# Accident 20131005023539A: Cessna 172F, Gainesville, FL, October 5, 2013

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: October 5, 2013, 16:30 local time
- Place: Gainesville, FL
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Cruise/Level Flight
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Operator: BEBJ
- Location: 29.6464° N, 82.3542° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.6464&lon=-82.3542&mi=10
- Aircraft: N8715U, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8715U-2018-01-10) (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: LYCOMING 0-360
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 2
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot, flight instructor
- Pilot flight hours: 2,512 total, 1,600 in this make and model, 100 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ERA14LA008](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA14LA008) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20131005023539A

## Narrative

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

A BANNER TOWING AIRCRAFT (N8715U) CRASHED AFTER THE ENGINE QUIT WHILE TRAILING ANOTHER BANNER TOWING AIRCRAFT.

THE PILOT STATED THE OIL TEMPERATURE WENT TO RED LINE, AND HE ATTEMPTED TO 'LEAN' THE ENGINE, FOLLOWED BY THE ENGINE QUITTING. SEVERAL ATTEMPTS WERE MADE TO RESTART THE ENGINE WITHOUT ANY SUCCESS. THE BANNER WAS DROPPED AND THE SUBSEQUENT FORCED LANDING WAS MADE IN A PRACTICE FIELD AT THE UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA. THE AIRCRAFT WAS DESTROYED AS WAS A PICKUP TRUCK.

THE FINDINGS OF THE POST ACCIDENT INVESTIGATION OF THE ENGINE REVEALED VERY LITTLE DAMAGE TO THE ENGINE ITSELF. ALL THE MAJOR COMONENTS WERE NOT DAMAGED.

THE INSPECTION DID FIND THE FOLLOWING:

A BROKEN CARBURETOR HEAT CABLE, A COMPLETELY DISCONNECTED CARBURETOR HEAT CABLE FROM THE AIR BOX,  MINOR DAMAGE TO THE CARBURETOR HEAT BOX, AND MINOR DAMAGE TO THE AIR FILTER.

THE AIRFRAME WAS DESTROYED FROM THE IMPACT WITH THE FENCE AND TRUCK CAUSING THE NOSE LANDING GEAR AND RIGHT MAIN LANDING GEAR TO SHEAR OFF, WING DAMAGE, AND THE FUSELAGE TO BEND ALMOST IN TWO.

THE ENGINE WAS RUN AFTER THE POST ACCIDENT INSPECTION AND THE ENGINE PERFORMED NORMAL.

THE SPARK PLUGS DURING THE POST ACCIDENT INVESTIGATION REVEALED A 'BLACKISH COLOR/BURN PATTERN' TO THEM, SILIMILAR TO AN OVER-RICH OPERATING CONDITION. KNOWING THAT THE CARBURETOR HEAT CABLE WAS FOUND DISCONNECTED IT IS POSSIBLE FOR THE CARBURETOR HEAT FLAP TO MOVE CAUSING SUCH A 'RICH' CONDITION. THE PILOTS ACTIONS OF 'LEANING' THE ENGINE TO LOWER THE OIL TEMPERATURE IS CONTRARY TO PUBLISHED EMERGENCY PROCEDURES.

## 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 ERA14LA008](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA14LA008), Oct 5, 2013: Cessna 172 - F (N8715U), Gainesville, FL, substantial damage. Probable cause: A total loss of engine power for reasons that could not be determined because a postaccident engine examination and test run revealed no anomalies.

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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