Cessna 206A N4605F

Summary

On 15 August 1999 at about 21:00 local time, a Cessna 206A registered N4605F, operated by Alaska Expedition Company, was involved in an accident near Cordova, Alaska, United States. One person was on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

15 August 1999 at 21:00

Classification

Accident

Location

Cordova, Alaska, United States

Coordinates

60.7899, -145.6098

Aircraft

Cessna 206A

Registration

N4605F

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Alaska Expedition Company

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Business

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ANC99LA114

Nobody was injured.

A loss of engine power due to corrosion/blockage of the fuel flow divider vent hole. A factor was unsuitable terrain for a forced landing.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

The commercial certificated pilot departed from his company's fishing lodge to begin a cross-country business flight. About 300 feet above the ground, the engine suddenly quit. The pilot switched fuel tanks, activated the engine boost pump, and began a turn into the wind. The engine did not restart. The pilot selected an open area of marsh for an emergency landing area. When the airplane touched down, the nose wheel separated from the nose wheel strut, and the airplane nosed down in the soft terrain. The airplane received damage to the engine, propeller, and the left wing. A postaccident examination of the engine by a mechanic found corrosion, and blockage of the vent hole of the engine manifold valve housing. The manifold valve is comprised of a fuel inlet, a diaphragm chamber, and outlet ports for fuel lines to each cylinder. The spring loaded diaphragm operates a valve in the central bore of the lower chamber of the valve body. Fuel pressure below the diaphragm opens the valve to allow fuel to flow to each cylinder. A spring above the diaphragm retains the valve in the closed position, absent any fuel pressure. The upper chamber of the valve housing, containing the spring, is vented to the atmosphere.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.