Accident Overview
On May 13, 2013, at approximately 1215 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 182E, registration N817JT, was substantially damaged when it impacted terrain during a precautionary landing at Cannizzaro Field Airport (28MA), Southwick, Massachusetts. The commercial pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured.
The flight departed from Newport State Airport (UUU), Newport, Rhode Island, around 1130, with a planned destination of Columbia County Airport (1B1), Hudson, New York. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed. The personal flight was conducted under 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91.
According to the pilot, while cruising at 4,500 feet mean sea level, the engine began running rough. He enriched the fuel mixture and applied carburetor heat, but the roughness continued. Switching the fuel selector from "BOTH" to the left tank temporarily smoothed operation, but the engine soon resumed running rough. Further attempts to switch between tanks did not resolve the issue. The pilot then elected to perform a precautionary landing at 28MA.
The pilot reported that he did not have sufficient time or altitude to land into the wind, so he touched down halfway down runway 03. The airplane departed the left side of the grass runway, crossed a dirt road, and struck the raised edge of the road, causing the nose landing gear to break off. The airplane nosed over and came to rest inverted.
Pilot and Aircraft Information
The pilot held a commercial certificate with ratings for single-engine and multi-engine airplanes. His most recent FAA Class 3 medical certificate was issued on July 7, 2011. As of the accident date, he reported 1,700 total hours of flight experience, including 147 hours in the same make and model as the accident airplane.
The 1962-model Cessna 182E is a four-seat, high-wing, fixed tricycle-gear airplane powered by a Lycoming O-470, 230-horsepower engine. According to logbook records, the most recent annual inspection was completed on February 26, 2012, at which time the airplane had accumulated 5,720 total hours in service. The engine was removed for overhaul and reinstalled on the same date, logging approximately 25 hours since overhaul. At the time of the accident, the airplane did not have a current annual inspection as required by 91.409(a)(1).
The pilot stated that he departed with about 22 gallons of fuel on board, having checked the sumps and fuel level with a fuel level indicator.
Weather and Airport
The 1151 recorded weather at Bradley International Airport (BDL), located about 10 miles southeast of the accident site, included wind from 300 degrees at 9 knots, 10 miles visibility, broken clouds at 5,500 feet, temperature 11°C, dew point -4°C, and an altimeter setting of 29.98 inches of mercury.
Cannizzaro Field Airport is a private, non-towered airport operating under Class G airspace, with a field elevation of 250 feet mean sea level. The airport has one grass runway, designated 3/21, which is 1,600 feet long and 50 feet wide. A dirt road runs perpendicular to the runway just beyond the end of runway 03.
Post-Accident Examination
A Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector examined the engine and found no anomalies that would have precluded normal operation. Compression was noted in all six cylinders. The fuel line at the carburetor was secure. All six spark plugs displayed coloration consistent with a normal running engine. The fuel gascolator was less than half full. No fuel was found at either fuel sump. The firewall in the area of the nose gear mount exhibited impact damage.