# NTSB ATL02LA015: Cessna 188B, N4784R, Whiteville, TN, October 17, 2001 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: October 17, 2001, 11:10 local (16:10 UTC) - Place: Whiteville, TN - Coordinates: 35.319862, -89.14067 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.3199&lon=-89.1407&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report June 3, 2002 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA - Memphis FSDO-25 - NTSB case key (mKey): 53778 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL02LA015 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/53778/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL02LA015 ## Probable cause The failure of the engine driven fuel pump that contaminated the fuel system and restricted fuel flow to the engine.. A factor is rough/uneven terrain. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power, maneuvering - aerial application - fuel system,pump - failure (cause) - fluid,fuel - starvation (cause) - fuel system - contamination (cause) - Forced landing, emergency descent/landing - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, emergency landing - terrain condition - berm (contributing factor) ## Analysis According to the pilot, while conducting a routine aerial application swath run, the airplane's engine lost power and collided with a berm during an emergency landing. Examination of the engine assembly disclosed that the engine driven fuel pump failed as the pilot maneuvered a swath run. The examination also discovered metal debris in the fuel screen assembly that restricted fuel flow. When the debris was removed, fuel flow returned to normal. ## Factual narrative On October 17, 2001, at 1110 central daylight time, a Cessna 188B, N4784R, registered to a private owner and operated by the commercial pilot, collided with a berm during an emergency landing following a loss of engine power near Whiteville, Tennessee. The aerial application flight was operated under the provisions of Title 14 CFR Part 137 with no flight plan filed. Visual weather conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The pilot was not injured, and the airplane received substantial damage. The flight departed William L. Whitehurst Field in Bolivar, Tennessee, at 0930. According to the pilot, while conducting a spray run across a cotton field, the engine lost power. He pulled up to clear the trees and tried to restart the engine. He stated that the prop was windmilling, and he had approximately six to eight seconds to attempt the restart before the emergency landing. The pilot landed in an open field north of where he was making his spray run. The airplane touched down and collided with a four-foot terrace in a small washout area. The airplane turned sideways and slid to a stop. When the airplane collided into the washout area, the tail section separated from the airframe. During the post-accident examination of the airplane, metal debris was recovered from the fuel screen assembly. Further examination of the fuel screen revealed partial blockage and fuel flow restriction. After the screen was cleaned, fuel flow returned to normal. An auxiliary pump was used to check the fuel flow; the engine-driven fuel pump had malfunctioned. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N4784R](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4784R-2006-02-13), registration cancelled 2006-02-13, S/N 18802320T, built 1975 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 188B - Registry model: [Cessna A188B](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-a188b) (registry code 2073005) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental IO-520 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-io-520-series) (registry code 17032, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 18802320T - Airframe hours: 5636 - Engines: Continental I0520D 300 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Aerial application, Part 137 - Registered owner: William G. Roberts - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, May 25, 2001, 20 hours before - Departed: MO8, Bolivar, TN - Destination: M08, Whiteville, TN - Airport: MO8, Bolivar, Hardiman Co ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 52; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine sea, single-engine land; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: center; flight hours: 7,400 total, 2,500 in this make and model, 7,340 as pilot in command, 145 in the last 90 days, 75 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 54 °F, dew point 34 °F - Altimeter: 30.43 inHg - Observed at: MEM, 47 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 20011017034539A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20011017034539A), Oct 17, 2001: Cessna A188B, Bolivar, TN, No damage. (-23) Inspector's statement: on October 18, 2001 inspector alex hanners and myself investigated a crash involving N4784R operated by william g. roberts. Mr.… 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.