History of Flight
On June 24, 2012, about 1240 Pacific daylight time, a Cessna 182, N55DN, collided with an orchard following a total loss of engine power while on approach to the Watsonville Municipal Airport, Watsonville, California. Skydive Surfcity was operating the airplane under 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. The commercial pilot, the sole occupant, sustained minor injuries. The airplane sustained substantial damage. The skydiving flight departed Watsonville about 1200. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed.
The pilot reported completing a normal preflight inspection and departing with about 20 gallons of fuel. After the jump run, while returning for runway 20, about 3 miles from the runway and 1,200 feet above ground level, the engine experienced a partial loss of power. The pilot configured for best glide speed, but shortly thereafter the engine quit producing power. The airplane struck trees in an orchard about 600 yards from the approach end of the runway.
The wreckage was sold after recovery, and the engine underwent a teardown. The mechanic performing the teardown found no evidence of mechanical malfunction or failure aside from accident-related damage to the engine case. The gear train, pistons, cylinders, camshaft, and crankshaft appeared normal.
Aircraft Information
The Cessna 182, serial number 33257, was manufactured in 1956. It was equipped with a Texas Skyways O-520-F/TS engine, serial number 686835, installed in May 2005. Logbooks indicated 1,588 hours since major overhaul at the last annual inspection, which was completed on the day of the accident, June 24, 2012.
The mechanic who performed the annual inspection was the first on scene. He stated there was no fuel in the right wing and, at FAA request, drained about 5 gallons from the left wing. He noted neither tank was breached, though the airplane was inverted and some fuel slowly dripped from the vent. The fuel selector was in the “BOTH ON” position.
Fuel System
The airplane’s fuel system supplied the engine via two bladder-type tanks in each wing, each holding 30 gallons (2.5 gallons unusable in level flight). A fuel vent in the right wing and an interconnecting vent line allowed gravity feed to the fuel selector valve, with positions “BOTH OFF,” “LEFT TANK,” “RIGHT TANK,” and “BOTH ON.” From the selector, fuel flowed to the strainer and then to the carburetor.
Additional Information
The FAA pamphlet “Flying for Skydive Operations” (P-8740-62) noted that one of three common skydiving operation accidents is fuel exhaustion/starvation because pilots often fly with reduced fuel to accommodate heavier payloads while maintaining weight and balance limits.