# NTSB WPR18LA149: Cessna 182, N5700B, Aberdeen, ID, May 27, 2018 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report - Date: May 27, 2018, 14:20 local (20:20 UTC) - Place: Aberdeen, ID - Coordinates: 42.978332, -112.791946 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.9783&lon=-112.7919&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Enroute-descent: Loss of engine power (partial)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 3 - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - SAIBs cited in the narratives: [SAIB CE-09-35](https://openairdocs.org/saib/CE-09-35) (OpenAirDocs) - NTSB case key (mKey): 97328 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR18LA149 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/97328/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=97328 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR18LA149 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to use carburetor heat while operating in conditions conducive to carburetor icing, which resulted in a partial loss of engine power and a subsequent forced landing and nose-over. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Temp/humidity/pressure: conducive to carburetor icing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03031030): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on equipment (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 182, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03031030/cases.md?model=2072702), [All aircraft, 435 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03031030/cases.md) - [Info processing/decision: decision making/judgment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 182, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md?model=2072702), [All aircraft, 3,098 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Enroute-descent: Loss of engine power (partial)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 182, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342/sequence.md?model=2072702), [All aircraft, 1,858 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342/sequence.md) - [Enroute-cruise: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440); cases with it: [Cessna 182, 10 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=2072702), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096); cases with it: [Cessna 182, 8 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md?model=2072702), [All aircraft, 2,287 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot was conducting a personal, cross-country flight. During the flight, the airplane encountered light drizzle and reduced visibility. After continuing for a few minutes in these conditions while about 2,000 ft above ground level, the pilot decided to initiate a right turn and divert from his original destination. As the airplane exited the turn, the engine “stuttered” a few times and eventually lost power. Despite the pilot's attempts to restore engine power, during which he did not apply carburetor heat, the engine would only run roughly and inconsistently. He then decided to divert to another airport that was closer to the airplane’s position. As he was about to reattempt to restore engine power, the engine developed partial power; however, it was insufficient to sustain flight. Realizing the airplane could not reach the airport, he chose to conduct an emergency landing to an open field. During the landing roll, the main landing gear dug into dirt, and the nosewheel then hit the ground hard and collapsed. Subsequently, the nose dug into dirt, and the airplane nosed over, which resulted in substantial damage to the vertical stabilizer, rudder, and fuselage. Examination of the engine revealed no evidence of preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. The atmospheric conditions that existed around the time of the accident were conducive to the formation of serious carburetor icing at cruise power. Therefore, it is likely the engine lost power due to the accumulation of carburetor ice, which resulted from the pilot’s failure to use carburetor heat. ## Factual narrative On May 27, 2018, about 1420 mountain daylight time, a Cessna 182 airplane, N5700B, sustained substantial damage when it was involved in an accident near Aberdeen, Idaho. The pilot and passenger were not injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The pilot reported that, before the flight, he verified that 55 gallons of fuel were onboard for the 3-hour 3-minute-long flight. He typically planned for a fuel burn of about 12 gallons per hour. During the flight, he made two minor deviations from the intended flightpath due to weather. As the airplane passed Aberdeen Airport (U36), Aberdeen, Idaho, it encountered light drizzle and reduced visibility. After continuing for a few minutes in these conditions while about 2,000 ft above ground level, the pilot decided to initiate a right turn and divert from his original destination, Blackfoot Airport (U02), Blackfoot, Idaho, to Burley Municipal Airport (BIY), Burley, Idaho. As the airplane exited the turn, the engine “stuttered” a few times and eventually lost power. The pilot immediately began troubleshooting, but despite his attempts to restore engine power, it would only run roughly and inconsistently. The pilot then chose to divert to U36 because it was closer to the airplane’s position, and as he was about to begin another attempt to restore engine power, the engine regained partial power; however, it was inconsistent and insufficient to sustain flight. Realizing the airplane could not reach U36, the pilot moved the mixture to idle cutoff, closed the fuel selector valve, turned off the ignition, and then initiated an emergency landing to an open