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Aviation safety reports, made easier to study

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NTSB Report

August 25, 2012 · Cessna U206D · N729RV

Nikolai, AK

Overview

Report Status
Final with probable cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
August 25, 2012
Injury Outcomes
No injuries (1 uninjured)
Location
Nikolai, AK
Aircraft
Cessna U206D
Tail Number
N729RV
Injuries
None
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
ANC12LA093

The pilot stated that while in level cruise flight, the engine lost oil pressure, followed by smoke in the cockpit, and a total loss of engine power. The pilot selected a remote gravel bar along a river as a forced landing site. During the forced landing, the airplane slid across a shallow creek and impacted the river bank, sustaining substantial damage to the right wing and fuselage. According to the pilot, before the airplane could be recovered, the wreckage was subjected to rising creek waters, which washed the airplane’s logbooks downstream. The engine was not made available and was not examined and thus no determination was made as to why the engine lost power.

NTSB Probable Cause

The total loss of engine power for reasons that could not be determined because the engine was not made available for examination.

Full Narrative

On August 25, 2012, about 1300 Alaska daylight time, a Cessna U206D airplane, N729RV, sustained substantial damage during a forced landing, following a loss of engine power, near Nikolai, Alaska. The airplane was being operated by the pilot as a visual flight rules (VFR) personal cross country flight under the provisions of Title 14, CFR Part 91, when the accident occurred. The certificated private pilot was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed. The flight departed Palmer, Alaska at 1137. During a telephone conversation with the National Transportation Safety Board investigator-in-charge on August 27, the pilot stated that he was in level cruise flight when the engine lost oil pressure, followed by smoke in the cockpit, and a total loss of engine power. He made a forced landing to a gravel bar on the Kuskokwim River. On landing the airplane slid across a shallow creek and impacted the river bank, sustaining substantial damage to the right wing and fuselage. In the pilot’s written statement to the NTSB received on December 2, 2012, he reported that the airplane’s wreckage was not recovered until August 28, and during that time, rising creek waters partially submerged the airplane’s wreckage, which washed all of the contents of the airplane downstream, including all of the accident airplane’s engine and airframe logbooks. Due to the remote location, the airplane was not examined by the NTSB at the accident site, and the engine was not made available to the NTSB, and thus no determination was made as to why the engine lost power.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time13:00 AKDT
Nearest Airport0nm
Flight Plan FiledNone
Flight Plan ActivatedNo
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftCessna U206D
Tail NumberN729RV
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageSubstantial
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsCont Motor · IO 520 SERIES · Reciprocating · 285
Seats6

People & Injuries

Injury SummaryNo injuries (1 uninjured)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured1
Total1
Crew 1Age 67 · Third Class · None

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind210° @ 13 kt, gusting 23 kt
Visibility7 sm
CeilingOvercast 1600 ft
Temperature / Dew Point50 / 46
Altimeter29.76 inHg
Observation Time15:53
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data