# Accident 20100918046259A: Cessna 172D, Palm Beach, FL, September 18, 2010

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: September 18, 2010, 11:20 local time
- Place: Palm Beach, FL
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Cruise/Level Flight
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 26.7203° N, 80.0339° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=26.7203&lon=-80.0339&mi=10
- Aircraft: N2483Y (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 172D
- Reported engine: CONT MOTOR 0-300 SER
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Private pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 750 total, 750 in this make and model, 10 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ERA10LA494](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA10LA494) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20100918046259A

## Narrative

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

09-18-2010:FLIGHT IN VFR CRUISE SOUTHBOUND FLYING OFF THE BEACH APPROX. 1200 FT. ALTITUDE WHEN 1/2 MILE NORTH OF BREAKERS HOTEL IN PALM BEACH, FLORIDA THE ENGINE WENT TO IDLE.  PILOT STATED THE ENGINE THROTTLE CONTROL WAS NOT RESPONDING AND FELT DIFFERENT THAN NORMAL.  PILOT TURNED NORTH AND EAST LOOKED FOR LANDING AREA AND FOUND UNPOPULATED AREA NORTH OF THE PUBLIC BEACH ADJACENT 120 CASA BENITO, PALM BEACH, FL.  PILOT EXECUTED SOFT FIELD LANDING TO BEACH WITH APPROXIMATELY 15 KNOT RIGHT CROSSWIND.  ON LANDING, LEFT WING TIP STRUCK BEACH UPSLOPE OF BEACH AND PROP DUG INTO SAND AS NOSE WHEEL CAME DOWN.  THE PILOT AND PASSENGER (PILOTS DAUGHTER) EXITED AIRCRAFT WITHOUT INJURY.  THE AIRCRAFT INCURED DAMAGED TO LEFT WING AND PROP BLADE.  FAA IIC PERMITTED MOVEMENT OF AIRCRAFT FROM LANDING SITE FOR RISING TIDE DUE TO TIME ENROUTE TO SCENE.  INITIAL INSPECTION AT SCENE FOUND THROTTLE CONTROLS WORKING CARBURETOR NORMAL FROM STOP TO STOP.  INVESTIGATION TO CONTINUE AFTER AIRCRAFT RECOVERED TO SUITABLE FACILITY, LUTECH INC.JET (FAA REPAIR STATION 1LUR269B), LOCATED AT NORTH COUNTY AIRPORT (F45) 561-622-8665.09-20-2010:  CONTACTED LUTECH FOR FURTHER INVESTIGATION SCHEDULED FOR 09-21-2010.09-21-2010:AT LUTECH, INC. FURTHER EXAMINATION TO WING CONFIRMED MAJOR DAMAGE TO LEFT WING SPAR AND WING ATTACHMENT FRAMES ON THE WING.  ADDITIONAL FINDINGS REQUIRED UPGRADE OF THIS REPORT FROM INCIDENT TO ACCIDENT.  ENGINE RUN UP ACCOMPLISHED TO 1600RPM WITH REPLACEMENT OF BENT PROP.  ENGINE STARTED IMMEDIATELY AND RAN AT IDLE NORMALLY, INCREASED AND DECREASED THROTTLE INPUTS WERE NORMAL. THE OPERATION OF CARBURETOR HEAT APPLIED AND REMOVED WAS ALSO NORMAL.SUSPECT CARBURETOR ICING DUE TO LACK OF CARBURETOR HEAT APPLICATION PRIOR TO ACCIDENT.10-04-2010:CARBURETOR TEAR DOWN AT FAA REPAIR STATION # T7KR/TROPIC AIR POWER AT LANTANA AIRPORT (LNA) FOUND NO MECHANICAL ISSUES WITH CARBURETOR CONDITION.  FUEL TRAPPED IN CARBURETOR WAS CLEAN WITH NO DEBRIS.

## 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 ERA10LA494](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA10LA494), Sep 18, 2010: Cessna 172D (N2483Y), Palm Beach, FL, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to use carburetor heat which led to a loss of engine power due to carburetor icing.

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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