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Aviation safety reports, made easier to study

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January 5, 1982 · Cessna A185F · N3343S

Bethel, AK

Overview

Report Status
Preliminary report
Event Type
Accident
Date
January 5, 1982
Injury Outcomes
2 injuries (2 serious injuries)
Location
Bethel, AK
Aircraft
Cessna A185F
Tail Number
N3343S
Operator
Executive Charter Service
Injuries
Serious
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
ANC82FA012

When a passenger arrived for a charter flight, the intended aircraft would not start. Therefore, Cessna A185F, N3343S, a wheel/ski equipped aircraft was selected for the flight. The pilot indicated that the temperature had been extremely cold on the preceding night. He indicated that he had previously preheated and had run-up the aircraft, then replaced the engine cover and plugged-in the heater. The pilot indicated that he cycled the propeller once while taxiing to the runway. However, the oil temperature was not yet in the operating range. At the ambient temperature of -21 degrees Fahrenheit, it would not heat up at the low power setting necessary for taxiing. The takeoff was normal until the pilot reduced the propeller RPM. Shortly thereafter, the engine surged. The pilot attributed the surge to cold oil in the governor system and elected to return to the airport and land. Reportedly, the pilot diverted his attention during the turn. The aircraft stalled and struck the ground during a recovery.

Full Narrative

WHEN A PASSENGER ARRIVED FOR A CHARTER FLIGHT, THE INTENDED AIRCRAFT WOULD NOT START. THEREFORE, CESSNA A185F, N3343S, A WHEEL/SKI EQUIPPED AIRCRAFT WAS SELECTED FOR THE FLIGHT. THE PILOT INDICATED THAT THE TEMPERATURE HAD BEEN EXTREMELY COLD ON THE PRECEEDING NIGHT. HE INDICATED THAT HE HAD PREVIOUSLY PREHEATED AND HAD RUN-UP THE AIRCRAFT, THEN REPLACED THE ENGINE COVER AND PLUGGED-IN THE HEATER. THE PILOT INDICATED THAT HE CYCLED THE PROPELLER ONCE WHILE TAXIING TO THE RUNWAY. HOWEVER, THE OIL TEMPERATURE WAS NOT YET IN THE OPERATING RANGE. AT THE AMBIENT TEMPERATURE OF -21 DEGREES FAHRENHEIT, IT WOULD NOT HEAT UP AT THE LOW POWER SETTING NECESSARY FOR TAXIING. THE TAKEOFF WAS NORMAL UNTIL THE PILOT REDUCED THE PROPELLER RPM. SHORTLY THEREAFTER, THE ENGINE SURGED. THE PILOT ATTRIBUTED THE SURGE TO COLD OIL IN THE GOVERNOR SYSTEM AND ELECTED TO RETURN TO THE AIRPORT AND LAND. REPORTEDLY, THE PILOT DIVERTED HIS ATTENTION DURING THE TURN. THE AIRCRAFT STALLED AND STRUCK THE GROUND DURING A RECOVERY.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time03:39 AHST
Nearest AirportBETHEL (0nm N)
Runway18
Runway Length4000 ft
Runway Width150 ft
Flight Plan FiledVFR
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftCessna A185F
Tail NumberN3343S
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageSubstantial
OperatorExecutive Charter Service
Operating RulePart 135
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsContinental · IO-520-D24 · Reciprocating · 300
Seats6

People & Injuries

Injury Summary2 injuries (2 serious injuries)
Fatal0
Serious2
Minor0
Uninjured0
Total2
Crew 1Age 33 · First Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind330° @ 6 kt
Visibility10 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point-6 C / 0 C
Altimeter30.00 inHg
Observation Time09:40

Appendix: Source Data