# Accident 20110215002649A: Cessna 172H, Wikieup, AZ, February 15, 2011 - Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported - Date: February 15, 2011, 11:30 local time - Place: Wikieup, AZ - Damage: Substantial damage - Phase of flight: Cruise/Level Flight - Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91) - Location: 34.7000° N, 113.6000° W: From the FAA - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.7000&lon=-113.6000&mi=10 - Aircraft: N2561L, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N2561L-2018-02-27) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry model: Cessna 172H (registry code 2072424, https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172h) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: Continental 0-300 series (registry code 17022, https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-0-300-series) (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 172H - Reported engine: LYCOMING 0-320 SER - People aboard: 2 - Fatal injuries: 0 - Other injuries: 0 - Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot, flight instructor - Pilot flight hours: 1,010 total, 530 in this make and model, 130 in the last 90 days - NTSB investigation: [NTSB WPR11LA135](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR11LA135) (OpenAirDocs) - FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/) - Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20110215002649A ## Narrative As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^. ON FEBRUARY 15, 2011 THE SCOTTSDALE FLIGHT STANDARDS DISTRICT OFFICE (FSDO) WP07 AT 11:30 LOCAL TIME RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF AN AIRCRAFT HAD FORCED LANDED IN THE DESERT NEAR THE TOWN OF WIKIEUP AZ. DUE TO ENGINE FAILURE. THE AIRCRAFT A CESSNA 172H, N2561L ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ OF 5050 SOUTH BISON AVE, FORT MOHAVE AZ. 86426 HAD DEPARTED THE SUN VALLEY AIRPORT (A20) ON A TRAINING FLIGHT TO PRESCOTT AZ. (KPRC). THE CFI STATED, AT 9,500 FEET THEY EXPERIENCED INTERMITTENT POWER FOLLOWED BY A TOTAL LOSS OF ENGINE. THE CFI FURTHER STATES, HE TOOK OVER THE CONTROLS FROM THE STUDENT AND ESTABLISHED THE BEST GLIDE SPEED AND PICKED A LANDING SITE. ON THE WAY DOWN HE WENT THROUGH THE EMERGENCY CHECK LIST ABOUT FIVE TIMES WITH NO POSITIVE EFFECT. WHEN LANDING WAS IMMINENT HE PULLED THE MIXTURE TO CUT OFF, FUEL SELECTOR WAS PLACED TO OFF POSITION, THE IGNITION WAS TURNED TO THE OFF POSITION AND UNLATCHED THE DOORS. ONCE ON FINAL HE ADDED FLAPS AND TURNED THE BATTERY MASTER OFF. AFTER TOUCH DOWN HE STATES, THE AIRCRAFT DECELERATED PRETTY QUICKLY AND AT ALMOST A COMPLETE STOP THE AIRCRAFT HIT A WASH TEARING THE NOSE GEAR OFF THE AIRCRAFT, STOPPING IMMEDIATELY THERE AFTER. DAMAGE TO THE AIRCRAFT EXHIBITED, THE NOSE GEAR SHEARED OFF, FIREWALL DAMAGE, LOWER ENGINE COWLING, AND EXHAUST STACK. THERE WAS NO EVIDENCE OF A PROPELLER STRIKE OR FIRE. THE CFI AND STUDENT SUSTAINED NO INJURIES.ON FEBRUARY 16, 2011 AN INSPECTION OF THE AIRCRAFT ON SCENE BY THE SDL-FSDO REVEALED NO OBVIOUS DEFECTS WITH THE ENGINE. THE FUEL TANKS EXHIBITED SUFFICIENT FUEL. THE LEFT FUEL TANK HAD A VISUAL FUEL CAPACITY TO THE BOTTOM OF THE FILLER NECK. THE RIGHT FUEL TANK HAD A VISUAL CAPACITY APPROXIMATELY ¾ OF AN INCH BELOW THE FILLER NECK. FUEL WAS STRAINED FROM THE LEFT AND RIGHT WINGS SUMPS AND FUEL STRAINER. NO WATER OR CONTAMINANTS WERE EXHIBITED. THE CONTENT WAS BLUISH IN COLOR AND SMELLED LIKE AVGAS. POSITION OF THE ENGINE CONTROL EXHIBITED THE THROTTLE ¾ FULL, MIXTURE WAS FULL RICH AND CARBURETOR HEAT WAS ON. THE FUEL SELECTOR WAS IN THE OFF POSITION. THE FUEL WAS DRAINED BY ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ MAINTENANCE PERSONNEL FROM THE LEFT WING TANK AND MEASURED APPROXIMATELY 15 US GALLONS, THE RIGHT WING TANK MEASURED APPROXIMATELY 17 US GALLONS. THE AIRCRAFT WAS DISASSEMBLED AND RELOCATED TO ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ FACILITY AT THE FORT MOHAVE, SUN VALLEY AIRPORT. ON FEBRUARY 23, 2011 INSPECTOR FROM THE SDL-FSDO PERFORMED A DETAILED ENGINE INSPECTION. NO OBVIOUS DEFECTS WITH THE ENGINE WERE NOTED. THE AIRCRAFT WAS RIGGED WITH AN EXTERNAL FUEL SUPPLY AND THE ENGINE WAS GROUND RUN. THE ENGINE WOULD RUN AND IDLE FOR A BRIEF AMOUNT OF TIME AND WOULD NOT ACCELERATE WITH THROTTLE. INSPECTION OF THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT WITH THE ENGINE RUNNING REVEALED FUEL DRIPPING FROM THE MAIN FUEL SUPPLY LINE FROM THE FUEL STRAINER TO THE CARBURETOR INLET. INSPECTION OF THE FUEL LINE REVEALED THE LINE WAS DETERIORATED APPROXIMATELY 6 INCHES OUT OF AN 18 INCH HOSE ASSEMBLY. A REPLACEMENT HOSE ASSEMBLY WAS INSTALLED AND THE ENGINE RAN NORMALLY UNDER ALL PARAMETERS. ## 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 WPR11LA135](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR11LA135), Feb 15, 2011: Cessna 172H (N2561L), Wikieup, AZ, substantial damage. Probable cause: A total loss of engine power during cruise flight resulting from the failure of a fuel line. Contributing to the accident was inadequate maintenance inspections that failed to detect the… 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.