C206 PILOT REPORTS ENGINE FAILURE AT 800 FEET AGL ON DEPARTURE AND SUCCESSFUL LANDING ON A ROAD.

Date: 2007-11 · Aircraft: Skyhawk 172/Cutlass 172 · Phase: initial_climb

Anomalies: aircraft-equipment-problem-critical

Synopsis

C206 PILOT REPORTS ENGINE FAILURE AT 800 FEET AGL ON DEPARTURE AND SUCCESSFUL LANDING ON A ROAD.

Narrative

THE DAY BEGAN AND PROGRESSED NORMALLY. THE FIRST 2 LOADS WERE FLOWN SUCCESSFULLY; AND THEN THE PLANE WAS REFUELED. THIS PARTICULAR REFUELING IS QUITE VIVID IN MY MIND NOT ONLY BECAUSE THE ENG FAILURE OCCURRED SOON AFTERWARD; BUT ALSO BECAUSE I DISTINCTLY RECALL FILLING BEYOND THE COMPANY'S PRESCRIBED AMOUNT. THE 3RD LOAD FOLLOWED AND WAS SUCCESSFUL AS USUAL. THE 4TH LOAD WAS WHAT WE CALL A 'HOT TURN' MEANING THE ENG STILL RUNS WHILE THE JUMPERS BOARD. IT WAS THE 2ND OF 2 LOADS BEFORE ANOTHER REFUELING. DURING THE TIME THE 3 JUMPERS WERE BOARDING; I TURNED THE FUEL SELECTOR TO THE R WING TANK AS USUAL. WE TAXIED TO THE RWY AND TOOK OFF AND DEPARTED NBOUND. CLBING THROUGH APPROX 700 FT AGL; I NOTICED THE ENG PWR SURGING SLIGHTLY AND SAW THAT THE FUEL FLOW GAUGE WAS WAVERING BTWN 12 AND 14 GPH. AT AROUND 800 FT AGL; I ENTERED A L BANK TO PROCEED WBOUND WHEN THE ENG FAILED. HAVING LITTLE TIME; I CHKED SOME VITAL THINGS INCLUDING THE MIXTURE CTL; FUEL SELECTOR; MAGNETOS AND MASTER SWITCH; BUT VERY IMMEDIATELY CONCENTRATED ON PUTTING IT DOWN ON A ROAD. IT WAS WHAT I BELIEVE TO BE SUCCESSFUL IN THAT THERE WERE NO INJURIES; AND ZERO DAMAGE TO THE ACFT. THE LNDG WAS QUITE NORMAL. MECHS ON THE SCENE CONCLUDED THAT THE FUEL LINE FROM THE R WING TANK SUFFERED MOMENTARY CAVITATION DURING THE BANK WHICH ULTIMATELY CAUSED THE FAILURE. TO SAY THE LEAST; THIS RESULT CONFUSED ME. HAVING PERSONALLY MADE SURE THAT THE FUEL WAS AT AND EVEN BEYOND OUR TYPICAL FUEL AMOUNTS; I DIDN'T UNDERSTAND HOW THE CAVITATION COULD HAVE OCCURRED. AT THE VERY END OF THE DAY; I NOTICED THAT THE NOSE STRUT SEEMED UNUSUALLY INFLATED AND ASKED THE MGR. HE INFORMED ME THAT IT HAD BEEN FILLED DURING ITS 50 HR OIL CHANGE. AT THIS POINT; I BEGAN TO WONDER IF THIS HAD BEEN THE CAUSE OF A SERIOUS FUELING MISCALCULATION ON ACCOUNT OF THE PLANE SITTING MUCH MORE NOSE PITCH UP. MYSELF NOT BEING AN A&P; I AM REALLY AT A LOSS. ULTIMATELY; NOT MUCH LIGHT HAS BEEN SHED INTO THIS SITUATION. IF THE CAUSE WAS INDEED THE INFLATION OF THE NOSE STRUT LEADING TO FUEL MISMEASUREMENTS AND THE ULTIMATE FUEL LINE CAVITATION; I SHOULD THINK THE LESSON WOULD OBVIOUSLY BE TO MAKE THE PLTS AWARE OF ANY AND ALL MAINT PERFORMED ON THE ACFT; ESPECIALLY IF THE MAINT ALTERS THE ACCURACY OF FUEL MEASUREMENTS. HOWEVER; SINCE THE NOSE STRUT HAS NOT BEEN RULED THE OFFICIAL CAUSE; THIS OPINION IS NOT WORTH MUCH.

Source: NASA Aviation Safety Reporting System (public domain). Reports are voluntary submissions and are not verified by NASA.