# Accident 19990920042639A: Cessna 177A, Big Bear, CA, September 20, 1999

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: September 20, 1999, 11:39 local time
- Place: Big Bear, CA
- Airport: Big Bear City Airport
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: To Init Climb(1st Pwr Reduct)
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 34.2594° N, 116.8391° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.2594&lon=-116.8391&mi=10
- Aircraft: N39AE, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N39AE-2012-09-04) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Cessna 177A (registry code 2073706, https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-177a) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming O&VO-360 series (registry code 41514, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-vo-360-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 177A
- Reported engine: LYC O360A2F
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 13,099 total, 400 in this make and model, 120 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB LAX99LA314](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX99LA314) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19990920042639A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

(.4)THE AIRCRAFT WAS PARKED OUTSIDE ON THE RAMP FOR SEVERAL MONTHS, WITH THE FUEL DRAINS REMOVED AND THE TANKS DRAINED. AN A&P MECHANIC REPLACED THE FUEL DRAIN IN THE RIGHT TANK AND ADDED FUEL FOR A MAINTENANCE FERRY FLIGHT. THE PILOT PERFORMED A PREFLIGHT AND BEFORE TAKEOFF CHECKS. THE ENGINE STALLED ONCE DURING TAXI, THEN BEGAN TO MISS AND RUN ROUGHLY AFTER TAKEOFF. AFTER RETURNING, THE PILOT DRAINED THE FUEL SUMPS AND FOUND A 'SMALL AMOUNT OF WATER' IN THE GASCOLATOR. HE THEN DRAINED AN ADDITIONAL GALLON OF FUEL FROM THE TANK WITHOUT FINDING ANY ADDITIONAL WATER OR SEDIMENT. AFTER TAKEOFF ON THE SECOND FLIGHT, THE ENGINE BEGAN SURGING AND THEN QUIT. WHEN ATTEMPTS TO RESTART THE ENGINE FAILED, HE TURNED BACK TOWARD THE AIRPORT BUT COULD NOT REACH THE RUNWAY AND DITCHED THE AIRPLANE IN THE WATER. THE MECHANIC DID NOT PERFORM OR OFFER TO PERFORM ANY ADDITIONAL TROUBLESHOOTING PROCEDURES BETWEEN THE FIRST AND SECOND FLIGHT. THE INSIDE OF THE GASCOLATOR WAS COATED WITH AN INSOLUBLE GREENISH-BROWN FILM. THE LEFT WING FUEL QUANTITY TRANSMITTER WAS COATED WITH MATERIAL THAT WAS SIMILAR IN APPEARANCE TO A NON-SILICON SEALANT. THE MATERIAL WAS DECOMPOSING AND READILY FLAKED OFF WHEN TOUCHED. ABOUT 10CC OF LIQUID WAS RECOVERED FROM THE FUEL RESERVOIR; ABOUT HALF WAS WATER, WITH A HEAVIER SEDIMENT THAT WAS SIMILAR IN COLOR AND CONSISTENCY AS TO THE MATERIAL COATING THE FUEL QUANTITY TRANSMITTER. THE ABOVE NOTED DISCREPANCIES WERE LOCATED IN AREAS THAT WOULD NOT BE ACCESSIBLE OR SERVICEABLE BY A PILOT PERFORMING A PREFLIGHT INSPECTION.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB LAX99LA314](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX99LA314), Sep 20, 1999: Cessna 177A (N39AE), Big Bear City, CA, substantial damage. Probable cause: A loss of engine power due to fuel system contamination, which resulted from the mechanic's failure to fully inspect and verify the serviceability of the fuel system before returning the aircraft to…

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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