Premium research interface

The modern interface for aviation safety intelligence.

Search investigations, review source evidence, monitor watched reports, and trace long-term patterns from one calm, data-first workspace.

63k+
Reports indexed
1940-2026
Coverage
Recent
Last data refresh
Featured Report

Loading…

Loading featured report…

Loading…
Open Report

Safety trends by operating rule

Track fatal and non-fatal accident patterns across Part 91, Part 135, and Part 121 operations.

Loading trend charts…

Browse the aviation graph

Move quickly by aircraft, airport, operator, and time with indexes built for research, not wandering.

Last Data Update

By Decade

By Month

Aircraft Manufacturer

More manufacturers

Airports

More airports

Operators

More operators

About

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.

The goal is practical safety education: make it faster to find relevant investigations, compare similar events, review factual records, and understand the evidence behind probable-cause and preliminary reports.

The investigative work and source records belong to the National Transportation Safety Board and the published investigation record. This site is not affiliated with or endorsed by the NTSB.

FAQs

NTSB Report

February 19, 2003 · Cessna 172SP · N197ME

Flemington, NJ

Overview

Report Status
Final with probable cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
February 19, 2003
Injury Outcomes
No injuries (1 uninjured)
Location
Flemington, NJ
Aircraft
Cessna 172SP
Tail Number
N197ME
Injuries
None
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
NYC03LA048

After climbing to 2,000 feet msl, the engine lost all power. Unable to complete a restart, the pilot executed a forced landing to an open field. The airplane touched down, rolled approximately 200 feet, and then the nose wheel collapsed. An examination of the engine revealed the accessory drive gear dowel was broken, the locking plate was in place, and the accessory drive gear bolt was loose. Examination of the bolt, locking plate, dowel, and gear revealed no material issues associated with the loss of engine power. Damage to the gear dowel was consistent with the accessory drive gear bolt being undertorqued. The engine was manufactured approximately 2 years before the accident, and had accumulated approximately 656 hours of flight time. In addition, the accessory drive gear bolt had not been removed since being installed by the manufacturer.

NTSB Probable Cause

The manufacturer's improper assembly of the accessory drive section of the engine.

Full Narrative

On February 19, 2003, about 1000 eastern standard time, a Cessna 172SP, N197ME, was substantially damaged during a forced landing near Flemington, New Jersey, following a total loss of engine power. The certificated private pilot was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions (VMC) prevailed for the local personal flight. No flight plan was filed, and the flight was conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. The pilot arrived at the airport about 0900 with the intention of practicing some instrument approaches in VMC. He preflighted the airplane, noted no anomalies, and then boarded. The pilot taxied the airplane short of runway 22, completed the engine runup checks, and then performed a normal takeoff. Once airborne, he executed the VOR 23 approach to Doylestown Airport (DYL) Doylestown, Pennsylvania, and at the missed approach point, advanced the throttle to execute a climbing right turn to repeat the approach. After reaching 2,000 feet msl, and while flying the inbound leg of the procedure turn, the engine lost all power. The loss of power was smooth, and took approximately 5 seconds. During the descent, the pilot attempted to restart the engine using the checklist, but the engine did not respond. Unable to reach an airport, he setup to conduct a forced landing to an open field. The airplane touched down upslope, main landing gear first, and then rolled approximately 200 feet before settling into soft ground. The nose wheel contacted the ground, collapsed, and the airplane spun 180 degrees to the left before coming to a stop. The pilot egressed unassisted, and reported the accident and his location to air traffic control via mobile phone. The engine was removed from the airframe, and a teardown was conducted on February 28, 2003, at the engine manufacture's facility under the supervision of a Federal Aviation Administration inspector. During the examination, the accessory section was opened, and the following conditions were identified. The accessory drive gear bolt was loose, the bolt locking plate was in place, and the accessory drive gear dowel was broken. Examination of the accessory gear assembly revealed, the bolt threads were not damaged, the bolt met manufacturing specifications, and the fracture surface for the accessory drive gear dowel was consistent with overload. According to the engine manufacturer, two additional engines were examined that were assembled and inspected by the same individuals as the accident engine. One was built prior to the accident engine and the other afterwards. In both cases, no discrepancies were identified. According to the manufacturer's assembly and inspection procedures, the required torque for installing the accessory drive gear bolt was 17 foot pounds, and that the locking plate would secure the bolt in place. According to maintenance records, the engine was manufactured approximately 2 years before the accident, and had accumulated approximately 656 hours of flight time. In addition, the records indicated that the accessory drive gear bolt had not been removed since being installed by the manufacturer.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time10:00 EST
Nearest Airport0nm
Flight Plan FiledNone
Flight Plan ActivatedNo
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftCessna 172SP
Tail NumberN197ME
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageSubstantial
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsLycoming · IO-360-L2A · Reciprocating · 180
Seats4

People & Injuries

Injury SummaryNo injuries (1 uninjured)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured1
Total1
Crew 1Age 49 · Third Class · None

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind170° @ 3 kt
Visibility7 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point28 C / 19 C
Altimeter30.28 inHg
Observation Time14:53
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data