# NTSB WPR13LA005: Cessna 180H, N2780X, St Maries, ID, October 7, 2012 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: October 6, 2012, 17:14 local (Oct 7, 2012, 00:14 UTC) - Place: St Maries, ID - Coordinates: 47.215831, -116.686111 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=47.2158&lon=-116.6861&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Approach: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor, 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report September 12, 2013 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 85268 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR13LA005 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/85268/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=85268 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR13LA005 ## Probable cause The total loss of engine power for reasons that could not be determined because postaccident examination of the engine and airframe did not reveal any anomalies that would have precluded normal operation. ## 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) ## Analysis The pilot reported that while descending the airplane from cruise flight toward his destination airport, the engine began to make unusual sounds and then lost total power. Despite the pilot’s attempts, the engine would not restart, so he initiated a forced landing to a nearby dirt road. During the landing roll, the left wing struck a tree, and the airplane nosed over and came to rest inverted. Postaccident examination of the engine and airframe revealed no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. The weather conditions were not conducive to the formation of carburetor icing. The reason for the loss of engine power could not be determined. ## Factual narrative On October 6, 2012, about 1714 Pacific daylight time, a Cessna 180H, N2780X, sustained substantial damage during a forced landing near the St. Maries Municipal Airport (S72) St. Maries, Idaho. The airplane was registered to and operated by the pilot under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. The private pilot was uninjured and the passenger sustained minor injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed for the personal flight which originated from Lewiston-Nez Perce County Airport (LWS) Lewiston, Idaho at about 1600 with a planned destination of S72. The pilot reported that during descent to S72, the engine started making popping sounds and then lost total power. The pilot reported that he does not recall the position of the fuel selector, or if he moved it prior to attempting an engine restart. Despite the pilot attempts, the engine would not restart and he initiated a forced landing on a dirt road about 15 miles southwest of S72. During the landing roll, the left wing struck a tree and the airplane came to rest inverted. The pilot stated that following the accident, he turned off the fuel selector to off and turned off all of the electrical switches. Examination of the airplane by a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector was conducted at the accident site. The inspector observed fuel in both tanks and in the fuel inlet line to the carburetor. The airplane was recovered to a local storage facility. According to an airframe and powerplant airplane mechanic who examined the recovered engine under the supervision of a FAA inspector, no pre-accident mechanical malfunctions or failures were observed on the engine or engine systems. Fuel was present in the carburetor, the accelerator pump operated normally and no blockages were observed. The fuel was clear of contamination. The spark plugs were removed and were slightly worn but not fouled. The cylinder combustion chambers were examined using a lighted borescope and the piston heads, combustion chambers, intake and exhaust valves had normal operating signatures. The rocker covers were removed and were unremarkable. The crankshaft could be rotated by hand and rotational continuity was established throughout the engine and cylinder valve train. All engine accessories remained attached to the engine via their respective mounts. The magnetos would produce spark at all the respective leads when to engine crankshaft was rotated. Weather conditions recorded at S72, located about 15 miles northeast from the accident site, at 1715, wind from 060 degrees at 4 knots, visibility 10 statute miles, clear sky, temperature 61 degrees Fahrenheit, dew point 18 degrees Fahrenheit, and an altimeter setting of 30.23 inches of mercury. According to the FAA Special Airworthiness Information Bulletin, entitled Carburetor Icing Prevention, weather conditions were not conducive to the formation of carburetor icing. ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Approach: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) (defining event) - [Approach: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440) ## Aircraft - Registration: [N2780X](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N2780X), registered now, S/N 18051580, built 1965 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 180H - Registry model: [Cessna 180H](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-180h) (registry code 2072618) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental O-470 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-o-470-series) (registry code 17026, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 18051580 - Airframe hours: 8854 - Engines: CONT MOTOR O-470 SERIES 230 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Whitehead Richard G - Registered owner: Whitehead Richard G - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, August 1, 2012 - Departed: LWS, Lewiston, ID - Destination: S72, St Maries, ID - Airport: S72, St Maries Municipal Airport ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 57; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land, single-engine sea, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review November 6, 2011; seat: left; flight hours: 2,060 total, 815 in this make and model, 1,980 as pilot in command, 18 in the last 90 days, 10 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 60° at 4 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 61 °F, dew point 18 °F - Altimeter: 30.22 inHg - Observed at: COE ## 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 20121006023009A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20121006023009A), Oct 6, 2012: Cessna 180H, St. Maries, ID, Substantial damage. During cruise flight the engine lost power. Pilot reportedly moved fuel selector from both to fullest tank and attempted restart. Engine failed to restart.… ## Other investigations on N2780X (2) 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 SEA01LA069](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA01LA069), Mar 27, 2001: Cessna 180H (N2780X), Coeur d'Alene, ID, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to maintain aircraft control during the aborted takeoff. A factor was gusty crosswinds. - [NTSB SEA00LA139](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA00LA139), Jul 22, 2000: Cessna 180H (N2780X), Hailey, ID, substantial damage. Probable cause: Failure to adequately compensate for wind conditions. ## Docket (5 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on July 8, 2013, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=85268. 1.1 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 874 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40395948&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Record of Conversation - FAA Inspector (item 2, .PDF, 60 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40395953&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation%20-%20FAA%20Inspector-Master.PDF - Record of Email - FAA Inspector (item 3, .PDF, 58 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40395950&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Email%20-%20FAA%20Inspector-Master.PDF - FAA Special Airworthiness Information Bulletin CE-09-35 (item 4, .PDF, 112 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40395949&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=FAA%20Special%20Airworthiness%20Information%20Bulletin%20CE-09-35-Redacted.PDF - Wreckage Release Form (item 5, .PDF, 46 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40397213&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Wreckage%20Release%20Form-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.