Cessna 207 N1704U

Summary

On 6 March 2013 at about 21:30 local time, a Cessna 207 registered N1704U, operated by Flight Alaska Inc., was involved in an accident near Bethel, Alaska, United States. 3 people were 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

6 March 2013 at 21:30

Classification

Accident

Location

Bethel, Alaska, United States

Coordinates

60.9656, -161.4292

Aircraft

Cessna 207

Registration

N1704U

Category

Airplane

Year built

1975

Engines

1

Operator

Flight Alaska Inc.

Operating rule

Part 135: Air Taxi & Commuter

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Bethel → Kalskag

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ANC13LA029

Nobody was injured.

The failure of the engine’s No. 1 piston connecting rod retaining bolts due to fatigue fracturing, which resulted in a loss of engine power during cruise flight.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

Shortly after departure on the commercial passenger/cargo flight, the airplane's engine lost power. The pilot conducted a forced landing on a snow-covered, sparsely treed, tundra area. Just before touchdown, the left stabilizer struck treetops, and the airplane sustained substantial damage. A preliminary examination of the engine revealed a crack in the crankcase. A subsequent examination of the No. 1 piston assembly revealed fatigue fractures in both connecting rod retaining bolts. Additional internal engine damage was found to be consistent with damage caused by the release of the connecting rod from the crankshaft.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.