Pilot Debrief

CESSNA 177RG near Mesa, AZ — 2022-10-18

Final reportWPR23LA017
Sign in to save
Date
2022-10-18
Location
Mesa, AZ, USA
Airport
FFZ
Aircraft
CESSNA 177RG
Registration
N747ML
Category
Airplane
Highest injury
Serious
Fatalities
0
Phase of flight
Approach

Probable cause

The failure of maintenance personnel to properly secure the fuel supply line to the fuel flow divider, which resulted in a fuel leak, fuel exhaustion, and a total loss of engine power.

NTSB narrative

The pilot conducted an hour-long local flight to break in the newly-installed engine, and was returning to the airport for landing when the engine lost all power. After a failed attempt to restart the engine, the pilot initiated a forced landing into a water canal. The airplane impacted a berm and came to rest in the canal, resulting in substantial damage to the left wing and engine mount. About one cup of fuel was recovered from each fuel tank during recovery from the accident site. Examination of the engine revealed that the fuel line from the fuel injection servo to the flow divider, which connected at the baffle union fitting on the aft side of the firewall, leaked when the engine-driven fuel pump actuated during the manual rotation of the propeller. The B-nut fitting could be tightened a half revolution until it seated onto the fitting by hand. There was no physical damage to the fitting, nor any accident-related impact damage within the surrounding area of the fitting. Review of the task cards for the engine installation provided by the repair station indicated that the installation was completed and signed off by both a technician and inspector. Based on the available information, it is likely that the B-nut was not properly torqued onto the baffle union fitting and that, during the accident flight, the B-nut loosened, resulting in a fuel leak, fuel exhaustion, and a total loss of engine power.

Analysis

Primary failure mode
Mechanical failure
First missed decision gate
Ensuring proper fuel line installation and securing before flight.

NTSB coding

Evidence available

  • Video
  • Photos
  • 12 docket documents
View NTSB final reportView NTSB docket

Docket documents12

Related mishaps