History of Flight
On June 23, 2018, at approximately 1440 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 182, registration N5682B, collided with three vehicles following a complete loss of engine power and subsequent forced landing in a residential area about one mile east of Herlong Recreational Airport (HEG), Jacksonville, Florida. The commercial pilot was not injured. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right elevator and right wing. The aircraft was registered to Jumpstart Skydiving LLC and operated by the pilot under 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a skydiving flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed. The local flight had originated from HEG at 1400.
The pilot reported that after dropping off four skydivers, he returned toward the airport. While on final approach, about one mile from HEG at an altitude of 2,500 feet above ground level, the engine lost power. The pilot determined he did not have sufficient altitude to clear a stand of trees and opted to land on a road in the residential area. Upon touchdown, the airplane struck three parked vehicles and came to rest on its right side. The pilot stated he was unaware of any mechanical issues that might have led to the accident.
The pilot had received the airplane earlier that day with approximately 22–24 gallons of fuel, checked using a dipstick. He then conducted three local flights: one up to 10,000 feet MSL, one up to 11,500 feet MSL, and another up to 10,000 feet MSL. After refueling with 18 gallons, he did not verify the total fuel quantity with the dipstick. He flew three more flights: first to 11,500 feet MSL, second to 10,000 feet MSL, and third to 11,500 feet MSL. A second refueling added 14 gallons, again without a dipstick check. He then flew two additional flights: one to 10,000 feet MSL and the accident flight to 11,500 feet MSL. In total, the pilot flew eight local flights—four to 11,500 feet MSL and four to 10,000 feet MSL—accumulating four hours of flight time. No fuel consumption checks were performed during the flights. The pilot noted that to prevent shock cooling the engine, he would descend with power applied rather than at idle. He also mentioned that during the accident leg, he gave way to another aircraft that was landing at HEG.
Aircraft Information
The Cessna 182 was manufactured in 1956 and had undergone several modifications. The original Continental O-470-L engine was replaced with a Continental IO-470, which was originally fuel-injected but modified to use a carburetor under Supplemental Type Certificate SA00562NY. Additional modifications included Monarch fuel tanks, speed brakes, shoulder harnesses, and wing extensions that added 12.4 square feet of surface area. The maximum gross weight was increased from 2,550 to 2,950 pounds, and the empty weight was reported as 1,592 pounds.
Meteorological Information
The Meteorological Aerodrome Report for HEG, located about one mile east of the accident site, reported an outside air temperature of 33°C, which is 18°C higher than the standard temperature of 15°C at sea level. The dew point was 22°C. These values, when plotted on a carburetor icing chart, indicated a probability of light carburetor icing during cruise and descent.
Wreckage and Impact Information
Fuel from the airplane was unavailable for testing. At the accident site, an FAA Flight Standards District Office representative checked for fuel in the tanks and found none. However, the aircraft had come to rest on its right side, with the right-wing tank breached and the left-wing tank positioned such that fuel could drain through the supply line into the breached tank. The pilot also reported that he had previously observed fuel leaking from an area around the vent and inside the strut during left-hand turns.
On August 8, 2018, the engine was tested at the recovery facility. It ran successfully, and the magnetos tested within acceptable standards.