Cessna A185E N2248T

Summary

On 14 August 2024 at about 20:00 local time, a Cessna A185E registered N2248T was involved in an accident near Eveleth, Minnesota, United States. 2 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

14 August 2024 at 20:00

Classification

Accident

Location

Eveleth, Minnesota, United States

Nearest airport

Sky Harbor (9Y5)

Coordinates

47.4435, -92.4765

Aircraft

Cessna A185E

Registration

N2248T

Category

Airplane

Year built

1968

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Unknown → Crane Lake

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

CEN24LA316

Nobody was injured.

Water contamination of the fuel system which resulted in a total loss of engine power. Contributing was the pilot’s inadequate preflight.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot reported that the float-equipped airplane had a total loss of engine power shortly after takeoff from a lake. The pilot conducted a forced landing to an open area of grass on the lake shoreline. The pilot reported that the airplane touched down very hard with the wings level and skidded upright about 150 ft. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage during the hard forced landing. The pilot stated that a few weeks before the accident the airplane was exposed to a significant rain event. He stated he drained fuel and checked for water before the flight, but did not observe any water contamination. The left- and right-wing fuel cap seals exhibited deterioration and discoloration around the outer surface but were otherwise pliable. The fuel cap sealing surfaces on both wings were corroded. Examination of the fuel that was collected at the accident scene revealed about 1 gallon of water in the bottom of the collection tank. Based on the airframe examination, it is likely that rainwater entered the fuel tanks due to the poor condition of the fuel caps and their respective wing sealing surfaces. A postaccident engine run was conducted, and the engine started, idled, and accelerated without hesitation. In the absence of a mechanical engine malfunction, the total loss of engine power was likely due to water contamination ingested by the engine shortly after takeoff.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.