Orange Grove, TX, USA
N8979X
CESSNA 182D
The private pilot stated that he was at an altitude of 3,500 feet when the engine stopped producing power. He made a forced landing to field and struck a cedar post with the airplane's nose wheel and subsequently flipped over resulting in structural damage to the vertical stabilizer. Examination of the engine revealed that the left side intake tube elbow remained attached to the intake manifold hose with the hose clamp still attached. The intake manifold hose was found not secured to the intake manifold No. 2 tube assembly.
On September 5, 2008, approximately 1820 central daylight time, N8979X, a single-engine Cessna 182 airplane, sustained substantial damage after is made a forced landing to a field after a loss of engine power. The certified private pilot and a passenger sustained minor injuries. The other passenger sustained serious injuries. The airplane was registered to Sky S the Limit Parachute Center, Beeville, Texas, and was operated by the pilot. No flight plan was filed for the flight that originated at Alice International Airport (ALI), Alice, Texas, about 1800, and was destined for Beeville Municipal Airport (BEA), Beeville, Texas. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the personal flight conducted under 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. A Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) aviation safety inspector performed an on-scene examination of the airplane and interviewed the pilot. According to the inspector, the pilot was returning to his home airport when the accident occurred. The pilot stated that he was at an altitude of 3,500 feet when the engine stopped producing power. He made a forced landing to field and struck a cedar post with the airplane's nose wheel and subsequently flipped over resulting in structural damage to the vertical stabilizer. Examination of the airplane revealed there was 60 gallons of light blue aviation fuel onboard (30 gallons in each tank). There was fuel present in the fuel lines to the gascolator bowl, which was full. Fuel in the gascolator bowl was absent of water and debris. Examination of the engine revealed that the left side intake tube elbow remained attached to the intake manifold hose with the hose clamp still attached. The intake manifold hose was found not secured to the intake manifold No. 2 tube assembly. The pilot held a private pilot certificate for airplane single-engine land. He was also a certified senior parachute rigger for both back and chest. The pilot's last second class FAA medical certificate was issued on March 15, 2005, and had the following limitations: "Must wear lenses for distant, have glasses for near vision. Not valid for any class after March 31, 2006." At the time of the medical, he reported a total of 3,100 hours. At the time this report was completed, the pilot had not submitted NTSB form 6120.1, Pilot/Operator Accident/Incident Report.
A total loss of engine power due to an improperly installed intake manifold tube.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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