsequently sank in 6-foot swells and was not recovered. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the flight that departed the Camarillo Airport (CMA), Camarillo, California, at an undetermined time. The flight was destined for Canada, and no flight plan had been filed.According to rescue personnel, the pilot reported that the airplane lost manifold pressure. He made an emergency landing on the ocean, and shortly after being rescued by the Coast Guard, the airplane sank. In an interview with the National Transportation Safety Board investigator-in-charge (NTSB IIC), the pilot stated that the engine experienced a partial power loss, with not enough power to keep the airplane airborne, and it was as if someone had pulled the throttle back. The pilot stated that the manifold pressure was at 13 inches. He stated that he pointed the airplane into the swells, and made the forced landing. The pilot did not return a pilot/operators report; however, he provided a full statement to the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (http://www.aopa.org/News-and-Video/All-News/2012/September/13/Power-loss-over-rough-seas). In this report, the pilot stated that the purpose of the flight was to go on an annual fishing trip with this son. They were about 1,700 feet when there was a loss of engine power. The pilot reported that the engine did not sputter; it was more as if someone had pulled the throttle back. The pilot further reported that the engine would not produce more than 15 inches of manifold pressure; he surmised that there may have been a problem with the turbocharger wastegate. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N80SS](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N80SS-2012-11-07), registration cancelled 2012-11-07, S/N 18504041, built 1980 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA A185F - Registry model: [Cessna A185F](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-a185f) (registry code 2072821) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental TSIO-520 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-tsio-520-series) (registry code 17040, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 18504041 - Engines: CONT MOTOR TSIO-520 SER 300 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Aircapital Nevada Inc - Registered owner: Aircapital Nevada Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special) - Departed: CMA, CAMARILLO, CA - Airport: CMA, Camarillo ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 77; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine sea, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; flight hours: 24,000 total ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 340° at 7 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 97 °F, dew point 45 °F - Altimeter: 29.82 inHg - Observed at: PRB, 40 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). - [Incident 20120909026609I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20120909026609I), Sep 9, 2012: Cessna A185F, San Simeon, CA, Substantial damage. On 09/09/2012 at approximately 15:45 PST, N80SS, a Cessna 185 float plane lost engine power and made an emergency landing in the water approximately 16 sm… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 29, 2014, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=84989. 666 KB in all. - Record of Conversation - Shaw (item 1, .PDF, 31 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40418337&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation%20-%20Shaw%20-Redacted.PDF - AOPA Article (item 2, .PDF, 636 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40418339&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=AOPA%20Article%20-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.