Cessna A188B N4842R

Summary

On 20 August 2009 at about 20:00 local time, a Cessna A188B registered N4842R, operated by Gilder Flying Service Inc., was involved in an accident near McRae, Georgia, 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

20 August 2009 at 20:00

Classification

Accident

Location

McRae, Georgia, United States

Coordinates

32.0956, -82.8800

Aircraft

Cessna A188B

Registration

N4842R

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Gilder Flying Service Inc.

Operating rule

Part 137: Agricultural

Purpose of flight

Aerial Application

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

McRae → McRae

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ERA09LA470

Nobody was injured.

A total loss of engine power due to pre-ignition/detonation as a result of a fuel control malfunction.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

During an aerial application flight, the pilot noticed the engine oil temperature rise and the oil pressure decrease. The oil pressure went to zero and the engine lost all power. The pilot initiated a forced landing into a soybean field. Examination of the engine found an abnormal fuel flow through the return fitting at full rich mixture setting and a leak at the mixture shaft. Additionally, the Nos. 1 and 4 piston heads exhibited thermal erosion consistent with a pre-ignition/detonation event. This type of piston damage would elevate crankcase pressure and allow oil loss through the crankcase breather system, decreasing oil pressure and increasing oil temperature.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.