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NTSB Report
December 9, 1989 · Cessna 172G · N4289L
Uxbridge, MA
Overview
Report Status
Probable Cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
December 9, 1989
Injury Outcomes
3 injuries (2 serious injuries, 1 minor injury)
Location
Uxbridge, MA
Aircraft
Cessna 172G
Tail Number
N4289L
Operator
Charles E Michaud
Injuries
Serious
Aircraft Damage
Destroyed
NTSB Number
NYC90LA037
THE PILOT STATED THAT HE HAD FULL FUEL ON BOARD BEFORE TAKEOFF. HE HAD BEEN FLYING FOR APPROXIMATELY 35 MINUTES, WHEN THE ENGINE BEGAN TO RUN ROUGH. HE APPLIED CARBURETOR HEAT, BUT THE ENGINE DID NOT RESPOND. HE ATTEMPTED TO LAND IN AN INDUSTRIAL PARK, BUT WAS HIGH. WHILE MANEUVERING, THE ENGINE QUIT AND THE PILOT BANKED STEEPLY TO THE RIGHT TO AVOID A POWERLINE. THE AIRPLANE STALLED AND STRUCK THE GROUND. POST ACCIDENT EXAMINATION OF THE ENGINE AND FUEL SYSTEM REVEALED A LARGE PIECE OF ICE WAS ATTACHED TO THE FUEL STRAINER. THE ICE WAS OF SUFFICIENT SIZE TO BLOCK AT LEAST 50% OF THE FUEL FLOW.
NTSB Probable Cause
ICE IN THE FUEL STRAINER, WHICH RESTRICTED FUEL FLOW & RESULTED IN FUEL STARVATION, AND THE PILOT INADVERTENTLY STALLED THE AIRPLANE, WHEN HE ABRUPTLY MANEUVERED IT TO AVOID A TRANSMISSION WIRE DURING A FORCED LANDING.
Full Narrative
THE PILOT STATED THAT HE HAD FULL FUEL ON BOARD BEFORE TAKEOFF. HE HAD BEEN FLYING FOR APPROXIMATELY 35 MINUTES, WHEN THE ENGINE BEGAN TO RUN ROUGH. HE APPLIED CARBURETOR HEAT, BUT THE ENGINE DID NOT RESPOND. HE ATTEMPTED TO LAND IN AN INDUSTRIAL PARK, BUT WAS HIGH. WHILE MANEUVERING, THE ENGINE QUIT AND THE PILOT BANKED STEEPLY TO THE RIGHT TO AVOID A POWERLINE. THE AIRPLANE STALLED AND STRUCK THE GROUND. POST ACCIDENT EXAMINATION OF THE ENGINE AND FUEL SYSTEM REVEALED A LARGE PIECE OF ICE WAS ATTACHED TO THE FUEL STRAINER. THE ICE WAS OF SUFFICIENT SIZE TO BLOCK AT LEAST 50% OF THE FUEL FLOW.
Flight
Event TypeAccident
Event Time13:55 EST
Nearest Airport0nm N
Runway0
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo
Aircraft
AircraftCessna 172G
Tail NumberN4289L
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageDestroyed
OperatorCharles E Michaud
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsContinental · O-300-D · Reciprocating · 145
Seats4
People & Injuries
Injury Summary3 injuries (2 serious injuries, 1 minor injury)
Fatal0
Serious2
Minor1
Uninjured0
Total3
Crew 1Age 48 · Third Class
Conditions
ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind360° @ 10 kt
Visibility50 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point0 C / 0 C
Altimeter0
Weather SourcePILO