Cessna U206G N891LL

Summary

On 25 August 2016 at about 15:05 local time, a Cessna U206G registered N891LL, operated by State of Illinois, was involved in an accident near Cave-In-Rock, Illinois, United States. 2 people were on board and one was seriously injured, one had minor injuries. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

25 August 2016 at 15:05

Classification

Accident

Location

Cave-In-Rock, Illinois, United States

Coordinates

37.4775, -88.2144

Aircraft

Cessna U206G

Registration

N891LL

Category

Airplane

Year built

1986

Engines

1

Operator

State of Illinois

Operating rule

Public Use

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Springfield → Springfield

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

CEN16LA335

1 person was seriously injured.

A total loss of engine power due to air entering the fuel system for reasons that could not be determined based on available information. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s inability to restart the engine due to the check valve assembly design.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The airline transport pilot and camera operator were conducting an aerial mapping flight. While level at 3,500 ft above ground level, the turbo propeller-equipped airplane experienced a total loss of engine power. The pilot attempted to restart the engine three times without success. During the subsequent forced landing, the airplane struck a berm, which damaged both wings. Examination of the engine revealed that fuel would not flow to the fuel nozzle until air pressure was bled upstream of the check valve assembly, located between the engine fuel control and the fuel nozzle. After the air pressure was bled and the fuel pump purged, normal fuel flow resumed, indicating that air had entered the fuel system. Because of the check valve assembly design, an in-flight engine restart was not possible after air entered the fuel line, and there was no procedure to clear air from the fuel line while in flight. Examination of the engine and fuel system could not establish a reason for air entering the fuel line.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.