# NTSB ANC14CA014: Cessna 170 - B, N8177A, Nome, AK, January 4, 2014 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: January 4, 2014, 14:45 local (18:45 UTC) - Place: Nome, AK - Coordinates: 64.710372, -164.620941 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=64.7104&lon=-164.6209&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Enroute: Fuel contamination](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/193) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor, 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report April 1, 2014 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 88642 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC14CA014 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/88642/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=88642 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC14CA014 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to adequately remove water-contaminated fuel during the preflight inspection, which resulted in a total loss of engine power. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Inspection: preflight inspection](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061510): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 170B, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061510/cases.md?model=2072306), [All aircraft, 551 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061510/cases.md) - [Fluids: fuel](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010): Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware · Inadequate inspection (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 170B, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md?model=2072306), [All aircraft, 1,695 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md) - [Fluids: fuel](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010): Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware · Fluid condition (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 170B, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md?model=2072306), [All aircraft, 1,695 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md) - [Terrain: snowy/icy terrain](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021030): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome; cases with it: [Cessna 170B, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021030/cases.md?model=2072306), [All aircraft, 77 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021030/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Prior to flight: Preflight or dispatch event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/030); cases with it: [Cessna 170B, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/030/sequence.md?model=2072306), [All aircraft, 355 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/030/sequence.md) - [Enroute: Fuel contamination](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/193) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 170B, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/193/sequence.md?model=2072306), [All aircraft, 225 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/193/sequence.md) - [Emergency descent: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Cessna 170B, 52 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=2072306), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis According to the pilot, the airplane was pulled out of the hangar and preflighted for a maintenance test flight, following an extensive annual inspection. Approximately 10 minutes after departure the airplane lost all engine power, and made an emergency landing on the sea ice. During the emergency landing the airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage. While inspecting the airplane after the accident, the pilot said he found water in the airplane's gascolator. A postaccident examination of the airplane by a Federal Aviation Administration aviation safety inspector revealed water in the fuel system, including the carburetor bowl. The pilot indicated that other than the water in the fuel, there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or anomalies that would have precluded normal operation. In the pilot's written statement to the National Transportation Safety Board he noted that the accident might have been avoided if the airplane had been placed on level ground after it was pulled from the hangar, thereby allowing the water to be drained from the fuel system. ## Factual narrative According to the pilot, the airplane was pulled out of the hangar and preflighted for a maintenance test flight, following an extensive annual inspection. Approximately 10 minutes after departure the airplane lost all engine power, and made an emergency landing on the sea ice. During the emergency landing the airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage. While inspecting the airplane after the accident, the pilot said he found water in the airplane's gascolator. A postaccident examination of the airplane by a Federal Aviation Administration aviation safety inspector revealed water in the fuel system, including the carburetor bowl. The pilot indicated that other than the water in the fuel, there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or anomalies that would have precluded normal operation. In the pilot's written statement to the National Transportation Safety Board he noted that the accident might have been avoided if the airplane had been placed on level ground after it was pulled from the hangar, thereby allowing the water to be drained from the fuel system. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N8177A](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8177A-2018-03-30), registration cancelled 2018-03-30, S/N 25029 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 170 - B (B) - Registry model: [Cessna 170B](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-170b) (registry code 2072306) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental C145 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-c145-series) (registry code 17012, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 25029 - Year built: 1952 - Airframe hours: 5172 - Engines: Continental C-145 145 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Flight test, Part 91 - Operator: James West - Registered owner: James West - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, January 4, 2014 - Departed: Nome, AK - Destination: Nome, AK ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 74; injuries: minor; airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; last flight review April 1, 2013; seat: right; restraint: lap only; flight hours: 30,000 total, 120 in this make and model, 30,000 as pilot in command, 3 in the last 90 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 360° at 6 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 27 °F, dew point 21 °F - Altimeter: 29.97 inHg - Observed at: PAOM, 9 nm away ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20140104000539A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20140104000539A), Jan 4, 2014: Cessna 170B, Nome, AK, Substantial damage. The aircraft had just come out of an anuual inspection. The pic/mechanic and the owner of the aircraft took the aircraft on a test flight. The engine quit… ## Other investigations on N8177A (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 ANC82DA022](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC82DA022), Mar 3, 1982: Cessna 170 (N8177A), Poorman, AK, substantial damage ## Docket (1 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on March 14, 2014, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=88642. 215 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 215 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40410630&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF 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. --- 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.