20210602012889A

Accident · Substantial damage

FAA accident report · Cessna 172G · Nevada City, CA · June 2, 2021

Date: June 2, 2021 · 10:00 local
Place: Nevada City, CA
Phase of flight: Takeoff: Climb Out
Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
Damage: Substantial damage
Aircraft: N3871L
NTSB investigation: NTSBWPR21LA224
Reported as: Cessna 172G
Reported engine: Continental 0-300 series
People aboard: 2
Fatal injuries: 0
Other injuries: 0
Pilot’s certificates: Commercial pilot, flight instructor
Pilot’s flight hours: 7,000 total3,000 in this make and model5 in the last 90 days

N3871LRegistration cancelled Jul 30, 2022 · Cessna 172GS/N 17254040 · Built 1965 Airframe modelCessna 172G Engine modelContinental 0-300 seriesReciprocating

From the FAA’s Accident/Incident Data System (AIDS), through its Aviation Safety Information Portal, as reported. The NTSB investigates accidents separately, and its record of an accident is the fuller one. The aircraft is matched to the registry 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.

What happened

The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.

N3871L was repositioning from sutter county airport (O52) to reno-tahoe international airport (krno). While climbing through 6500 feet MSL, the engine appeared to be running hot, so the pilot attempted to troubleshoot by cycling carburetor heat and increasing fuel mixture to 'rich'. Approaching approximately 8500 feet MSL, near blue canyon/Nevada City, CA, the aircraft's powerplant suffered a loss of power.

In the descent, the pilot attempted to troubleshoot the engine. The pilot ensured fuel selector was in 'both', ensured carburetor heat was 'off' and manipulated throttle to produce as much engine power as possible. Pilot declared an emergency and made an approach to a clear area within the mountainous terrain.

The aircraft landed with left-side-load, which collapsed the left hand landing gear and caused the aircraft to rotate counterclockwise on landing/impact. The aircraft had substantial damage to both wings and lower fuselage.

As the FAA filed it

N3871L WAS REPOSITIONING FROM SUTTER COUNTY AIRPORT (O52) TO RENO-TAHOE INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT (KRNO). WHILE CLIMBING THROUGH 6500 FEET MSL, THE ENGINE APPEARED TO BE RUNNING HOT, SO THE PILOT ATTEMPTED TO TROUBLESHOOT BY CYCLING CARBURETOR HEAT AND INCREASING FUEL MIXTURE TO 'RICH'. APPROACHING APPROXIMATELY 8500 FEET MSL, NEAR BLUE CANYON/NEVADA CITY, CA, THE AIRCRAFT'S POWERPLANT SUFFERED A LOSS OF POWER.

IN THE DESCENT, THE PILOT ATTEMPTED TO TROUBLESHOOT THE ENGINE. THE PILOT ENSURED FUEL SELECTOR WAS IN 'BOTH', ENSURED CARBURETOR HEAT WAS 'OFF' AND MANIPULATED THROTTLE TO PRODUCE AS MUCH ENGINE POWER AS POSSIBLE. PILOT DECLARED AN EMERGENCY AND MADE AN APPROACH TO A CLEAR AREA WITHIN THE MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN.

THE AIRCRAFT LANDED WITH LEFT-SIDE-LOAD, WHICH COLLAPSED THE LEFT HAND LANDING GEAR AND CAUSED THE AIRCRAFT TO ROTATE COUNTERCLOCKWISE ON LANDING/IMPACT. THE AIRCRAFT HAD SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE TO BOTH WINGS AND LOWER FUSELAGE.

NTSB investigation

The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.

NTSB WPR21LA224Accident · No injuriesClass 3 · LimitedFinal reportWashington, CAA total loss of engine power during an enroute climb due to a stuck exhaust valve and multiple failed piston compression rings.Jun 2, 2021 · Substantial damage

Other reports on N3871L · 1

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.

Accident 19861121060019AFcd/Prec Ldg From Cruise · Evansville, INThe engine failed from fuel exhaustion and the aircraft struck a fence during landing. No mechanical defects noted.Nov 21, 1986 · Substantial damage