# Accident 20050930026739A: Cessna 172F, Sparta, TN, September 30, 2005

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: September 30, 2005, 12:16 local time
- Place: Sparta, TN
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Fcd/Prec Ldg From Cruise
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 35.9295° N, 85.4707° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.9295&lon=-85.4707&mi=10
- Aircraft: N8513U, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8513U-2008-12-09) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Cessna 172F (registry code 2072414, https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172f) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Continental 0-300 series (registry code 17022, https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-0-300-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 172F
- Reported engine: CONT O300*
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 2,531 total, 132 in this make and model, 24 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ATL05CA165](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL05CA165) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20050930026739A

## Narrative

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

(-23) ACCORDING TO THE PILOT (NEW OWNER OF ONE DAY) WHILE IN CRUISE FLIGHT THE O-300 CONTINENTAL ENGINE SPUTTER ONCE AND QUIT. THE PILOT (HIGH TIME HELICOPTER, 300 HOUR FIXED WING) PERFORMED RECOMMENDED EMERGENCY PROCEDURES, TO NO AVAIL AND WAS FORCED TO LAND OFF AIRPORT. DURING THE OFF AIRPORT ATTEMPT THE LEFT WING CONTACTED A TREE RIPPING THE WING OFF THE FUSELAGE AND PROCEEDED TO CATCH FIRE. IN THIS FIRE, WHICH CONSUMED THE LEFT WING, THE AIRCRAFT RECORDS WERE DESTROYED. THE MAJOR PORTION OF THE AIRCRAFT WAS SAVED. HISTORY AND MORE FACTS: THREE WEEKS PRIOR TO THIS ACCIDENT (AT REDSTONE ARSENAL, HUNTSVILLE, AL) THIS AIRCRAFT EXPERIENCED ENGINE FAILURE, CAUSE WAS DETERMINED TO BE WATER IN FUEL SYSTEM. ARMY INVESTIGATORS AND A LOCAL FAA FSDO INSPECTOR DETERMINED THAT STEEP TURNS AND OTHER AERIAL MANEUVERS DISLODGED WATER IN THE FUEL SYSTEM. THIS CAUSED FURTHER INSPECTION OF THE FUEL SYSTEM. THIS INSPECTION REVEALED THE COLLAPSE OF THE RIGHT FUEL TANK. THE METAL TANK APPEARED TO HAVE BEEN SUCKED DOWN BY VACUUM PRESSURE. THIS DAMAGE APPEARED TO BE OLD. THIS FUEL TANK WAS REPLACED TWO DAYS BEFORE THE ACCIDENT FLIGHT. THE MECHANIC WHO PERFORMED THE CHANGING OF THE FUEL TANK STATED HE THOROUGHLY INSPECTED ALL FUEL SYSTEM COMPONENTS. AT THE ACCIDENT SITE FUEL WAS NOTED IN THE UNDAMAGED WING AND THE GASCULATOR WAS FULL OF 100 AVGAS. THE FUEL LINE FROM THE GASCULATOR TO THE CARBURETOR, AS WELL AS THE CARBURETOR, CONTAINED NO FUEL. THE FUEL SELECTOR WAS ON THE RIGHT TANK. FURTHER INVESTIGATION BY CONTINENTAL MOTORS AND THE FAA NOTED A NEEDLE VALUE IN THE MARVEL SCHEBLER MA 35PA 10-443, SERIAL NUMBER S-4 5751 WAS STICKING. ALL OTHER ENGINE COMPONENTS TESTED SHOWED NO MALFUNCTIONS AND CONTINUITY WAS DETERMINED.

## 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 ATL05CA165](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL05CA165), Sep 30, 2005: Cessna C172F (N8513U), Sparta, TN, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's delay in applying carburetor heat that resulted in the loss of engine power due to carburetor ice.

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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