Cessna 207 N207SE

Summary

On 5 April 2003 at about 17:30 local time, a Cessna 207 registered N207SE, operated by Hageland Aviation Inc., was involved in an accident near Aniak, Alaska, United States. One person was 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

5 April 2003 at 17:30

Classification

Accident

Location

Aniak, Alaska, United States

Coordinates

61.8525, -159.5500

Aircraft

Cessna 207

Registration

N207SE

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Hageland Aviation Inc.

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Flight Test

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

St. Mary's → Aniak

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ANC03LA039

Nobody was injured.

The pilot's improper fuel management, and subsequent fuel starvation during cruise flight. A factor contributing to the accident was unsuitable terrain for a forced landing.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The commercial certificated pilot was conducting a cross-country maintenance test flight following a recent engine overhaul. The airplane's engine was recently installed by company maintenance personnel, and the pilot was putting flight hours on the engine. During the flight, the engine oil pressure was indicating about 50 psi. The pilot made a slight change in the engine rpm and manifold pressure settings, and the oil pressure rose rapidly to the top of the operating range. The engine cylinder and oil temperature readings did not change. The engine then lost power. The pilot switched the fuel selector from the left tank to the right tank and activated the engine boost pump. Engine power was not restored, and he switched the selector back to the left tank. The pilot indicated the engine sounded as if it were firing on all cylinders, but only at an idle. The pilot also reported that, "I do not know whether the left fuel tank was completely exhausted of fuel or not. The engine went from power to idle immediately, without any sputtering or coughing." During a forced landing, the airplane collided with trees. An FAA inspector traveled to the accident scene and examined the airplane. He reported that the left fuel tank was empty. The right fuel tank contained about 15 gallons of fuel. He found no evidence of fuel leaking, and the engine and propeller controls were properly attached. The inspector started the engine, but due to broken engine mounts, the engine was not operated above an idle, however throttle movement was applied enough to elicit an increase in rpm. The FAA inspector also reported that the operator sent the engine to a maintenance facility where it operated at full power on an engine test stand.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.