Accident Details
On December 23, 2024, about 1100 Hawaii-Aleutian standard time, a Cessna 182B airplane, N7143E, sustained substantial damage during a forced landing near Waimea, Hawaii. The pilot and student pilot-rated passenger were not injured. The flight was conducted under Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a non-instructional personal flight.
Pilot and Passenger Statements
The pilot, a flight instructor seated in the left seat, reported that while en route to the destination airport, the engine “sputtered” and then lost all power due to fuel starvation. He selected an open field short of the runway for the forced landing. During the landing roll, the airplane impacted a herd of sheep, causing the nose wheel to collapse and substantial damage to the fuselage.
The student pilot-rated passenger, seated in the right seat, stated they were about two hours into the flight and had almost reached their destination, circling over the city in a left-hand turn. The engine then “hiccupped,” leading to a forced landing in a field short of the runway. He reported no unusual smells or sounds before the engine problem. During the landing rollout, about 50 yards, the nose wheel collapsed.
After landing, the fuel tanks were examined with the airplane in a nose-low attitude. Sufficient fuel was visible in the right-wing fuel tank, but none could be seen in the left-wing fuel tank. The passenger did not recall the pilot conducting a pre-departure fuel check or checking fuel tank indicators during the flight. Before takeoff, the passenger asked how much fuel was aboard; the pilot stated she added three hours of fuel for a two-hour flight. The passenger found that acceptable, and fuel was not discussed again until after the accident. The fuel selector was found in the “both” position after the accident, and the passenger did not recall it being moved in flight. The pilot reported departing with 70 gallons of fuel.
Postaccident Examination
A Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) airworthiness inspector from the Honolulu Flight Standards District Office (FSDO) performed a postaccident examination. By the time of the inspection, the wings had been removed and any fuel discarded. Engine control continuity was established from the cockpit to the engine. The fuel selector operated normally, and fuel vents were clear. Fuel was present in the fuel line from the gascolator to the carburetor and in the carburetor bowl. The engine crankshaft turned freely by hand with no abnormal noises; thumb compression was noted on all cylinders. A click from the magneto impulse coupler was heard at top dead center of each cylinder during rotation. Visual inspection of the engine exterior showed no abnormalities. No anomalies were identified with the airframe or engine that would have prevented normal operation.