ATL07LA012

NTSB accident investigation · Cessna A188B · New Bern, NC · October 21, 2006

Accident · Minor injuriesLimited investigationFinal report
Date
October 21, 2006, 16:05 local (20:05 UTC)
Place
New Bern, NC
Injuries
1 minor
Damage
Substantial damage
Phase of flight
Initial climb
Aircraft
N9176RCessna A188B
Weather
Visual (VMC) · Day
Status
Completed · report December 20, 2007
Report
Approved by Office Director
Parties
Greensboro FSDO
FAA report
20061021023829A
Case key
64765

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

Loss of engine power for undetermined reasons and the pilot's continued operation of the airplane with known deficiencies with the engine, which resulted in a forced landing and in-flight collision with the ground.

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 powerTakeoff - initial climb
Operation with known deficiencies in equipment - continuedPilot in commandCause
Reason for occurrence undetermined
Forced landingEmergency landing after takeoff
In flight collision with terrain/waterEmergency landing after takeoff
Terrain condition - ground

Analysis

According to the pilot, during the takeoff climb at about 100 to 150 feet above ground level the engine shut down. He rolled the airplane level, pushed the nose over, and attempted a landing in a turf field. The airplane struck the ground substantially damaging the airplane. The pilot egressed the airplane with assistance from witnesses. Examination of the airplane by an FAA Inspector found the landing gear, spray equipment, and the right wing separated from the airframe. Fuel was observed in both fuel tanks. Examination of the engine found the propeller separated from the engine crankshaft and the engine was seized due to impact damage. The engine was rotated 90-degrees within the engine mounts. Both magnetos and the fuel manifold were observed impact damaged. Oil was observed on the oil dipstick when it was removed. According to witnesses on the ground the engine was not running smoothly from the time of taxi through the takeoff and subsequent engine shut-down. The FAA Inspector further stated that the aircraft operator did not hold an FAA 14 CFR Part 137 Aerial Application Certificate at the time of the accident, as required by FAA regulation.

Factual narrative

On October 21, 2006, at 1605 eastern daylight time, a Cessna A188B, N9176R, registered to a private owner, operating as a aerial application flight, collided with the ground during following loss of engine power shortly after takeoff from a field in New Bern, North Carolina. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. The airplane sustained substantial damage, and the airline transport-rated pilot received minor injuries. The flight was originating at the time of the accident,

According to the pilot, during the takeoff climb at about 100 to 150 feet above ground level the engine shut down. He rolled the airplane level, pushed the nose over, and attempted a landing in a turf field. The airplane struck the ground substantially damaging the airplane. The pilot egressed the airplane with assistance from witnesses.

Examination of the airplane by an FAA Inspector found the landing gear, spray equipment, and the right wing separated from the airframe. Fuel was observed in both fuel tanks. Examination of the engine found the propeller separated from the engine crankshaft and the engine was seized due to impact damage. The engine was rotated 90-degrees within the engine mounts. Both magnetos and the fuel manifold were observed impact damaged. Oil was observed on the oil dipstick when it was removed. According to witnesses on the ground the engine was not running smoothly from the time of taxi through the takeoff and subsequent engine shut-down. The FAA Inspector further stated that the aircraft operator did not hold an FAA 14 CFR Part 137 Aerial Application Certificate at the time of the accident, as required by FAA regulation.

Aircraft

Registration
N9176R
Reported as
Cessna A188B
Category
Airplane
Serial number
18802140T
Airframe hours
6,184.97
Engine
Continental IO-570D, 300 horsepower, reciprocating
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Aerial application · Part 137
Operator
William James Brinkley, doing business as Western Carolina AgAir
Registered owner
Joseph L. Lawrence
Airworthiness certificate
Special, Restricted (Special)
Last inspection
Annual · June 1, 2001 · 214 hours before
Departed
PVT · New Bern, NC

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
38
Injuries
Minor
Certificate
Airline transport
Airplane ratings
Single-engine land, Multi-engine land
Instrument ratings
Airplane
Medical
Class 2, With waivers/limitations
Last flight review
January 1, 2006
Seat
Center
Flight hours
4,945 total · 3,000 in this make and model · 4,859 as pilot in command · 250 in the last 90 days · 145 in the last 30 days · 5 in the last 24 hours

Weather

Conditions
Visual (VMC) · Day
Wind
50° at 5 knots
Visibility
10 statute miles
Lowest ceiling
None
Temperature
61 °F, dew point 37 °F
Altimeter
30.05 inHg
Observed at
GSO

Docket · 1

The files NTSB released with the investigation on November 28, 2007, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 631 KB in all.

FAA reports on this event · 1

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

Other investigations on N9176R · 1

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