Pilot Debrief

CESSNA 172 near Cape Coral, FL — 2017-07-07

Final reportERA17LA234
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Date
2017-07-07
Location
Cape Coral, FL, USA
Aircraft
CESSNA 172
Registration
N2492U
Category
Airplane
Highest injury
Minor
Fatalities
0
Phase of flight
Cruise

Probable cause

A total loss of engine power due to fuel contamination with water and the pilot's inadequate preflight inspection that detected, but did not fully resolve, the water contamination of the fuel system.

NTSB narrative

The private pilot indicated that he performed a preflight inspection of the airplane before the local flight and noticed a small amount of water drain from the fuel tanks while sampling fuel from them. After an engine run up, he did not notice any anomalies and departed. While in cruise flight at an altitude of 1,200 ft above ground level, the engine lost power, and the pilot changed his course to return to the departure airport. During the return to the airport, the engine lost total power. The pilot began an emergency descent and conducted a forced landing, during which the airplane struck power lines, collided with the ground, and nosed over, which resulted in substantial damage to the airplane. Postaccident examination of the airplane revealed a mixture of water and fuel draining from the right fuel tank. Examination of the carburetor revealed a significant amount of corrosion within the carburetor; several large flakes of corroded material were at the bottom of the fuel bowl, and one flake was within the mixture control housing, indicating that water had likely been present in the fuel system for an extended period of time. Given this information, it is likely that water contamination of the fuel ultimately resulted in the loss of engine power.

Analysis

Primary failure mode
Engine power loss
First missed decision gate
Pilot could have checked fuel quality more thoroughly before flight.

NTSB coding

Evidence available

  • Photos
  • 7 docket documents
View NTSB final reportView NTSB docket

Docket documents7

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