ATL01LA045

NTSB accident investigation · Cessna 182 P · Kennesaw, GA · April 2, 2001

Accident · Serious injuriesLimited investigationFinal report
Date
April 2, 2001, 17:15 local (21:15 UTC)
Place
Kennesaw, GA
Injuries
1 serious
Damage
Substantial damage
Phase of flight
Initial climb
Aircraft
N21306Cessna 182 P
Weather
Visual (VMC) · Day
Status
Completed · report February 20, 2002
Report
Approved by Office Director
Parties
U.S. Aviation Underwriters, Continental Motors, Cessna Aircraft Company, Atlanta FSDO
FAA report
20010402006799A
Case key
52013

From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.

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Probable cause

The loss of engine power for undetermined reasons. Conditions for carburetor icing were present at the time of the accident.

Sequence of events

NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.

Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanicalTakeoff - initial climb
Reason for occurrence undeterminedCause
Weather condition - carburetor icing conditionsCause
Forced landingDescent - emergency
In flight collision with terrain/waterManeuvering

Analysis

The pilot was conducting touch and go landings and after his second landing he was executing the climb out phase of the procedure. During the initial climb , the pilot reported an unspecified engine problem. The airplane collided with the ground in a nose low attitude, and flipped inverted. Examination of the airframe and failed to disclose any mechanical malfunctions or component failures. The engine operated normally up to 2000 rpm during the functional check. At the time of the accident conditions were favorable for the formation of carburetor ice.

Factual narrative

On April 2, 2001, at 1715 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 182P, N21306, collided with the ground 1500 feet from the departure end of runway 27 at McCullum Field in Kennesaw, Georgia. The personal flight was operated by the pilot under the provisions of Title 14 CFR Part 91, with no flight plan filed. Visual weather conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The pilot received serious injuries at the time of the accident and the airplane was substantially damaged. The flight departed Kennesaw, Georgia, at 1714.

Reportedly, the pilot was conducting touch and go landings, and was executing the climb out phase of the procedure. According to air traffic control, during the initial climb out from runway 27, the pilot reported an unspecified engine problem. The airplane collided with the ground in a nose low attitude and flipped inverted.

Examination of the airframe assembly failed to disclose a mechanical malfunction or component failure. Examination of the engine assembly disclosed that the fuel recovered in the carburetor bowl was brownish in color. The fuel grade and type was not determined. During the subsequent examination, necessary repairs were made to the engine assembly to facilitate a functional check. The engine operated normally up to 2000 rpm during the functional check. The engine ran smooth with no anomalies noted. The entire run was approximately ten minutes in duration. After the engine run-up, the oil sump was removed and inspected, and it was noted that there were pieces of metal found in the sump. The pieces of metal were identified as the oil control ring expander coil. A review of recovered weather data showed that weather conditions at the time of the accident were favorable for carburetor icing conditions.

Reportedly, the airplane had recently undergone a pre-purchase inspection. A review of the inspection findings showed that there were approximately 60 maintenance related write-ups which included water in fuel tanks. A review of the airplane and engine maintenance logs revealed that the engine had a total of 3,277 hours and 1,676.99 hours since the last major overhaul. The last annual inspection was completed on February 1, 2001 at 2463.2 airframe hours.

The pilot was hospitalized after the accident and was placed in intensive care. On May 26, 2001, the pilot passed as a result of the serious injuries sustained in the accident.

Aircraft

Registration
N21306
Reported as
Cessna 182 P
Category
Airplane
Serial number
182-61550
Airframe hours
2,463.6
Engine
Continental O-47012, 230 horsepower, reciprocating
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Personal · Part 91
Registered owner
James M. Hamrick
Airworthiness certificate
Standard, Normal
Last inspection
Annual · February 1, 2001 · 0.4 hours before
Departed
RYY · Kennesaw, GA
Airport
RYY · McCollum, runway 27, 5,300 × 100 ft, asphalt

Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

Role
Pilot
Age
37
Injuries
Serious
Certificate
Private
Airplane ratings
Single-engine land
Instrument ratings
Airplane
Medical
Class 3, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
Seat
Left
Flight hours
103 total · 33 in this make and model · 48 as pilot in command · 0 in the last 90 days · 0 in the last 30 days · 0 in the last 24 hours

Weather

Conditions
Visual (VMC) · Day
Wind
240° at 10 knots, gusting 14
Visibility
10 statute miles
Lowest ceiling
None
Temperature
72 °F, dew point 34 °F
Altimeter
30.06 inHg
Observed at
RYY

FAA reports on this event · 1

The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.