Cessna 206F incident near Matinicus Islnd, Maine, September 1, 2006
On September 1, 2006 at about 4:30 pm local time, a Cessna 206F, registered N8411Q, suffered minor damage in an incident near Matinicus Islnd, Maine (Matinicus Island Airport). It was flown under charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135). No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
An engine kick back of undetermined origin during engine start.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 1, 2006 · about 4:30 pm local time
- Place
- Matinicus Islnd, Maine · Matinicus Island Airport · map
- Type
- Incident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 206F · all 206Fs on the register
- Registration
- N8411Q · no longer on the register · serial U206F03271
- Damage
- Minor damage
- Flight
- Flight · charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
After engine start, the pilot heard "an abnormal engine mechanical noise." He shut down the engine and requested a mechanic. During a subsequent engine start, the mechanic confirmed the mechanical engine noise, and the engine was again shut down. Hand propping revealed that the engine would sometimes "mechanically jam," and further examination revealed the fracture of two crankshaft gear teeth. Both gear teeth exhibited signatures consistent with overload. Corresponding starter adapter gear teeth, that would have meshed with the crankshaft gear teeth during the startup, were cracked on the loaded side. All evaluated metallurgical requirements were met, including core hardness, surface hardness and case depth. Although a single "kick back" while cranking could cause the failure of components of the cranking system, there was no evidence as to why a kick back may have occurred.
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: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 9,000 hours in all; 2,000 in this make and model; 184 in the last 90 days; 71 in the last 30 days; 8,500 as pilot in command; 3,000 on instruments
- Last flight review: September 1, 2005
- Medical certificate: Class 2
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 7,198 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, August 1, 2006; 10 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,600 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Teledyne Continental IO-520-F (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Waters Aero-Marine
The flight
- Departed from: 45ME Maticus Island ME
- Destination: RKD Owls Head ME
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 64°F (18°C), dew point 52°F (11°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 2 |
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.