NTSB Factual Report

HISTORY OF FLIGHT

On June 24, 2012, about 1240 Pacific daylight time, a Cessna 182, N55DN, collided into an orchard following a total loss of engine power while on approach to the Watsonville Municipal Airport, Watsonville, California. Skydive Surfcity was operating the airplane under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 91. The commercial pilot, the sole occupant, sustained minor injuries. The airplane sustained substantial damage. The local skydiving flight departed from Watsonville about 1200. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed.

The pilot stated that he completed a normal pre flight inspection of the airplane and departed the airport with about 20 gallons of fuel onboard. After completing a jump run, he was returning back to the airport and maneuvered the airplane on final approach for runway 20. When the airplane was about 3 miles from the runway and about 1,200 feet above ground level (agl), the engine experienced a partial loss of power. The pilot configured the airplane for the best glide speed, and shortly thereafter, the engine quit producing any power. The airplane collided with trees in an orchard about 600 yards from the approach end of the runway.

The wreckage was sold following recovery and the engine underwent a teardown. The mechanic that performed the teardown inspection stated that there was no evidence of mechanical malfunction or failure aside from the engine case being damaged from the accident. The gear train, pistons, cylinders, camshaft and crankshaft all appeared normal.

AIRCRAFT INFORMATION

The Cessna 182 single-engine airplane, serial number 33257, was manufactured in 1956. The airplane was equipped with the a Texas Skyways O-520-F/TS engine, serial number 686835, which was installed in May 2005. A review of the airplane maintenance logbooks revealed that at the time of the last annual inspection the engine had accumulated 1,588 hours since major overhaul. The last annual inspection was dated as having been completed June 24, 2012, on the day of the accident.

The mechanic that performed the annual inspection of the airplane was the first person on-scene after the accident. He stated that there was no fuel in the right wing and, by request of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspectors, he drained the remaining fuel from the left wing, which totaled about 5 gallons. He noted that neither of the tanks were breached, although the airplane was inverted and some fuel was slowly dripping out the vent. The fuel selector was in the “BOTH ON” position.

Fuel System

The airplane’s fuel system was designed to supply the engine via two bladder-type fuel tanks located in both the left and right wing. Each tank holds 30 gallons, of which 2.5 gallons was unusable in level flight conditions. A fuel vent was located in the right wing and a vent line interconnected the two tanks. From the tanks fuel was gravity fed to the fuel selector valve, which contained an option of the following selections “BOTH OFF,” “LEFT TANK,” “RIGHT TANK,” and “BOTH ON.” From the selector, fuel would flow to the strainer and continue to the engine’s carburetor.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

The FAA issued a pamphlet tilted “Flying for Skydive Operations,” (P-8740-62), where it stated that one of the three common skydiving operation accidents is fuel exhaustion/starvation accidents because the pilots will commonly fly with “reduced fuel to accommodate heavier payloads while maintain weight and balance limits.”

NTSB Probable Cause

A total loss of engine power during approach for reasons that could not be determined because postaccident examination did not reveal any mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation.