Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Glendale, Arizona 85031
Tuesady, August 19, 2008 10:20 MST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot reported that the engine began to run rough shortly after takeoff. Unable to return to the airport, he initiated a forced landing in a short field. The airplane collided with a fence during the landing roll. During a post crash examination, a loose fuel line fitting was discovered that was connected to the fuel flow transducer inlet. It was also noted that there were blue stains on the crankcase immediately below the fitting. After tightening the fitting, the engine started and ran smoothly at 1,800 revolutions per minute (rpm) with a smooth rpm drop for each magneto. The fitting was then manually loosened again with the engine running at 1,800 rpm, the fuel pressure fell below the bottom of the green arc, and the engine began to run rough. The fitting was again tightened, and smooth engine operation resumed. The last maintenance recorded that would have involved removal of this fitting was during an engine replacement on July 7, 2007, which was 127 hours prior to the accident.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

A loose fuel line fitting that resulted in a partial loss of engine power during the initial takeoff climb. Contributing to the accident was inadequate maintenance installation of the fitting.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 8/19/2008
Event Day of the Week Tuesday
Time of Event 1020
Event Time Zone Mountain Standard Time
Event City Glendale
Event State ARIZONA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 85031
Event Date Year 2008
Event Date Month 8
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 333137N
Event Location Longitude 1121743W
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 1025 Mountain Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 260
Weather Observation Facility ID GEU
Elevation of weather observation facility 1071
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 2
Time Zone of the weather observation MST
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height --
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 20000
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) 20
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 36
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) --
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) --
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) --
Wind Velocity Indicator Calm
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29.85
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) 25270
NTSB Notification Source FAA
NTSB Notification Date Aug 19 2008 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information --
Date of most recent change to record Mar 25 2009 12:57PM
User who most recently changed record coos
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office Scottsdale FSDO

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N62DB
NTSB Number LAX08LA269
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 135: Air Taxi & Commuter
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 CESSNA
Aircraft Model TU206F
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number U206 03278
Certified Max Gross Weight 3600
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 6
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection May 21 2008 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours 6301
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type Unknown
Aircraft Owner Name 5688C LLC
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City Glendale
Aircraft Owner State AZ
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 85310
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name Airwest Helicopters LLC
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address --
Operator City Glendale
Operator State AZ
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 85310
Operator Code XW9A
Owner has at least one certificate Yes - certificate holder
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation --
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not Non-scheduled
Indicates Domestic or International Flight Domestic
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail Passenger Only
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) --
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code GEU
Departure City Glendale
Departure State AZ
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1012
Departure Time Zone MST
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code 40G
Destination City Valle
Destination State AZ
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight Cruise
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Mar 25 2009 12:57PM
User who most recently changed record coos
Since inspection or accident Last Inspection
Event Location Runway Number and Location N/A
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --