N9875E

On May 27, 2001, at 1140 central daylight time, a Cessna 182P, single-engine airplane, N9875E, was substantially damaged during a forced landing following a loss of engine power during cruise flight near Hondo, Texas. The airplane was owned and operated by a private individual under 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. The private pilot, sole occupant, received minor injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the planned cross-country flight to Wharton, Texas. A flight plan was not filed for the personal flight which departed Hondo Municipal Airport at 1120.

The pilot reported that he performed the preflight and found "no water in [the] fuel." The airplane was topped with 25.2 gallons of fuel for the planned flight, and the pilot verified that the fuel tanks were full. Following a satisfactory pre-takeoff, the flight departed runway 17. Several minutes after the airplane was in cruise flight at 2,500 feet msl, the engine power decreased to 900 rpm. The pilot performed the emergency checklist; however, the engine did not regain cruise power. During the off airport landing, the nose gear dug into the soft terrain, and the airplane came to rest in the inverted position.

The FAA inspector, who responded to the site, found the vertical stabilizer bent, upper rudder area crushed, right wing strut bent, and the left wing buckled outboard of the wing strut. The fuselage was wrinkled and buckled.

On May 29, 2001, an FAA inspector examined the airplane at Rusty's Flying Service, Hondo, Texas. Water came out of the carburetor when the throttle was operated. Water and debris were found mixed with the fuel drained from the gascolator. A fuel sample from the fuel truck looked "clear with some minute fibers floating in it," and the fuel color was consistent with 100 low lead aviation fuel.

Maintenance records, reviewed by the FAA inspector, indicated the last annual inspection was performed on March 10, 2001.