De Havilland DHC-2 N9262Z

Summary

On 18 July 2001 at about 22:30 local time, a De Havilland DHC-2 registered N9262Z, operated by State of Alaska Dept. of Natural Resources, was involved in an accident near Willow, Alaska, United States. 3 people were on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

18 July 2001 at 22:30

Classification

Accident

Location

Willow, Alaska, United States

Coordinates

61.7575, -150.0528

Aircraft

De Havilland DHC-2

Registration

N9262Z

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

State of Alaska Dept. of Natural Resources

Operating rule

Public Use

Purpose of flight

Public Use

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Lake Hood Strip → Lake Hood Strip

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ANC01TA087

Nobody was injured.

The loss of engine power during cruise due to the separation of an engine cylinder.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

The certificated airline transport pilot, with two passengers aboard, was conducting an aerial timber survey. While in cruise flight about 1,000 feet above the ground, the engine began to backfire, run rough, and lose power. The engine then quit, and the pilot selected a gravel bar along a glacial fed river as an emergency landing area. During the emergency approach to landing, the airplane landed short of the intended landing site, touched down in about 3 feet of water, and nosed over. After recovery, an FAA airworthiness inspector examined the airplane. The inspector reported that the number seven cylinder was cracked, the number nine cylinder had no compression, and that about one cup of clear water was found within the carburetor float bowl. The inspector said that he was unable to determine if the cylinder damage, or the presence of water in the carburetor was a result of impact damage with the river water. When the engine was disassembled the number nine cylinder head was found separated from the cylinder barrel.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.