Incident Overview
On May 26, 2015, at approximately 2350 central daylight time, a Cessna TR182, registration N4645T, experienced a partial loss of engine power and subsequently nosed over during a forced landing in a field near Tulia, Texas. The pilot, who was the sole occupant, was not injured. The airplane sustained substantial damage to its wings, vertical tail, and fuselage.
Flight Details
The flight was operated under 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight, with visual meteorological conditions prevailing. The flight operated on an instrument flight rules flight plan. It originated from Western Nebraska Regional Airport in Scottsbluff, Nebraska, about 1930.
Sequence of Events
After departure, the pilot climbed the airplane to 9,000 feet above mean sea level (msl) for cruise. Upon reaching that altitude, he set the engine controls for cruise power at 23 inches of manifold pressure and 2,300 rpm, and leaned the mixture to 150 degrees rich of peak exhaust gas temperature. During descent planning, the engine suddenly lost power, dropping to 1,000 rpm.
The pilot attempted to troubleshoot by adjusting the mixture, propeller, and throttle controls; switching the fuel selector from "both" to the left tank; activating the auxiliary boost pump; and applying carburetor heat. He then turned toward Hale County Airport (PVW) near Plainview, Texas, and contacted air traffic control (ATC). The engine began to sputter, and turning off the auxiliary fuel pump restored power to 1,000 rpm. He switched to the right fuel tank and attempted the emergency checklist procedures, but engine power did not improve. He then closed and re-advanced the throttle with no change.
Realizing he could not reach PVW, he informed ATC, who advised that Swisher County Municipal Airport (I06) was at his 9 o'clock position. The pilot diverted toward I06 but determined he could not glide to the airport. He made a forced landing to a field during night light conditions. During the landing roll, the nose landing gear dug into soft ground, causing the airplane to nose over.
Examination and Testing
Federal Aviation Administration inspectors examined the airplane at the accident scene and found no anomalies. Fuel was present in the wing tanks, and no outward signs of mechanical issues were observed. A subsequent examination by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) Investigator in Charge, after the airplane was removed from the field, also revealed no anomalies, although the wings had been removed for transport.
An engine test run was performed with the engine still mounted to the fuselage. Due to the wing removal, a temporary fuel tank was connected to the left wing's fuel line; the remainder of the fuel system was unchanged. The damaged propeller was replaced with a surrogate. The engine started normally, warmed up, and produced full power during the test run. Several rapid power applications were performed, and the engine responded as expected, with no defects noted.
Weather Conditions
Weather reported at Hale County Airport (PVW), about 24 miles south of the accident site, at 2355 included a temperature of 18 degrees Celsius and a dew point of 14 degrees Celsius. According to a carburetor icing probability chart, those surface conditions were within a range susceptible to moderate carburetor icing at cruise power settings. However, the temperature and dew point at 9,000 feet, where the initial power loss occurred, could not be determined.