GENERAL INFORMATION FOR NTSB REPORT: ANC00LA054
Data Source |
NTSB AVIATION ACCIDENT/INCIDENT DATABASE |
NTSB Report Nbr |
ANC00LA054 |
Event Id |
20001212X20933 |
Local Date |
05/07/2000 |
Local Time |
1840 |
State |
AK |
Event Type |
ACCIDENT |
Injury Severity |
NONE |
Record Status |
FINAL |
Mid Air Collision |
NO |
Event Location |
OFF AIRPORT/AIRSTRIP |
WEATHER INFORMATION
Weather Briefing Complete |
UNKNOWN |
Basic Weather Conditions |
VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL COND |
Light Condition |
DAY |
Cloud Condition |
CLEAR |
Cloud Height above Ground Level (ft) |
0 |
Ceiling Height above Ground Level (ft) |
0 |
Cloud Type |
NONE |
Visibility RVR (ft) |
0 |
Visibility RVV (sm) |
0 |
Visibility (sm) |
50 |
Wind Direction (deg) |
191 |
Wind Condition Flag |
U |
Wind Speed (knots) |
11 |
Wind Condition Indicated |
Unknown |
AIRCRAFT INFORMATION
Aircraft 1
Type of Operation |
PART 91: GENERAL AVIATION |
Registration Number |
N992EZ |
Aircraft Make |
CESSNA |
Aircraft Model |
170 |
Aircraft Series |
B |
Aircraft Damage |
SUBSTANTIAL |
Aircraft Fire |
NONE |
Aircraft Explosion |
NONE |
Aircraft Type |
AIRPLANE |
Aircraft Homebuilt |
UNKNOWN |
Phase of Flight |
UNDEFINED |
Aircraft Use |
PERSONAL |
Flight Plan Filed |
NONE |
Operator Name |
|
Operator Doing Business As |
|
Owner Name |
DOUGLAS M. FULTON |
Number of Seats |
4 |
Number of Engines |
1 |
ELT Installed |
YES |
ELT Operated |
YES |
Departure Airport Id |
VDZ |
Departure City |
VALDEZ |
Departure State |
ALASKA |
Last Departure Point |
NO |
Destination Airport Id |
D66 |
Destination City |
DELTA JUNCTION |
Destination State |
ALASKA |
Runway Id |
0 |
Air Carrier Operating Certificates |
NO |
Air Carrier Other Operating Certificates |
UNKNOWN |
Rotocraft/Agriculture Operating Certificate |
UNKNOWN |
Cert Max Gross Wgt |
2200 |
ENGINE INFORMATION
Aircraft 1 - Engine : #1
Engine Manufactuer
| Lycoming |
Engine Model
| O-360-A1A |
Engine Horsepower
| 180 |
Engine Thrust
| HP |
Carb/Injection
| CARBURETOR |
INJURY INFORMATION
Injury Summary for Aircraft 1
|
Fatal |
Serious |
Minor |
None |
Crew |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
Pass |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
Total |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
Sequence of Events for Aircraft 1
Occurrence #1 LOSS OF ENGINE POWER
Phase of Operation: CRUISE
Events Sequence for Occurrence #1 of Aircraft 1
Event Seq # |
Event Group Code |
Subject |
Modifier |
Personnel |
Cause/Factor |
1 |
2 |
REASON FOR OCCURRENCE UNDETERMINED |
NO MODIFIER SPECIFIED |
NO PERSON SPECIFIED |
|
Occurrence #2 FORCED LANDING
Phase of Operation: EMERGENCY DESCENT/LANDING
Events Sequence for Occurrence #2 of Aircraft 1
Event Seq # |
Event Group Code |
Subject |
Modifier |
Personnel |
Cause/Factor |
2 |
1 |
TERRAIN CONDITION |
NONE SUITABLE |
|
|
Occurrence #3 IN FLIGHT COLLISION WITH OBJECT
Phase of Operation: EMERGENCY DESCENT/LANDING
Events Sequence for Occurrence #3 of Aircraft 1
Event Seq # |
Event Group Code |
Subject |
Modifier |
Personnel |
Cause/Factor |
3 |
1 |
OBJECT |
TREE(S) |
|
|
AIRCRAFT 1 PRELIMINARY REPORT
On May 7, 2000, about 1840 Alaska daylight time, a wheel equipped Cessna 170B airplane, N992EZ, sustained substantial damage after colliding with tree-covered terrain, about 6 miles north of Delta Junction, Alaska, at latitude 63 degrees, 59 minutes north, and longitude 145 degrees, 30 minutes west. The airplane was being operated as a visual flight rules (VFR) personal flight under Title 14, CFR Part 91, when the accident occurred. The solo certificated private pilot was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed. The flight originated at the Valdez Airport, Valdez, Alaska, about 1645.
During a telephone conversation with the National Transportation Safety Board investigator-in-charge on May 8, the pilot reported that while in cruise flight, about 600 feet above the ground, the engine RPM suddenly dropped to idle. He said that emergency engine procedures did not restore full engine power, and he selected a forced landing area that contained trees. The airplane collided with the trees, and sustained substantial damage to the wings, fuselage, and empennage.
A Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) airworthiness inspector from the Fairbanks Flight Standards District Office (FSDO), traveled to the accident scene on May 8. He reported that the airplane came to rest on the lower portion of the engine cowling. He said that after the airplane was lifted off of the engine cowling, he was able to gain access to the outlet port of the exhaust muffler. He said that when he inserted a probe into the muffler, he noted "there was something loose within the muffler." The muffler assembly was subsequently removed from the airplane, and shipped to the NTSB investigator-in-charge.
On May 15, the muffler assembly was cut open in the presence of the NTSB investigator-in-charge. An internal inspection revealed extensive thermal destruction of the internal baffling material. The baffling material that remained in the muffler measured about 4 inches by 3 inches. By placing the remaining material in various position over the exhaust port, the NTSB investigator was unable to position it in such a way that a blockage would occur.
AIRCRAFT 1 FINAL REPORT
The solo private pilot reported that while in cruise flight, about 600 feet above the ground, the engine RPM suddenly dropped to idle. Emergency engine procedures did not restore full engine power, and he selected a forced landing area that contained trees. The airplane sustained damage to the wings, fuselage, and empennage. An FAA airworthiness inspector who traveled to the accident scene reported that when he inserted a probe into the muffler, he noted 'there was something loose within the muffler.' The muffler assembly was subsequently removed from the airplane, and shipped to the NTSB investigator-in-charge. On May 15, the muffler assembly was cut open in the presence of the NTSB investigator-in-charge. An internal inspection revealed extensive thermal destruction of the internal baffling material. The baffling material that remained in the muffler measured about 4 inches by 3 inches. By placing the remaining material in various position over the exhaust port, the NTSB investigator was unable to position it in such a way that a blockage would occur.
AIRCRAFT 1 CAUSE REPORT
A loss of engine power due to an undetermined reason. A factor in the accident was unsuitable terrain for a forced landing.
END REPORT