Pilot Debrief

CESSNA 182P near Anderson, CA — 2017-05-19

Final reportWPR17LA106
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Date
2017-05-19
Location
Anderson, CA, USA
Airport
RDD
Aircraft
CESSNA 182P
Registration
N7352S
Category
Airplane
Highest injury
Minor
Fatalities
0
Phase of flight
Descent

Probable cause

Loss of engine power for reasons that could not be determined based on the available information.

NTSB narrative

The pilot reported that before the flight, he added 10 gallons of fuel, for a total of 35 gallons of fuel. The flight to his destination was uneventful. While the pilot was descending to land, the airplane’s engine sputtered and then lost total power. The pilot checked that the fuel selector was positioned to both tanks and checked the magnetos before searching for a suitable place to land. The pilot made a forced landing adjacent to a road, and the airplane collided with a gully and came to rest inverted; the airplane sustained substantial damage to wings and tail. During the recovery of the airplane, the recovery crew reported removing about 10-13 gallons of fuel from the left-wing fuel tank and about 6-8 gallons from the right-wing fuel tank; the vented fuel caps remained in place at their respective wings. Examination of the cockpit revealed that the fuel selector was positioned to the right fuel tank. Examination of the engine revealed no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. A twist was noted in the carburetor float bracket; however, it could not be determined if this twist would have caused an issue with the flow of fuel through the fuel system.

Analysis

Primary failure mode
Fuel management
First missed decision gate
Pilot could have checked fuel levels before departure to ensure adequate fuel supply.

NTSB coding

Evidence available

  • 4 docket documents
View NTSB final reportView NTSB docket

Docket documents4

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