# NTSB ATL93LA109: Cessna 170, N1619D, Mooresville, NC, June 12, 1993 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: June 12, 1993, 10:20 local (14:20 UTC) - Place: Mooresville, NC - Coordinates: 35.569046, -80.809349 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.5690&lon=-80.8093&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 3 uninjured - Status: Completed, report December 2, 1994 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 3226 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL93LA109 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/3226/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL93LA109 ## Probable cause POOR MAINTENANCE PRACTICES DURING THE REBUILDING OF THE AIRCRAFT WHICH ALLOWED THE FUEL SYSTEM TO BECOME CONTAMINATED AND RESULTED IN THE SUBSEQUENT FUEL STARVATION OF THE ENGINE. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, takeoff - initial climb - fuel system,line - blocked(total) (cause) - fuel system,line - contamination (cause) - fluid,fuel - starvation (cause) - maintenance,rebuild/remanufacture - poor, other maintenance personnel (cause) - Forced landing, descent - emergency - In flight collision with object, maneuvering - object - tree(s) ## Analysis ACCORDING TO THE PILOT, HE FLEW SEVERAL MINUTES AROUND THE LOCAL AREA AND RETURNED TO LAKE NORMAN AIRPORT FOR A FULL STOP LANDING. WHILE ON FINAL APPROACH, THE PILOT EXPERIENCED A REDUCTION IN ENGINE POWER. THE PILOT ELECTED TO CLIMB OUT FOR ANOTHER APPROACH. DURING THE CLIMB, THE ENGINE CONTINUED TO LOSE POWER, AND THE PILOT'S EFFORTS TO RESTORE FULL POWER FAILED; THE AIRPLANE COLLIDED WITH TREES AS THE PILOT MANEUVERED FOR AN EMERGENCY LANDING. THE FUEL SYSTEM EXAMINATION REVEALED 'HAIR LIKE' MATERIALS, AND 'SAND LIKE' DEBRIS BETWEEN THE FUEL SELECTOR VALVE AND THE GASCOLATOR WHICH RESTRICTED FUEL FLOW. AFTER THE DEBRIS WAS REMOVED, FUEL FLOWED TO THE ENGINE. ACCORDING TO THE PILOT, ONE OF THE PREVIOUS OWNERS LEFT THE FUEL SYSTEM OPEN FOR AN EXTENDED TIME DURING REBUILDING OF THE AIRPLANE. ## Factual narrative On June 6, 1993, at 1020 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 170, N1619D, collided with trees during a climbout from Lake Norman Airport near Mooresville, North Carolina. The personal flight operated under 14 CFR Part 91 without a flight plan filed. Visual weather conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The airplane sustained substantial damage and the airplane's occupants were not injured. The flight initially departed Mooresville, at 1000 hours. According to the pilot, he flew several minutes around the local area and returned to Lake Norman Airport. While on final approach for a full stop landing, the pilot experienced a reduction in engine power. At this point, about 100 feet above the ground, the pilot elected to go around. During the attempted climbout, the engine continued to lose power, and attempts by the pilot to restore full engine power failed. The airplane descended into a terrain depression off the departure end of runway 14, and collided with trees. During the fuel system examination, hair like and sandy materials were discovered in the fuel selector assembly between the fuel selector valve and the gascolator. The examination discovered that the fuel flow was restricted to the engine. Removal of the debris from the fuel lines resulted in the unrestricted flow of fuel the the engine. According to the pilot, the airplane was rebuilt before he purchased it, and reportedly, the fuel system was open for an extended period of time before the completion of the rebuild process. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N1619D](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N1619D), registered now, S/N 20261, built 1951 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 170 - Registry model: [Cessna 170A](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-170a) (registry code 2072304) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental C145 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-c145-series) (registry code 17012, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 20261 - Airframe hours: 2196 - Engines: CONTINENTAL C-145-2 145 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Sandoval, Reginald - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, January 10, 1993, 68 hours before - Airport: 14A, Lake Norman, runway 14, 3,000 × 40 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 47; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 148 total, 138 in this make and model, 51 in the last 90 days, 5 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 20° at 7 knots - Visibility: 7 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 25,000 ft overcast - Temperature: 79 °F, dew point 68 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: CLT, 25 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 19930612017969A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19930612017969A), Jun 12, 1993: Cessna 170, Mooresville, NC, Substantial damage. Lost rpms on final. Elected to go around. Engine quit on climbout. Hit trees. Hain and sand restricted fuel flow. ## Other investigations on N1619D (2) 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 MIA77DKJ15](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA77DKJ15), Feb 5, 1977: Cessna 170 (N1619D), Gadsden, AL, substantial damage - [NTSB MIA74DKJ15](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA74DKJ15), Aug 19, 1973: Cessna 170A (N1619D), Gadsden, AL, substantial damage 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.