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Aviation safety reports, made easier to study

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NTSB Report

July 17, 1993 · Cessna 172D · N2494U

New Milford, PA

Overview

Report Status
Probable Cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
July 17, 1993
Injury Outcomes
2 injuries (1 serious injury, 1 minor injury)
Location
New Milford, PA
Aircraft
Cessna 172D
Tail Number
N2494U
Operator
Wayne R Adams
Injuries
Serious
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
BFO93LA126

During cruise, the engine lost partial power. The pilot stated he applied carburetor heat, and shortly thereafter, the engine lost all power. During an emergency landing on mountainous wooded terrain, the airplane 'clipped' trees and impacted the ground, then it slid about 30 ft and came to rest inverted. An exam of the airplane revealed no airframe anomalies. The engine was inspected and water was found in the gascolator, carburetor float bowl and accelerator pump housing; source of the water contamination was not determined. Mice were found in the carburetor air box and venturi area. One mouse was lodged in the throttle valve. Receipts showed the airplane received about 17 gallons of fuel on the day before the accident. Since then, the airplane had flown about 1 hr. The pilot said that before each flight, he drained each fuel drain. He said water was found in the fuel samples, but he continued to drain the fuel until no more water was detected.

NTSB Probable Cause

LOSS OF ENGINE ENGINE POWER DUE TO WATER CONTAMINATION OF THE FUEL. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE THE MICE, WHICH PARTIALLY BLOCKED FUEL AND AIR FLOW TO THE CARBURETOR, AND THE LACK OF SUITABLE TERRAIN IN THE EMERGENCY LANDING AREA.

Full Narrative

DURING CRUISE, THE ENGINE LOST PARTIAL POWER. THE PILOT STATED HE APPLIED CARBURETOR HEAT, AND SHORTLY THEREAFTER, THE ENGINE LOST ALL POWER. DURING AN EMERGENCY LANDING ON MOUNTAINOUS WOODED TERRAIN, THE AIRPLANE 'CLIPPED' TREES AND IMPACTED THE GROUND, THEN IT SLID ABOUT 30 FT AND CAME TO REST INVERTED. AN EXAM OF THE AIRPLANE REVEALED NO AIRFRAME ANOMALIES. THE ENGINE WAS INSPECTED AND WATER WAS FOUND IN THE GASCOLATOR, CARBURETOR FLOAT BOWL AND ACCELERATOR PUMP HOUSING; SOURCE OF THE WATER CONTAMINATION WAS NOT DETERMINED. MICE WERE FOUND IN THE CARBURETOR AIR BOX AND VENTURI AREA. ONE MOUSE WAS LODGED IN THE THROTTLE VALVE. RECEIPTS SHOWED THE AIRPLANE RECEIVED ABOUT 17 GALLONS OF FUEL ON THE DAY BEFORE THE ACCIDENT. SINCE THEN, THE AIRPLANE HAD FLOWN ABOUT 1 HR. THE PILOT SAID THAT BEFORE EACH FLIGHT, HE DRAINED EACH FUEL DRAIN. HE SAID WATER WAS FOUND IN THE FUEL SAMPLES, BUT HE CONTINUED TO DRAIN THE FUEL UNTIL NO MORE WATER WAS DETECTED.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time19:50 EDT
Nearest Airport0nm N
Runway0
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftCessna 172D
Tail NumberN2494U
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageSubstantial
OperatorWayne R Adams
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsContinental · O-300-D · Reciprocating · 145
Seats4

People & Injuries

Injury Summary2 injuries (1 serious injury, 1 minor injury)
Fatal0
Serious1
Minor1
Uninjured0
Total2
Crew 1Age 56 · Third Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind330° @ 9 kt
Visibility45 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point66 F / 46
Altimeter30.00 inHg
Observation Time23:50
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data