Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Willow, Alaska 99688
Wednesday, July 18, 2001 14:30 AKD

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The certificated airline transport pilot, with two passengers aboard, was conducting an aerial timber survey. While in cruise flight about 1,000 feet above the ground, the engine began to backfire, run rough, and lose power. The engine then quit, and the pilot selected a gravel bar along a glacial fed river as an emergency landing area. During the emergency approach to landing, the airplane landed short of the intended landing site, touched down in about 3 feet of water, and nosed over. After recovery, an FAA airworthiness inspector examined the airplane. The inspector reported that the number seven cylinder was cracked, the number nine cylinder had no compression, and that about one cup of clear water was found within the carburetor float bowl. The inspector said that he was unable to determine if the cylinder damage, or the presence of water in the carburetor was a result of impact damage with the river water. When the engine was disassembled the number nine cylinder head was found separated from the cylinder barrel.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The loss of engine power during cruise due to the separation of an engine cylinder.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 7/18/2001
Event Day of the Week Wednesday
Time of Event 1430
Event Time Zone --
Event City Willow
Event State ALASKA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 99688
Event Date Year 2001
Event Date Month 7
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 614527N
Event Location Longitude 1500310W
Event Location Airport --
Event Location Nearest Airport ID --
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness Full
Investigator's weather source Pilot
Time of the weather observation
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) --
Weather Observation Facility ID --
Elevation of weather observation facility --
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) --
Time Zone of the weather observation --
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height --
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height --
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 90
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 10
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) --
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) --
Variable Wind Indicator --
Wind Speed (knots) --
Wind Velocity Indicator Calm
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) --
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 3
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 11948
NTSB Notification Source ANC FAA, ROC
NTSB Notification Date Jul 18 2001 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1430
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information DMS
Date of most recent change to record Jul 2 2002 4:28PM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\MONR
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office Anchorage FSDO

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N9262Z
NTSB Number ANC01TA087
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Public Use
Type of Flight Plan filed Company VFR
Flight plan Was Activated? Yes
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name de Havilland
Aircraft Model DHC-2
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 1266
Certified Max Gross Weight 5300
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 6
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection 100 Hour
Date of Last Inspection Jul 2 2001 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 12.4
Airframe Hours 9549.5
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name USDA Forest Service
Aircraft Owner Street Address 101 Airport Road
Aircraft Owner City Palmer
Aircraft Owner State AK
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 99645
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name State of Alaska Dept. of Natural Resources
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address --
Operator City --
Operator State --
Operator Country --
Operator Zip code --
Operator Code --
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? --
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation --
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Public Use
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code Z41
Departure City Lake Hood Strip
Departure State AK
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1230
Departure Time Zone ADT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code Z41
Destination City Lake Hood Strip
Destination State AK
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight Cruise - normal
Report sent to ICAO? Yes
Evacuation occurred No
Date of most recent change to record May 31 2002 7:30PM
User who most recently changed record STAM
Since inspection or accident Time of Accident
Event Location Runway Number and Location --
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --