# NTSB investigations, TX: Fuel contamination

NTSB aviation accident and incident investigations since 1962: the probable cause, findings, aircraft, crew, weather and docket of each, linked to the FAA registry and the FAA’s own reports.

## Latest cases

- [NTSB CEN26LA084](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN26LA084.md): Cessna 172 · Taylor, TX · Accident · No injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report · Dec 26, 2025 · N172BX · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s inadequate preflight inspection that resulted in a loss of engine power due to water contamination.
- [NTSB WPR23LA263](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR23LA263.md): Robinson Helicopter R44 II · Marble Falls, TX · Accident · No injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report · Jul 9, 2023 · N163RK · Substantial damage
  > A total loss of engine power due to fuel contamination from an unknown source.
- [NTSB WPR23LA183](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR23LA183.md): Aero Vodochody L-39ZA · Barnhart, TX · Accident · No injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report · May 2, 2023 · N343WT · Substantial damage
  > A total loss of engine power due to water-contaminated fuel from an undetermined source.
- [NTSB CEN23LA153](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN23LA153.md): Ryan Navion A · New Waverly, TX · Accident · Minor injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report · Apr 12, 2023 · N4229K · Substantial damage
  > A total loss of engine power as a result of fuel contamination.
- [NTSB CEN21LA133](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN21LA133.md): Aero Commander S2R · Alamo, TX · Accident · No injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report · Feb 9, 2021 · N5679X · Substantial damage
  > The partial loss of engine power due to water-contaminated fuel.
- [NTSB CEN20LA132](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN20LA132.md): Cessna T210 · Waxahachie, TX · Accident · Serious injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report · Mar 25, 2020 · N5553C · Substantial damage
  > The partial loss of engine power due to water and contaminants in the fuel, due to the pilot’s inadequate preflight inspection, and the pilot’s decision to conduct a steep turn at low altitude to return to the runway rather than land straight ahead, which…
- [NTSB CEN19FA325](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN19FA325.md): Cessna A185 · Conroe, TX · Accident · 2 fatal · Class 3 · Field · Final report · Sep 21, 2019 · C-GOZJ · Destroyed
  > A partial loss of engine power due to fuel contamination with water, and the pilot’s failure to maintain control of the airplane during an attempted return to the airport shortly after takeoff, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall.
- [NTSB CEN19LA129](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN19LA129.md): Piper PA 23 · Sulphur Spring, TX · Accident · No injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report · Apr 27, 2019 · N233P · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s inadequate preflight inspection, during which he failed to detect the water contamination in the left fuel, which resulted in a partial loss of power in the left engine. Contributing to the accident was the total loss of power in the right engine…
- [NTSB CEN18LA113](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN18LA113.md): Aero Commander 100-180 · Deport, TX · Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Mar 2, 2018 · N3733X · Substantial damage
  > A total loss of engine power due to water contamination of the fuel system. Contributing to the accident was the pilot/owner's inadequate maintenance of the fuel caps.
- [NTSB CEN17LA202](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN17LA202.md): Piper PA36 · El Campo, TX · Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · May 28, 2017 · N3711E · Substantial damage
  > Foam contamination in the fuel injector nozzles from deteriorated foam baffles and water in the fuel flow divider, the combination of which resulted in the loss of engine power.
- [NTSB CEN17LA153](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN17LA153.md): Cessna 152 · La Porte, TX · Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Apr 12, 2017 · N95551 · Substantial damage
  > A total loss of engine power due to fuel contamination, which resulted from the pilot’s inadequate preflight inspection that did not detect water contamination.
- [NTSB CEN15LA423](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN15LA423.md): Bell 206B · Woodville, TX · Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Sep 24, 2015 · N648CA · Substantial damage
  > The loss of engine power due to water contamination in the fuel system. Contributing to the accident were the pilot’s inadequate preflight inspection of the fuel tanks and the operator’s inadequate inspection of the fuel supply truck that did not detect water…
- [NTSB CEN15FA287](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN15FA287.md): Piper PA 24-250 · Quinlan, TX · Accident · 2 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Jul 1, 2015 · N6168P · Destroyed
  > The pilot's failure to maintain control of the airplane following a loss of engine power during initial climb after takeoff, which resulted in the wing's critical angle-of-attack being exceeded and a subsequent aerodynamic stall. Also causal was the pilot's…
- [NTSB CEN15FA269](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN15FA269.md): Grumman American Avn. AA-5 · Fredericksburg, TX · Accident · 1 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Jun 14, 2015 · N6552L · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's failure to maintain adequate airspeed following a partial loss of engine power during initial climb, which resulted in the airplane exceeding its critical angle of attack and experiencing an aerodynamic stall. Also causal was the mechanic's…
- [NTSB CEN13FA432](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN13FA432.md): Piper PA-30 · Amarillo, TX · Accident · 1 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Jul 25, 2013 · N8306Y · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s failure to maintain airplane control after a loss of left engine power due to water-contaminated fuel. Contributing to the accident was the lack of a proper preflight that could have detected water accumulation in the fuel system before takeoff.
- [NTSB CEN13LA354](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN13LA354.md): Cessna 152 · Carrizo Springs, TX · Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Jun 17, 2013 · N49108 · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s failure to identify the water contamination of the fuel system during his preflight inspection, which resulted in a total loss of engine power during the airplane’s initial climb.
- [NTSB CEN12FA654](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN12FA654.md): Piper PA-28R-180 · Roanoke, TX · Accident · 2 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Sep 22, 2012 · N4567J · Substantial damage
  > The loss of engine power during takeoff due to fuel contamination. Contributing to the accident was maintenance personnel's failure to adequately correct the water contamination effects. Contributing to the severity of the occupants' injuries was the lack of…
- [NTSB CEN11LA084](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN11LA084.md): Grumman American AA-5B · Navada, TX · Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Nov 27, 2010 · N4541L · Substantial damage
  > The loss of engine power due to debris obstructing the fuel filter, which resulted in fuel starvation. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's inadequate airspeed during the forced landing, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall.
- [NTSB CEN10LA256](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN10LA256.md): Cessna P206B · Spring Branch, TX · Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · May 17, 2010 · N50LP · Substantial damage
  > A loss of engine power due to fuel contamination.
- [NTSB CEN10FA122](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN10FA122.md): Piper PA-30 · Amarillo, TX · Accident · 2 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Feb 17, 2010 · N8501Y · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s failure to detect water contaminated fuel, which resulted in a loss of engine power shortly after takeoff. Contributing to the accident were the worn and loose fuel caps, which allowed water to enter the fuel tanks.
- [NTSB CEN09LA341](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN09LA341.md): Huston Charles D Pitts S-12 · Spicewood, TX · Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Jun 5, 2009 · N922TP · Substantial damage
  > A total loss of engine power due to fuel starvation as a result of the presence of an unidentified contaminant in the fuel system which clogged the fuel flow sensor. Contributing to the accident was the manufacturer’s installation of the fuel flow sensor…
- [NTSB DFW08LA068](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DFW08LA068.md): Piper PA-28-235 · Spring, TX · Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Feb 10, 2008 · N9047W · Substantial damage
  > Failure of the pilot to ensure that the fuel system was purged of water prior to flight. Contributing to the severity of injuries was the lack of shoulder restraints.

## The whole list in SQL

Runs in DuckDB 1.2 or later on the release's Parquet files over HTTPS:

```sql
SELECT c."ntsbNumber", c."eventDate", c."eventType", c."eventCity", c."eventStateOrRegion", a.n_number, a."aircraftMake", a."aircraftModel", c."highestInjuryLevel", c."totalFatal", c."completionStatus", c.report_url
FROM 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_case_detail.parquet' c LEFT JOIN 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_aircrafts.parquet' a ON a.case_mkey = c."mKey" AND a.position = 1
WHERE c."eventStateOrRegion" = 'TX' AND c."eventCountry" = 'USA'
  AND c."mKey" IN (SELECT s.case_mkey FROM 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_events.parquet' s WHERE s."tier2Number" = '193' AND s.case_mkey IN (SELECT case_mkey FROM 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_events.parquet' WHERE "isDefiningEvent"))
ORDER BY c."eventDate" DESC, c."ntsbNumber" DESC
```

This list as a web page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/193/sequence?state=TX

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