Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Private
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 34; Flight Crew Total 150; Flight Crew Type 80
Troubleshooting
Aircraft Equipment Problem Critical; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy; Ground Event / Encounter Object; Ground Event / Encounter Ground Strike - Aircraft
Aircraft Aircraft Damaged; Flight Crew Landed in Emergency Condition
Human Factors; Aircraft
I experienced an in flight loss of power resulting in an off-airport landing in a pasture. The aircraft; a Cessna 182Q; sustained damage secondary to brush in the pasture; but there were no injuries. Prior to takeoff; I performed a pre-flight examination of the plane; including sumping both tanks for fuel irregularities; without identifying any abnormal issues. The plane was filled with 65 gallons of fuel for a flight just over 3 hours that should have used no more than 45 gallons of fuel. Fuel supply was checked prior to takeoff. I left without incident during climb out and established an uneventful cruise at 11;000 FT. My fuel flow at that altitude was stable at 10.5 gallons in cruise. At this point in the flight; I had selected fuel flow from the right tank as the plane tends to draw more fuel from the left tank when the selector is set to both tanks during takeoff/climb. Shortly after handoff from Center to Approach; my fuel flow computer started to show fuel flows that varied between 22 and 35 gallons/hr; although the engine showed no signs of change. I was watching my standard gauges to try and assess if the fuel flow was a broken flow transducer or a real fuel flow issue. I felt; even at a flow of 30 gallons/hr; I should have considerable time to determine the problem prior to needing to land. In working through this problem; I switched my fuel selector valve to the opposite (left) tank without change in the abnormally high fuel flow. I reset the fuel flow computer circuit breaker without change in fuel flow. At approximately 3 minutes after noticing the problem; I lost all engine power when attempting to richen the mixture. At this point; I established an approximately 70 KT descent; notified ATC of my situation and tried to restart the engine. I attempted full throttle; full rich mixture; carb heat; and selected both tanks. Despite turning the magnetos on and off; I could not restart the engine and was forced to land in a pasture after heavy traffic on highway made a road landing too dangerous. I am concerned that my mis-management of the fuel flow problem may have potentially led to the loss of engine power. I am concerned that my manipulation of the fuel tank selector valve; either by accidentally over-rotating the valve to an incorrect setting or by simply limiting fuel flow during a high flow state may have been the precipitating cause of the power failure. If I was to face this situation again; I would opt to land at the nearest airport and troubleshoot the situation on the ground.
C182 pilot lost power and landed in a field after trying to troubleshoot some fuel system anomalies. Unclear whether the aircraft was out of fuel or if operator error caused power loss.