# NTSB WPR20LA291: Cessna TU206, N3422L, Tusayan, AZ, August 28, 2020 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report - Date: August 28, 2020, 11:00 local (18:00 UTC) - Place: Tusayan, AZ - Coordinates: 35.936111, -112.13138 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.9361&lon=-112.1314&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Approach-VFR pattern downwind: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 3 - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 101887 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR20LA291 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/101887/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=101887 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR20LA291 ## Probable cause A total loss of engine power due to fuel starvation as a result of contamination in the airplane’s fuel system. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Fluids: fuel](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010): Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware · Fluid condition (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna TU206B, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md?model=2073324), [All aircraft, 1,695 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md) - [Fluids: fuel](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010): Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware · Fluid level (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna TU206B, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md?model=2073324), [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 downwind: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna TU206B, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=2073324), [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 TU206B, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=2073324), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Cessna TU206B, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=2073324), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that while abeam the runway numbers on a left downwind in preparation to land after performing a skydiving drop, the engine lost power and then totally quit. The pilot performed a forced landing to a two-lane highway. While maneuvering to land, the airplane collided with a light pole and came to rest inverted, substantially damaging the airplane. Postaccident examination of the airplane revealed water- and debris-contaminated fuel in the airframe fuel filter bowl and water-contaminated fuel in the fuel manifold and fuel pump. Also, the fuel inlet screen was mostly clogged with what appeared to be dirt and corrosion. The engine most likely lost power due to fuel contamination, as the fuel filter, fuel manifold, and fuel pump all tested positive for water. ## Factual narrative On August 28, 2020, about 1100 mountain standard time, a Cessna TU206B, N3422L, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Tusayan, Arizona. The pilot sustained a minor injury. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 skydiving flight. The pilot reported that while conducting skydive operations near, Grand Canyon National Park, Airport (GCN), Grand Canyon, Arizona and after releasing several jumpers, he began his descent with power settings of 15 inches manifold pressure, propeller 2,200 rpm, and a fuel burn of 7.5 gallons per hour. The pilot further reported that he was subsequently cleared to enter a midfield left downwind for runway 21, and when established on an extended downwind, the GCN control tower cleared the pilot to land on runway 21. The pilot opined that at 7,500 ft mean sea level, he configured the airplane for landing, with cowl flaps open, mixture full rich, and propeller control full forward; however, there was no response from the engine. The pilot stated that as runway 21 was unreachable, he set up to land on Highway 64, which was located about 1,600 ft east of the approach end of runway 21. The pilot further stated that in preparation to lan,d he switched from the right to the left fuel tank, turned on the high and low pressure fuel pumps, and tried the starter, as the propeller was windmilling. However, he continued to receive no response from the engine. The pilot mentioned that prior to touching down, he made a right banking turn to align with the highway, during which the airplane’s right wing collided with a light pole. This caused the airplane to flip over and come to rest inverted in the middle of the two-lane highway, substantially damaging both wings, the fuselage, and vertical stabilizer. A postaccident examination of the engine and airframe revealed the engine remained attached to the airframe via three of the four engine mounts. The No. 5 cylinder was impact damaged. No evidence of any fuel system breaches or damage to the fuel system was observed nor were there any mechanical anomalies with the engine noted that would have precluded normal operation. When the airframe fuel filter was removed, it was observed to contain a small amount of liquid and debris within the bowl. The liquid was tested with water finding paste and with positive results. Additionally, when the fuel manifold was disassembled, it exposed a liquid within the fuel manifold housing with a small amount of debris within the screen. When tested with water finding paste, the results were positive for water. Further, when the fuel pump was removed and disassembled, liquid was recovered from one of the fuel pump cavities and tested with water finding paste with positive results. Also, when the fuel inlet screen was removed, it was observed mostly clogged with what appeared to be dirt and corrosion. The airplane was equipped with a JPI-EDM 830 engine monitoring system. Data downloaded from thedevice revealed that the engine did not sustain a catastrophic event that would have resulted in the loss of engine power. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N3422L](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N3422L), registered now, S/N U206-0722, built 1967 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna TU206 (B) - Registry model: [Cessna TU206B](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-tu206b) (registry code 2073324) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental TSIO-520 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-tsio-520-series) (registry code 17040, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: U206-0722 - Year built: 1967 - Airframe hours: 5720 - Engines: Continental Motors TSIO-520 reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Skydiving, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, January 26, 2020, 62 hours before - Departed: GCN, Grand Canyon, AZ - Destination: KGCN, Grand Canyon, AZ - Airport: KGCN, Grand Canyon National Park Apt, runway 21, 8,999 × 150 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Unknown ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 24; injuries: minor; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; last flight review March 17, 2020; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 517 total, 19 in this make and model, 398 as pilot in command, 53 in the last 90 days, 31 in the last 30 days, 5 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 260° at 4 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 81 °F, dew point 36 °F - Altimeter: 30.26 inHg - Observed at: GCN, 1.8 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 20200828014039A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20200828014039A), Aug 28, 2020: Cessna TU206B, Tusayan, AZ, Substantial damage. On August 28, 2020, at approximately 1145 PDT, the las vegas flight standards district office received notification of a part 91 airplane crash involving a… ## Docket (9 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on July 8, 2022, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=101887. 8.7 MB in all. - Engine data monitor - specialist's factual report (item 1, PDF, 4 pages, 853 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12853779&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=WPR20LA291%20Engine%20Data%20Monitor%20-%20Specialist%27s%20Factual%20Report-Rel.pdf - Attachment 1 to engine data monitor - specialist's factual report (item 2, CSV, 141 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12853975&FileExtension=csv&FileName=Attachment%201%20to%20Engine%20Data%20Monitor%20-%20Specialist%27s%20Factual%20Report-Rel.csv - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 3, PDF, 9 pages, 1.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12768233&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Pilot-operator%20accident%20report%20form_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Record of conversation with pilot (item 4, PDF, 1 page, 170 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12767891&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation%20with%20pilot-Rel.pdf - Airframe and engine examination summary (item 5, PDF, 8 pages, 765 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12767756&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Airframe%20and%20Engine%20Examination%20Summary-Rel.pdf - NTSB jpi examination report (item 6, PDF, 4 pages, 1.6 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12767601&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=NTSB%20JPI%20examination%20report_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Evidence control forms (item 7, PDF, 2 pages, 2.8 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12768641&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=NTSB%20Evidence%20Control%20forms_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Release of aircraft wreckage, NTSB form 6120.15 (item 8, PDF, 1 page, 641 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12773356&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=NTSB%20Release%20of%20Wreckage%20form_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Photo array of accident site (item 9, PDF, 4 pages, 702 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12768145&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%20array%20of%20accident%20site-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.