Accident Overview
On April 20, 2021, about 1513 central daylight time, a Cessna 182M, registration N91606, was substantially damaged in an accident near Eufaula, Alabama. The commercial pilot was not injured. The airplane was being operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 positioning flight.
Flight and Power Loss
The pilot reported departing with the fuel selector positioned to BOTH. After climbing to cruise altitude, he proceeded toward the initial destination, Perry-Houston County Airport (PXE) in Perry, Georgia. About one hour into the planned two-hour flight, the pilot amended his destination to Weedon Field (EUF) in Eufaula, Alabama, for a restroom break. Shortly after turning toward EUF, the engine lost total power. Unable to glide to any nearby airport, the pilot selected a field for landing. During the landing, the airplane impacted a barbed wire fence, nosed over, and came to rest inverted. The pilot reported no issues with the airplane's performance or handling prior to the power loss.
Post-Accident Observations
An FAA aviation safety inspector noted no evidence of fuel, fuel spillage, or fuel odor at the accident scene. The propeller was bent, and the vertical stabilizer and rudder were substantially damaged. Upon recovery, the airplane's wings were removed. The recovery supervisor confirmed the absence of fuel and no odor or evidence of fuel spillage.
Review of ADS-B data and fueling records indicated the airplane had flown approximately four hours since its two 40-gallon fuel tanks (80 gallons total) were fully serviced. This four-hour period did not include engine start, taxi, run-up, takeoff, and climb. Performance chart interpolation suggested a fuel consumption rate of 14 gallons per hour for flight planning.
Several days later, the EUF airport manager visited the accident site with a police lieutenant. She observed blighted vegetation beneath the area where the right fuel tank cap would have been when the airplane was inverted. When the soil was turned, a strong odor of aviation fuel was detected. No such evidence was found beneath the left fuel cap area.
Engine Examination
Following recovery, the damaged propeller was replaced with a club propeller, the ejected battery was reinstalled, and fuel was introduced into the system. The engine started immediately, accelerated smoothly, and ran continuously until stopped via cockpit controls. A magneto check showed rpm loss within the manufacturer's suggested range.
Before further examinations could be conducted, the accident airplane was sold by the owner's insurance company on or about August 20, 2021, without obtaining an NTSB Form 6120.15 Release of Aircraft Wreckage. The new owner reported harvesting the engine and fuel system components for installation in his other airplane, which he flew regularly.