N4886UCessna U206G · 1979

On August 30, 2008, about 1600 Alaska daylight time, a float-equipped Cessna 206 airplane, N4886U, sustained substantial damage during a forced landing, about 62 miles southeast of Galena, Alaska. The airplane was operated as a personal flight under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 91 when the accident occurred. The solo private pilot received minor injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed. The flight originated at the Wasilla Lake Sea Plane Base, Wasilla, Alaska, about 1300, and was en route to Kiana, Alaska.

During a telephone conversation with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigator-in-charge on August 31, the pilot reported that while in level cruise flight the engine began to run rough and lose power. He said that he saw the engine fuel pressure fluctuating, so he elected to switch fuel tanks in an effort to restore engine power. He noted that the roughness improved momentarily, followed by a strong smell of fuel in the cockpit area, which was followed by a complete loss of engine power. He said that he was unable to restart the engine, and selected a marshy tree-covered site as a forced landing area. During the forced landing, the airplane collided with trees, and sustained substantial damage to the fuselage and wings.

On September 2, a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) airworthiness inspector from the Anchorage Flight Standards District Office traveled to the Big Lake Airport, Big Lake, Alaska, and examined the airplane after it was recovered. The inspector reported he discovered that the main fuel line between the engine driven fuel pump and the main fuel servo assembly was disconnected, with no apparent impact damage to either the line or its connector.

The FAA inspector said that during his postaccident review of the airplane's maintenance records, he discovered that a maintenance technician had removed the fuel line about 1.9 hours before the accident. During a follow-up interview with the FAA inspector, the maintenance technician that removed and reinstalled the fuel line stated that he could not specifically recall if he had tightened the fuel line fitting after the initial installation, and presumed he had not.