# NTSB WPR21LA164: Cessna 208B, N215MC, Fairbanks, AK, April 3, 2021 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report - Date: April 3, 2021, 13:15 local (21:15 UTC) - Place: Fairbanks, AK · Runway - Coordinates: 64.815111, -147.85644 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=64.8151&lon=-147.8564&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Unknown](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/990) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Unknown: Loss of engine power (partial)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 5 uninjured - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 3 - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 102940 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR21LA164 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/102940/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=102940 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR21LA164 ## Probable cause A partial loss of engine power for reasons that could not be determined based on available evidence. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Power plant](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057100): Aircraft › Aircraft power plant · Unknown/Not determined (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 208B, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057100/cases.md?model=2073701), [All aircraft, 198 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057100/cases.md) - [Not determined](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000): Not determined › Not determined · Unknown/Not determined (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 208B, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md?model=2073701), [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. - [Takeoff-rejected takeoff: Loss of engine power (partial)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342); cases with it: [Cessna 208B, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342/sequence.md?model=2073701), [All aircraft, 1,858 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092); cases with it: [Cessna 208B, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md?model=2073701), [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md) - [Unknown: Loss of engine power (partial)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 208B, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342/sequence.md?model=2073701), [All aircraft, 1,858 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that during the takeoff climb, he retracted the flaps, and the engine began to run rough. The pilot elected to abort the landing on the remaining runway. The airplane descended rapidly with the decreased airspeed and subsequently landed hard, sustaining substantial damage. The passengers reported that the airplane bounced three to four times when it landed. Ground witnesses reported heavy snowfall at the time the airplane took off. Postaccident examination of the engine revealed no evidence of any preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. The reason for the loss of engine power could not be determined based on the available evidence. ## Factual narrative On April 03, 2021, at 1315 hours Alaska daylight time, a Cessna 208B, N215MC, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Fairbanks, Alaska. The pilot and four passengers were not injured. The airplane was operated by as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 135 commercial flight. The pilot reported that during the takeoff roll, the engine gauges “were in the green” and “everything seemed normal.” During climbout, he retracted the flaps slowly, and while retracting the last 10°, the engine began to run rough. He looked at the torque meter and saw that it was shaking and starting to drop. He knew that he was already at or past the halfway point of the runway length and with 1 mile visibility he pulled the power lever back and pointed the nose down to land. The pilot stated that with no power the airplane was losing airspeed and during the descent he tried to add flaps, but the airplane was descending rapidly and subsequently landed hard. After the airplane came to a stop, the pilot taxied the airplane off the runway. The passengers stated that after liftoff, the engine sputtered and the airplane touched back down on the runway and bounced three or four times. Ground witnesses reported heavy snowfall at the time the airplane took off. Postaccident examination of the airplane revealed that the left main landing gear was bent outward. The lower fuselage was substantially damaged. Examination of the engine and testing of a fuel sample found no evidence of any preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N215MC](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N215MC), registered now, S/N 208B0730, built 1999 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 208B - Registry model: [Cessna 208B](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-208b) (registry code 2073701) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-114A](https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-canada-pt6a-114a) (registry code 52257, turbo-prop) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 208B0730 - Year built: 1999 - Airframe hours: 17927.2 - Engines: P&W CANADA PT6A-114A 650 horsepower turbo prop - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Business, Part 135 - Operator: Tatonduk Outfitters Ltd DBA, doing business as Everts Air Alaska - Registered owner: Tatonduk Outfitters Ltd DBA - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: AAIP, February 5, 2021 - Destination: AGA, Galena, AK - Flight plan: IFR - Airport: AFA, Fairbanks Intl, runway 02L, 11,800 × 150 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Unknown ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 25; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine sea, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; last flight review October 1, 2020; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 1,727.5 total, 649.8 in this make and model, 688 as pilot in command, 251.3 in the last 90 days, 86 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Day - Wind: 20° at 4 knots - Visibility: 1 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 1,700 ft broken - Temperature: 21 °F, dew point 16 °F - Altimeter: 29.82 inHg - Observed at: PAFA, 1 nm away - METAR: METAR PAFA 032053Z 02004KT 1SM R02L/4500VP6000FT -SN BR BKN017 OVC028 M06/M09 A2982 RMK AO2 TWR VIS 2 SLP108 P0002 60006 T10611089 50003= ## 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 20210403001369A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20210403001369A), Apr 3, 2021: Cessna 208B, Fairbanks, AK, Substantial damage. 04/03/2021 13:15 Hrs AKDT Fairbanks Alaska N215MC reported on takeoff from runway two (2) left that the engine started to run rough. Pilot decided at 200 feet… ## Docket (6 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on February 28, 2023, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=102940. 3.6 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 16 pages, 2.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14832403&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120%20WPR21LA164_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Fuel sample analysis (item 2, PDF, 2 pages, 152 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14831100&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Inlet%20Petr_UnitEverts%20Air_Jet%20A1_Normal_55442132-Rel.pdf - Passenger statements (item 3, PDF, 4 pages, 142 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14832413&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=passenger%20statements_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Witness statements (item 4, PDF, 5 pages, 602 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14832260&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Witness%20statements_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Photos (item 5, PDF, 2 pages, 604 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14831243&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photos%20-Rel.pdf - Engine examination (operator) (item 6, PDF, 1 page, 57 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14911662&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=RoC%20Engine%20Run-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.