Accident Details
On June 24, 2020, at approximately 1401 central daylight time, a Cessna 182R airplane, registration N958HP, was substantially damaged during a forced landing near Winfield, Texas. The pilot sustained serious injuries. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 pipeline patrol flight.
Flight Information
The pilot departed Cushing Municipal Airport (CUH) in Cushing, Oklahoma, with a full fuel load of 88 gallons usable. The intended route included a fuel stop at Mount Pleasant Regional Airport (OSA) in Mount Pleasant, Texas, before continuing to Ennis Municipal Airport (F41) in Ennis, Texas, for an overnight stay. Automatic dependent surveillance-broadcast data indicated departure from CUH at about 0953.
Engine Failure and Forced Landing
According to the pilot, the flight was uneventful until the airplane crossed US Interstate 30 near Winfield. After turning from the pipeline right-of-way toward the planned fuel stop at OSA, the engine began to sputter and run rough at approximately 850 ft above ground level. The pilot attempted to restore engine power by switching fuel tanks a couple of times and selecting a full-rich fuel mixture. The engine surged between idle and high rpm several times before losing all power. The pilot did not recall engine backfire or excessive vibration preceding the total loss of power.
The pilot made several turns over the interstate, but vehicle traffic prevented a safe landing on the roadway. High-voltage power lines and antennas were also in the vicinity. The pilot located an open field for a forced landing; however, the airplane was unable to stop before colliding with a fence and trees bordering the field. The airplane sustained substantial damage to both wings and the fuselage.
Fuel Management
The pilot reported that she typically flies with the fuel selector positioned to both and does not normally select individual tanks during flight. She repositions the selector to the left tank before refueling and uses a checklist to ensure it is returned to both before takeoff. After the engine began running rough, she repositioned the fuel selector twice but could not recall the positions attempted. She was unsure if the selector was on both before the engine trouble began.
The pilot stated that the average fuel consumption rate for the Cessna 182R was 10 to 11 gallons per hour, and company policy required landing for fuel after 5 hours of flying. She preferred to calculate fuel remaining based on flight time rather than relying on analog fuel quantity gauges, which she considered often inaccurate. After 4.1 hours of flight, she expected about 44 gallons of fuel remaining.
The pilot noted that typical observation flights are conducted at about 700 ft above ground level while observing the pipeline right-of-way for encroachment, heavy machinery, fire, and leaks. She stated that most of her attention had been dedicated to ground observation. Additionally, the pipeline company had recently complained about missed activity along the right-of-way, prompting her to pay more attention than usual.
Postaccident Examination
Postaccident examination revealed leading edge damage to the right wing and a breached right fuel tank. The left wing had leading edge damage but the left fuel tank remained intact. The wreckage recovery crew recovered about 1 gallon of fuel from each wing tank. The Federal Aviation Administration inspector reported that the airframe fuel filter assembly contained fuel with no contamination. The engine separated from the fuselage during the accident.
The cockpit fuel selector lever was found in the both position; however, the shaft between the lever and the fuel selector valve disconnected during impact. Testing of the fuel selector valve indicated that fuel from the left tank was being used at the time of the accident, and the valve functioned normally in all selectable positions. A postaccident engine examination did not reveal any mechanical anomalies that would have precluded normal operation.