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Aviation safety reports, made easier to study

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March 4, 1985 · Cessna 182 · N6388A

Frederick, MD

Overview

Report Status
Preliminary report
Event Type
Accident
Date
March 4, 1985
Injury Outcomes
3 injuries (2 serious injuries, 1 minor injury)
Location
Frederick, MD
Aircraft
Cessna 182
Tail Number
N6388A
Operator
James H Garner
Injuries
Serious
Aircraft Damage
Destroyed
NTSB Number
BFO85FA023

During cruise flight at 7,500 ft, the RPM started to decrease until the pilot stated that 'it was just like you ran out of gas.' The aircraft collided with a wooden powerline pole during the night forced landing and came to rest inverted. Investigation revealed about 20 gallons of red avgas in the right tank and 1 gallon in the left tank. Approximately 3 ounces of liquid were drained from the carburetor, which analysis concluded the majority of it to be water. Maintenance records revealed that wing tank sump drains had been installed in May of 1983 and the AD dealing with water contamination of the fuel system caused by wrinkles/folds in the tank bladders had been signed off in September 1984. The mechanic that performed the work was contacted and stated he found no wrinkles that would justify installation of the Cessna drain kit described in service letter SE84-9. Examination of the bladder tanks revealed wrinkles/folds in the vicinity of both outlets feeding fuel to the engine.

Full Narrative

DURING CRUISE FLT AT 7500 FT THE RPM STARTED TO DECREASE UNTIL THE PLT STATED THAT 'IT WAS JUST LIKE YOU RAN OUT OF GAS.' THE ACFT COLLIDED WITH A WOODEN PWRLINE POLE DURING THE NIGHT FORCED LNDG AND CAME TO REST INVERTED. INVESTIGATION REVEALED ABOUT 20 GALLONS OF RED AVGAS IN THE RT TANK AND 1 GALLON IN THE LEFT TANK. APRX 3 OZS OF LIQUID WERE DRAINED FROM THE CARB WHICH ANALYSIS CONCLUDED THE MAJORITY OF IT TO BE WATER. MAINTENANCE RECORDS REVEALED THAT WING TANK SUMP DRAINS HAD BEEN INSTALLED IN MAY OF 1983 AND AND THE AD DEALING WITH WATER CONTAMINATION OF THE FUEL SYSTEM CAUSED BY WRINKLES/FOLDS IN THE TANK BLADDERS HAD BEEN SIGNED OFF IN SEPTEMBER 1984. THE MECHANIC THAT PERFORMED THE WORK WAS CONTACTED AND STATED HE FOUND NO WRINKLES THAT WOULD JUSTIFY INSTALLATION OF THE CESSNA DRAIN KIT DESCRIBED IN SERVICE LETTER SE84-9. EXAMINATION OF THE BLADDER TANKS REVEALED WRINKLES/FOLDS IN THE VICINITY OF BOTH OUTLETS FEEDING FUEL TO THE ENG.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time21:17 EST
Nearest Airport4nm WSW
Runway0
Runway Length0
Runway Width0
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftCessna 182
Tail NumberN6388A
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageDestroyed
OperatorJames H Garner
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsContinental · O-470-L · Reciprocating · 230
Seats4

People & Injuries

Injury Summary3 injuries (2 serious injuries, 1 minor injury)
Fatal0
Serious2
Minor1
Uninjured0
Total3
Crew 1Age 42 · Second Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightBright Night
WindCalm
Visibility15 sm
CeilingBroken clouds 12000 ft
Temperature / Dew Point37 C / 19 C
Altimeter30.00 inHg
Observation Time01:47
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data