field. During the landing roll, the main landing gear dug into dirt, and the nosewheel hit the ground hard and then collapsed. Subsequently, the nose dug into dirt, and the airplane nosed over. The pilot reported that he did not apply carburetor heat while troubleshooting the loss of engine power. According to the Federal Aviation Administration’s carburetor icing probability chart, the temperature and dew point that existed when the engine lost power were conducive to the formation of serious icing at cruise power. Special Airworthiness Information Bulletin CE-09-35, “Carburetor Icing Prevention,” stated, in part, that "Pilots should be aware that carburetor icing doesn't just occur in freezing conditions, it can occur at temperatures well above freezing temperatures when there is visible moisture or high humidity." Examination of the airplane revealed that the vertical stabilizer, rudder, and fuselage had sustained substantial damage. The right and left wings remained attached to the fuselage. Both the left-and-right wing fuel caps were secured to the wings. No fuel was found in the left-wing fuel tank, and about 1 gallon of fuel was drained from the right-wing fuel tank. The fuel vents were free of debris. The gascolator was intact and contained some fuel, which was free of debris. The screen wasalso free of debris. The fuel selector valve handle was in the "off" position, the primer was in the "in and locked" position, and the propeller lever was in the “full-forward” position. The throttle lever was about 3 inches from full forward. The mixture lever was set to full rich. The carburetor heat was in the “off” position. The engine was separated from the airframe and its mounts. The oil sump exhibited impact damage. The exhaust exhibited impact damage. A portion of the induction system (aft elbows) was separated. The engine crankshaft was able to be rotated. Rotational continuity was established throughout the engine and valve train. Thumb compression and suction were obtained on all six cylinders. The magnetos remained attached to the engine. When the crankshaft was rotated by hand, both the left and right magnetos produced spark on each ignition lead in proper firing order. The upper spark plugs had a light gray appearance in the electrode area, appeared to be oil soaked, and exhibited normal wear for their service life. The carburetor was separated from the induction system. The throttle and mixture arms remained attached and actuated freely from stop to stop. When the throttle arm was actuated, the accelerator pump actuated; however, no fuel was expelled. No fuel was observed in the float bowl. The plastic floats and the needle valve were intact. The carburetor fuel screen was free of debris. The venturi was intact. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N5700B](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5700B-2019-11-29), registration cancelled 2019-11-29, S/N 33700, built 1956 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 182 (UNDESIGNAT) - Registry model: [Cessna 182](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-182) (registry code 2072702) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental O-470 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-o-470-series) (registry code 17026, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 33700 - Year built: 1956 - Engines: CONT MOTOR O-470 SERIES 230 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: RTS, Reno, NV - Destination: Blackfoot, ID ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 50; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: basicmed, without waivers/limitations; last flight review November 12, 2017; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 383 total, 105 in this make and model, 317 as pilot in command, 10 in the last 90 days, 7 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 260° at 10 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 8,500 ft broken - Temperature: 61 °F, dew point 48 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: PIH, 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 20180527015069A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20180527015069A), May 27, 2018: Cessna 182, Aberdeen, ID, Substantial damage. The pilot and one passenger departed from krts and planned to fly to UO2. While enroute the pilot elected to divert to avoid severe weather and thunderstorms.… ## Other investigations on N5700B (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 SEA68D0229](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA68D0229), Nov 8, 1967: Cessna 182 (N5700B), Forest Grove, OR, substantial damage ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on March 10, 2021, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=97328. 2.0 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 14 pages, 1.8 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=8646316&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=NTSB%20Form%206120_1_Redacted-Rel.pdf - NTSB airframe and engine examination summary report (item 2, PDF, 2 pages, 47 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=8643665&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Airframe%20and%20Engine%20Examination-Rel.pdf - Special airworthiness information bulletin CE-09-35 (item 3, PDF, 3 pages, 106 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=8645900&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=r_CE-09-35-Rel.pdf - Release of aircraft wreckage, NTSB form 6120.15 (item 4, PDF, 1 page, 62 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=8646424&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=wreckage%20release%20signed_Redacted-Rel.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.