Cessna U206F accident near Matinicus, Maine, April 3, 2002
On April 3, 2002 at about 4:20 pm local time, a Cessna U206F, registered N1523U, was substantially damaged in an accident near Matinicus, Maine (Martinicus Island airport). It was an other work-use flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
A partially blocked fuel metering unit inlet screen, which resulted in a partial loss of engine power. Also causal, was the operator's lack of inlet screen inspection procedures.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 3, 2002 · about 4:20 pm local time
- Place
- Matinicus, Maine · Martinicus Island · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna U206F · all U206Fs on the register
- Registration
- N1523U · no longer on the register · serial 02234
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Other work-use flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported a partial loss of engine power while on final approach and he made a forced landing to the right of the runway, collapsing the main gear. Examination of the engine revealed that the fuel metering unit inlet screen was 75 percent blocked with green, lint-like debris. The debris was removed from the screen. The engine started normally and ran without interruption. The operator used the Cessna Progressive Care and Continuous Inspection (CPCCI) program to maintain the 1973 U206F airplane. According to Cessna, the CPCCI program was designed for 1977 through 1986 airplanes. However, Cessna established procedures for vintage airplanes not specifically covered in this program. The CPCCI Operations Manual stated, "After reviewing the specific aircraft, add inspection requirements to the Operation Schedule for specific items which were not covered." A review of the 1969 through 1976 206 Service Manual revealed that the "fuel injector screen" should be inspected "each 50 hours." According to the TCM 100-hour maintenance schedule, "remove fuel metering unit inlet screen and inspect for foreign material." A review of the 1977 through 1986 206 Service Manual revealed that there was no requirement to inspect the fuel injector screen. Cessna could not explain why the inspection was included in the 1969 through 1976 206 Service Manual, and not in the 1977 through 1986 206 service manual. On April 17, 2002, the operator added the fuel metering unit inlet screen inspection to Operation #1 and #3, item J25, to the company's CPCCI program.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 5,500 hours in all; 1,064 in this make and model; 73 in the last 90 days; 20 in the last 30 days; 5,281 as pilot in command; 25 on instruments
- Last flight review: December 14, 2001
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 9,151.4 hours
- Last inspection: continuous airworthiness programme, February 9, 2002; 35.8 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,600 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Teledyne Continental IO-520-F27B (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: RKD Rockland ME at 4:00 pm
- Destination: NONE Martinicus Isle ME
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 180, 1,800 ft by 35 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 210° at 14 knots, gusting 21
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 3,200 ft
- Temperature: 48°F (9°C), dew point 43°F (6°C)
- Altimeter: 29.78 inHg
- Observation at 3:15 pm from RKD, 15 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.