Accident Details
On September 30, 2023, at about 1510 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 182Q, registration N747UC, sustained substantial damage in an accident near Towanda, Pennsylvania. The private pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured. The flight was conducted under Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight.
Pilot Actions
The pilot reported completing a preflight inspection in the hangar, including checking oil and fuel quantity (55 gallons) and sampling fuel from the tanks with no anomalies. The engine started normally and the run-up was normal. During initial climb from runway 23, at about 300 ft above ground level, the engine began to run rough. The pilot adjusted the throttle, mixture, and carburetor heat levers in an attempt to restore power, but the engine subsequently lost all power. The propeller continued to rotate. The pilot moved the fuel selector from both to left, to right, and back to both, but could not restore power. He executed a forced landing to a field, during which the airplane nosed over and came to rest inverted. The pilot then turned the fuel selector, magneto key, and master switch to the off position before exiting.
Postaccident Examination
Examination by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector revealed substantial damage to both wings and the vertical stabilizer. After recovery to a salvage facility, about 20 or more gallons were defueled from each wing (approximately 40 gallons or more total). The fuel was blue, clear, and showed no visible contamination.
During the engine examination, the valve covers and top spark plugs were removed. The spark plug electrodes were intact and gray in color. Rotating the propeller by hand confirmed crankshaft, camshaft, and valvetrain continuity to the rear accessory section, and the single-drive dual magneto impulse coupling emitted activation noise. Thumb compression was attained on all six cylinders.
The carburetor remained intact with linkage continuity confirmed. It was removed and disassembled; fuel was present throughout the carburetor and fuel lines, and was blue, clear, and free of contamination. The accelerator pump jet emitted a fuel stream when the throttle was actuated manually. The air intake and engine exhaust were unobstructed. A magneto timing test showed correct timing.
Review of a carburetor icing chart indicated that the airplane was not susceptible to carburetor icing at cruise power for the prevailing temperature and dew point.