Accident Details
On June 19, 2015, at about 1340 mountain daylight time, a Cessna 180A, registration N9699B, was substantially damaged during a forced landing near Polson, Montana. The commercial pilot and two passengers were not injured. The airplane was registered to and operated by the pilot under 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the cross-country flight, and no flight plan was filed. The flight originated from Cavanaugh Bay Airport (66S) in Coolin, Idaho, at 1140, with a planned destination of Polson Airport (8S1) in Polson, Montana.
In a written statement, the pilot reported that during approach, about 3 miles from the airport, the engine lost all power. He continued the descent while maintaining best glide airspeed and performed engine restart procedures, including applying carburetor heat. Despite these efforts, the engine would not restart, and he initiated a forced landing to a small field. During the landing, the right main gear collapsed, resulting in substantial damage to the right wing and fuselage. The pilot stated he had 26 gallons of fuel on board prior to departing 66S.
Onsite and Postaccident Examination
An onsite examination of the wreckage was conducted by a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector on June 19, 2015, during the transportation process. Seven gallons of fuel were collected from each main tank, with some fuel remaining in each. The main fuel line to the carburetor was disconnected, and fuel was present.
A postaccident examination was conducted on July 6, 2015. The carburetor drain plug was removed, and fuel flowed freely. The gascolator was filled with fuel and free of contaminants; its screen was clean. The crankshaft was rotated by hand, and engine gear continuity was attained from the propeller assembly to the accessory case. Confirmed compression from all six cylinders and spark from both magnetos were achieved. On July 20, 2015, the wing tank vent lines and left and right fuel tank caps were examined and revealed no anomalies. The postaccident examination revealed no evidence of mechanical malfunction or failures that would have precluded normal operation.
Weather Conditions
The Glacier Park International Airport (GPI) in Kalispell, Montana, located 37 nautical miles north of the accident site, reported weather at 1255: winds from 230 degrees at 16 knots, gusting to 23 knots; visibility 10 miles; clear skies; temperature 25°C; dew point 3°C; altimeter 29.89 inches of mercury. At 1355, GPI reported winds from 240 degrees at 17 knots, gusting to 22 knots; visibility 10 miles; clear skies; temperature 26°C; dew point 3°C; altimeter 29.87 inches of mercury. Peak winds were recorded from 220 degrees at 27 knots. Temperature and dew point values indicated a relative humidity of approximately 24 percent. When plotted on a carburetor icing chart, the point fell within the region denoted as "Icing at Glide and Cruise Power."