Accident de Havilland Canada DHC-3 Otter N61FE, Tuesday 22 July 2008

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Date:	Tuesday 22 July 2008
Time:	12:00 LT
Type:	de Havilland Canada DHC-3 Otter
Owner/operator:	Rainbow King Lodge
Registration:	N61FE
MSN:	61
Year of manufacture:	1954
Total airframe hrs:	15000 hours
Engine model:	Pratt & Whitney R1340
Fatalities:	Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 1
Other fatalities:	0
Aircraft damage:	Substantial
Category:	Accident
Location:	Iliamna, Alaska - United States of America
Phase:	En route
Nature:	Unknown
Departure airport:	Iliamna, AK
Destination airport:
Investigating agency:	NTSB
Confidence Rating:	Accident investigation report completed and information captured

Narrative:
The solo airline transport pilot was making a local reconnaissance flight in a float-equipped airplane under 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 in conjunction with a wilderness lodge business. The pilot said that he was scouting local lakes and rivers for fish and, while returning to a float pond near the lodge, the airplane's engine lost oil pressure and then lost power. The pilot said that he descended to a road, and that after he touched the floats on the road the left wing struck a tree, causing the airplane to depart the roadway. The airplane sustained damage to the left wing's leading edge and fuselage. A mechanic said that the number 8 cylinder separated from the engine, causing an oil line to separate.

Probable Cause: A total loss of engine power due to the separation of the number 8 cylinder from the engine, which separated an oil line, resulting in a loss of oil and oil pressure. Contributing to the accident was the float-equipped airplane's forced landing on a road.

Accident investigation: