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Aviation safety reports, made easier to study

NTSB Reports is an independent research and search tool for public aviation accident and incident records. It brings NTSB aviation reports, structured fields, docket files, extracted figures, photos, videos, and update history into one searchable interface.

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NTSB Report

March 14, 1993 · Cessna 172 · N4070F

Gila Bend, AZ

Overview

Report Status
Probable Cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
March 14, 1993
Injury Outcomes
2 injuries (2 minor injuries)
Location
Gila Bend, AZ
Aircraft
Cessna 172
Tail Number
N4070F
Operator
Juan C Galban
Injuries
Minor
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
LAX93LA150

The airplane was being flown on a local sightseeing flight. The pilot said he was at about 2,500 feet at cruise RPM. After the airplane crossed the dam, the RPM dropped to idle and the engine began to run rough. The pilot selected a dirt road as a potential landing site. As he turned final, the engine regained partial power. The pilot elected to perform a go around, at which time the engine again lost power. The pilot elected to land on a roadway. During the final approach the left wing struck the ground first, causing the airplane to cartwheel. The investigation revealed the primary and main venturi was a two piece design and the primary venturi became loose, which caused the loss of engine power. Two service bulletins were not performed which would have replaced the two piece design with a one piece venturi. The airplane received an annual inspection 3 months before the accident and had accrued 20 flight hours since the inspection.

NTSB Probable Cause

THE FAILURE OF MAINTENANCE PERSONNEL TO PERFORM MANDATORY SERVICE BULLETINS DURING THE ANNUAL INSPECTION 20 FLYING HOURS PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT WHICH RESULTED IN THE CARBURETOR'S PRIMARY VENTURI BECOMING LOOSE.

Full Narrative

THE AIRPLANE WAS BEING FLOWN ON A LOCAL SIGHTSEEING FLIGHT. THE PILOT SAID HE WAS AT ABOUT 2500 FEET AT CRUISE RPM. AFTER THE AIRPLANE CROSSED THE DAM, THE RPM DROPPED TO IDLE AND THE ENGINE BEGAN TO RUN ROUGH. THE PILOT SELECTED A DIRT ROAD AS A POTENTIAL LANDING SITE. AS HE TURNED FINAL, THE ENGINE REGAINED PARTIAL POWER. THE PILOT ELECTED TO PERFORM A GO AROUND, AT WHICH TIME THE ENGINE AGAIN LOST POWER. THE PILOT ELECTED TO LAND ON A ROADWAY. DURING THE FINAL APPROACH THE LEFT WING STRUCK THE GROUND FIRST, CAUSING THE AIRPLANE TO CARTWHEEL. THE INVESTIGATION REVEALED THE PRIMARY AND MAIN VENTURI WAS A TWO PIECE DESIGN AND THE PRIMARY VENTURI BECAME LOOSE, WHICH CAUSED THE LOSS OF ENGINE POWER. TWO SERVICE BULLETIN'S WERE NOT PERFORMED WHICH WOULD HAVE REPLACED THE TWO PIECE DESIGN WITH A ONE PIECE VENTURI. THE AIRPLANE RECEIVED AN ANNUAL INSPECTION 3 MONTHS BEFORE THE ACCIDENT AND HAD ACCRUED 20 FLIGHT HOURS SINCE THE INSPECTION.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time11:29 MST
Nearest Airport0nm N
Runway0
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftCessna 172
Tail NumberN4070F
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageSubstantial
OperatorJuan C Galban
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsContinental · O-300-A · Reciprocating · 145
Seats4

People & Injuries

Injury Summary2 injuries (2 minor injuries)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor2
Uninjured0
Total2
Crew 1Age 31 · Third Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind140° @ 3 kt
Visibility10 sm
CeilingBroken clouds 9000 ft
Temperature / Dew Point63 F / 43 C
Altimeter29.00 inHg
Observation Time18:15
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data