# Accident 20220522008729A: Cessna P172D, Prescott, AZ, May 22, 2022

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: May 22, 2022, 09:13 local time
- Place: Prescott, AZ
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Takeoff: Climb Out
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 35.1403° N, 111.6692° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.1403&lon=-111.6692&mi=10
- Aircraft: N8540X, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N8540X) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Cessna P172D (registry code 2072202, https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-p172d) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Continental GO-300 series (registry code 17024, https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-go-300-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA P172D
- Reported engine: LYCOMING O-360-A1A
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 1
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB WPR22LA186](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR22LA186) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20220522008729A

## Narrative

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

PILOT REPORTED THAT N8540X DEPARTED RY21L AND WITHIN LESS THAN A MINUTE AND ABOUT 1/2 MILE OF THE DEPARTURE END OF THE RUNWAY TIME THE ENGINE SUDDENLY STOPPED AND HE HEARD THE PROPELLER SPINNING BUT NO SOUNDS FROM MOTOR.  HE REPORTED THAT HE IMMEDIATELY PUSHED NOSE DOWN AND MIXTURE TO FULL RICH, THEN RECYCLED THE MAGS TO NO EFFECT. RETURNED MIXTURE TO ¾ PLUS RICH AND DECIDED TO FIND A PLACE TO LAND. AIRCRAFT WAS PUT DOWN IN AN OPEN FIELD, BUT WHEN IT SET DOWN IT HIT A LARGE STUMP, COLLAPSED THE NOSE GEAR AND I FLIPPED UPSIDE DOWN.

ENGINE WAS RUN AT SALVAGE YARD, BUT ONLY AT LOW POWER SETTING BECAUSE OF BENT PROPELLER BLADE. FUEL SCREENS FUEL TANKS WERE INSPECTED AND FOUND CLEAN, AND FUEL SELECTOR VALVE WAS REMOVED FORM AIRCRAFT, DISSEMBLED AND INSPECTED AND FOUND TO HAVE BEEN OPERATIVE.  NO REASON FOR POWER LOSS WAS FOUND.  PILOT WAS QUESTIONED ABOUT USE OF FUEL

SELECTOR AND HE STATED THAT HE ALWAYS KEEPS IT IN BOTH.  FIRST RESPONDER WAS CONTACTED AND IT WAS CONFIRMED THAT THEY FOUND THE FUEL SELECTED ON AND THEY HAD TURNED IT OFF.

INVESTIGATION WAS LIMITED BECAUSE THE ACCIDENT WAS NOT FATAL AND THE MANUFACTURER'S INVESTIGATORS WERE NOT ASSISTING IN INVESTIGATION.  INVESTIGATION COULD NOT CONCLUDE OR CONFIRM ANY FAILURES OF THE NINE FAA RESPONSIBILITIES.

## 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 WPR22LA186](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR22LA186), May 22, 2022: Cessna P172D (N8540X), Prescott, AZ, substantial damage. Probable cause: The loss of engine power for reasons that could not be determined based on the available evidence.

## Other reports on N8540X (1)

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

- [Accident 19830516019749A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19830516019749A), May 16, 1983: Cessna P172D (N8540X), Wasco, OR, Substantial damage. Failed to check weather at destination. Landed downwind and ran off departure end of runway.

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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