Engine failure leads to forced landing of floatplane in Finnish marsh

Casualties unknown • FI

A Cessna A185E floatplane experienced an engine failure due to fuel starvation, resulting in a forced landing on a marsh near Tankavaara.

What happened

On June 28, 2005, at 18:26 local time, a Cessna A185E floatplane, registration OH-CDO, was conducting a flight from Iso-Hirvanen to Inari. While flying at an altitude of 400 meters north of Tankavaara, the engine suddenly stopped. The pilot immediately turned left, attempting to reach a landing site in the Vuotso channel. Despite two attempts to restart the engine using the electric fuel pump, the engine failed to remain running.

The pilot was forced to perform an emergency landing on a marsh. During the landing, the aircraft's wings and floats struck several pine trees. The nose of the right float struck a turf mound, causing the aircraft to nose over and land inverted. The pilot and one passenger sustained minor injuries.

The investigation

The investigation examined the aircraft's fuel levels, the pilot's flight preparation, and the mechanical state of the engine. Investigators found no technical defects in the engine or the aircraft's systems. The inquiry focused on the fuel management process, noting that the aircraft had been refueled the previous day through internal wing tank filler points, a method that does not allow for a completely full tank. Additionally, the investigation looked into the specific aerodynamic characteristics of the Cessna A185E when equipped with floats and an external cargo pod.

Findings

  • The primary cause of the accident was the decision to continue the flight without a refueling stop, which led to fuel starvation when the low fuel level caused a disruption in the engine's fuel supply.
  • The pilot did not personally verify the actual amount of fuel in the wing tanks prior to departure.
  • The pilot relied on inaccurate fuel gauge readings and held an incorrect belief regarding the amount of unusable fuel remaining in the tanks.
  • The aircraft, configured with floats and an external cargo pod, is prone to instability around the vertical axis. This can cause the aircraft to fly in a sideslip, increasing fuel consumption and causing remaining fuel to sloshing in the long wing tanks.
  • The pilot had limited experience with long-distance cross-country flights and failed to use a flight planning form, which would have identified the necessity of a refueling stop.
  • The pilot's decision-making was characterized by overconfidence regarding fuel reserves.

Probable cause

The engine failure was caused by fuel starvation resulting from a flight conducted without a necessary refueling stop. This was compounded by the pilot's failure to verify actual fuel quantities, reliance on inaccurate gauges, and the increased fuel consumption caused by the aircraft's inherent instability in its specific configuration.

Frequently asked questions

What happened in the 2005-06-28 aircraft accident near FI?

A Cessna A185E floatplane experienced an engine failure due to fuel starvation, resulting in a forced landing on a marsh near Tankavaara.

What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?

The accident on 2005-06-28 involved a aircraft, registration OH-CDO, at FI.

What was the probable cause of the accident?

The engine failure was caused by fuel starvation resulting from a flight conducted without a necessary refueling stop. This was compounded by the pilot's failure to verify actual fuel quantities, reliance on inaccurate gauges, and the increased fuel consumption caused by the aircraft's inherent instability in its…

Loading the flight search…