Accident Details
On October 17, 2019, about 1800 Pacific daylight time, a Cessna 206H airplane, registration N11379, sustained substantial damage during a forced landing near Stockton, California. The flight instructor and private pilot receiving instruction reported minor injuries. The flight was conducted under 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as an instructional flight.
Flight Sequence
The flight instructor stated that the purpose of the flight was to practice instrument approaches. After a thorough preflight inspection and engine run-up, the private pilot took off from runway 29L. At approximately 150 feet above ground level, the engine surged and then smoothed out. The airplane continued climbing, but the pilots decided to perform a precautionary landing. The pilot continued the climb and made a left turn toward the traffic pattern. During the turn, at about 380 feet above ground level, the engine lost total power. The instructor assumed control and executed a forced landing into an empty lot. The airplane rolled through a perimeter fence and struck a parked semi-trailer along an adjacent roadway, coming to rest nose down against the fence and trailer. The left wing and forward fuselage sustained substantial damage.
Postaccident Examination
A postaccident examination of the engine by the Federal Aviation Administration revealed no visual indications of catastrophic failure. The ignition leads produced spark with normal impulse coupling operation. The spark plugs exhibited signatures consistent with a rich or low-power condition. Valve train continuity was established throughout, and thumb compression was confirmed on all cylinders when the propeller was rotated. The electric fuel pump, when activated, showed low fuel pressure at the fuel injectors to the cylinder heads and at the fuel line between the fuel servo and fuel distributor. The fuel pump itself operated normally, pumping fuel to the inlet of the fuel servo.
The fuel servo was removed and tested on a test stand, where it operated slightly below manufacturer's specifications. After removal, the fuel screen was clear of debris. Disassembly of the metering section revealed no anomalies that would have precluded normal operation. A Lycoming representative noted that although fuel flow was slightly below specifications, the engine would still have had adequate fuel to operate normally.