Accident Details
On June 1, 2012, about 1600 Alaska daylight time, a float-equipped Cessna A185F airplane, registration N1795R, sustained substantial damage during a forced landing following a loss of engine power near Skwentna, Alaska. The private pilot and sole passenger were not injured. The flight was operating as a visual flight rules (VFR) personal cross-country flight under Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and a VFR flight plan was filed and active. The flight originated from a private lake at approximately 1545, destined for Anchorage, Alaska.
Pilot Account
In a telephone interview with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigator-in-charge, the pilot reported that after departure, about 8 miles south of the lake at an altitude of approximately 2,000 feet mean sea level, the engine RPM began to drop. He activated the auxiliary fuel boost pump, which caused the engine RPM to rise briefly before dropping again. Unable to restart the engine, he selected an area of sparsely treed marsh and executed an emergency approach and landing. Upon landing, the left wing contacted trees, resulting in substantial damage. The pilot stated that he did not recall checking the fuel selector valve as part of his emergency restart procedures.
Preflight and Fuel Information
The pilot stated that during preflight, he noted the right wing fuel tank contained about 32 gallons of fuel, and the left wing fuel tank held about 5 gallons. He claimed that he always operates the airplane with the fuel selector valve in the 'Both Tanks' position. However, during a postaccident inspection by a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector, the fuel selector valve was found in the 'Left Tank Only' position. No other preaccident mechanical anomalies were identified during the inspection. The inspector was able to drain approximately one gallon of fuel from the left wing fuel tank.
Manufacturer's Published Procedures
The manufacturer's Pilot's Operating Handbook, Section I - OPERATING CHECKLIST, Page 1-5, BEFORE TAKEOFF checklist states: '(2) Fuel Selector Valve (if installed) -- BOTH ON.' The manufacturer's Section III - EMERGENCY PROCEDURES, Page 3-3, EMERGENCY LANDING WITHOUT ENGINE POWER checklist instructs: 'If an engine stoppage occurs, establish a flaps up glide at 80 MPH. If time permits, attempt to restart the engine by checking for fuel quantity, proper fuel selector valve position, and mixture control setting.'
Postaccident Engine Run
A postaccident engine run was conducted by the pilot's mechanic. The engine was operated for approximately eight minutes at cruise power using the fuel remaining in the left wing fuel tank. The engine ran normally throughout the run. After the run, the mechanic drained approximately one additional gallon of fuel from the left wing fuel tank. According to the pilot, the airplane had been flown approximately four hours total since its last annual inspection, completed on May 20.