Pilot Debrief

CESSNA 177RG near Lansing, MI — 2012-11-28

Final reportCEN13LA076
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Date
2012-11-28
Location
Lansing, MI, USA
Airport
LAN
Aircraft
CESSNA 177RG
Registration
N1912Q
Category
Airplane
Highest injury
None
Fatalities
0
Phase of flight
Initial climb

Probable cause

A loss of engine power due to the loss of fuel flow through the airplane's fuel tank selector valve.

NTSB narrative

According to the pilot, he retracted the landing gear, raised the flaps, and then reduced power during the climb. The engine then lost all power. The pilot declared an emergency and attempted a forced landing on the runway. He tried to extend the landing gear; however, it did not have sufficient time to fully extend and subsequently collapsed when the airplane touched down. The airplane skidded down the runway until coming to rest at the departure end. A postaccident examination of the airplane revealed that the engine could not be primed when the fuel tank selector valve was in the "both" fuel tanks position. However, when the fuel tank selector valve was in the "left" tank position, fuel flow was established, the engine primed, and it ran normally. The examination could not identify what caused the observed loss of fuel flow through the fuel tank selector valve while it was in the "both" fuel tanks position.

Analysis

Primary failure mode
Engine power loss
First missed decision gate
Pilot could have ensured proper fuel flow before takeoff.

NTSB coding

Evidence available

  • 3 docket documents
View NTSB final reportView NTSB docket

Docket documents3

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