Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Portland, Oregon 97218
Saturday, April 30, 2005 20:11 PDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The airplane was returning to its home airport when the pilot became incapacitated by carbon monoxide fumes from the airplanes engine muffler heat exchanger [the heat control knob was found "On"]. During the last 15 minutes of flight, the radar data shows the airplane flying several meandering 360 degree turns before impacting terrain. Postimpact examination of the engine's muffler revealed a crack around the entire circumference just aft of it's forward flange. The airplane's last annual inspection was completed on February 1, 2005. The FAA, in Federal Aviation Regulation, Part 43: Maintenance, Preventive maintenance, Rebuilding, and Alteration, Appendix D, provides guidelines for an airplane's annual inspection. Section (d) (8) Exhaust stacks--for cracks, defects, and improper attachment. The airplane's manufacturer also provides a checklist for an annual inspection in the aircraft's Service Manual. In the section for the Engine Compartment, #12. Exhaust system for security, leaks, cracks, and burned-out spots. Refer to Paragraph 12-74 [Inspection of the exhaust system].

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's inability to control the airplane due to his incapacitation (carbon monoxide poisoning) from a deteriorated engine exhaust muffler. A contributing factor was the inadequate annual inspection by other maintenance personnel.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 4/30/2005
Event Day of the Week Saturday
Time of Event 2011
Event Time Zone Pacific Daylight Time
Event City Portland
Event State OREGON
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 97218
Event Date Year 2005
Event Date Month 4
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 453617N
Event Location Longitude 1224293W
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 --
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1955 Pacific Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 60
Weather Observation Facility ID PDX
Elevation of weather observation facility 30
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 5
Time Zone of the weather observation PDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height --
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 5000
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Few
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 17
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 10
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 320
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 5
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30.04
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Fatal
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal 1
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 19276
NTSB Notification Source FAA NW ROC
NTSB Notification Date Apr 30 2005 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 2130
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information DMS
Date of most recent change to record Feb 28 2006 12:35PM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\JOHB
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office Portland, OR

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N6352Y
NTSB Number SEA05FA090
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? No
Damage Destroyed
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Cessna
Aircraft Model 170B
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 25326
Certified Max Gross Weight 2200
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class --
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 4
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Feb 1 2005 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 20
Airframe Hours 5371
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name Shawn R. Hood-Meadors
Aircraft Owner Street Address 1223 Park Garden Rd.
Aircraft Owner City Great Falls
Aircraft Owner State MT
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 59404
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name --
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
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) Personal
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code PUW
Departure City Pullman
Departure State WA
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1700
Departure Time Zone PDT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code VUO
Destination City Vancouver
Destination State WA
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight Descent - emergency
Report sent to ICAO? No
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Nov 15 2005 5:57PM
User who most recently changed record STAM
Since inspection or accident Time of Accident
Event Location Runway Number and Location NA
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --