# NTSB CEN09CA253: Cessna 172N, N172SV, Roanoke, TX, May 8, 2009 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: May 8, 2009, 13:00 local (18:00 UTC) - Place: Roanoke, TX - Coordinates: 33.04972, -97.232223 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.0497&lon=-97.2322&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Initial climb: Loss of engine power (partial)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report November 9, 2009 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 73689 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN09CA253 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/73689/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=73689 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN09CA253 ## Probable cause The partial loss of engine power due to a failure of the throttle control rod-end to carburetor arm hardware. A contributing factor was the pilot's decision to fly the airplane without a current annual inspection. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Engine controls](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057600): Aircraft › Aircraft power plant · Failure (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172N, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057600/cases.md?model=2072434), [All aircraft, 51 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057600/cases.md) - [Info processing/decision: decision making/judgment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172N, 41 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md?model=2072434), [All aircraft, 3,098 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Initial climb: Loss of engine power (partial)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 172N, 23 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342/sequence.md?model=2072434), [All aircraft, 1,858 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342/sequence.md) - [Emergency descent: Loss of engine power (partial)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342); cases with it: [Cessna 172N, 23 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342/sequence.md?model=2072434), [All aircraft, 1,858 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Cessna 172N, 134 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=2072434), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Landing gear collapse](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094); cases with it: [Cessna 172N, 10 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md?model=2072434), [All aircraft, 1,787 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096); cases with it: [Cessna 172N, 44 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md?model=2072434), [All aircraft, 2,287 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md) ## Analysis During initial climb, the airplane's single engine experienced a partial loss of power. Unable to maintain altitude, the pilot performed an emergency landing to a field. During the landing rollout, the airplane impacted a rock and the nose landing gear collapsed, damaging the firewall. The airplane came to rest in a nose-down position and the pilot was able to exit unassisted. Following the accident, an examination of the airplane revealed that the throttle control rod-end to carburetor throttle arm hardware was missing. In addition, the airplane had not been inspected in accordance with an annual inspection during the previous year. ## Factual narrative During initial climb, the airplane's single engine experienced a partial loss of power. Unable to maintain altitude the pilot performed an emergency landing to a field. During the landing rollout, the airplane impacted a rock and the nose landing gear collapsed. The airplane came to rest in a nose down position and the pilot was able to exit unassisted. Following the accident, an examination of the airplane revealed that the firewall had sustained structural damage, and the throttle control rod-end to carburetor throttle arm hardware was missing. In addition, the airplane had not been inspected in accordance with an annual inspection during the previous year. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N172SV](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N172SV-2009-09-25), registration cancelled 2009-09-25, S/N 17273664 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 172N - Registry model: [Cessna 172N](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172n) (registry code 2072434) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 17273664 - Airframe hours: 11100 - Engines: Lycoming O-320-H2AD 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: 52F, Roanoke, TX - Destination: T67, Fort Worth, TX - Airport: 52F, Northwest Regional, runway 17, 3,500 × 40 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 46; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; last flight review November 13, 2008; seat: left; flight hours: 434 total, 295 in this make and model, 340 as pilot in command, 5 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 170° at 30 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 84 °F ## 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 20090508010289A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20090508010289A), May 8, 2009: Cessna 172N, Roanoke, TX, Substantial damage. (-23) The pilot departed to the south from Northwest Regional Airport with a 25 to 30 knot headwind. The pilot turned downwind intending to depart the area on… ## Docket (1 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 25, 2009, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=73689. 557 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 557 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40313923&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.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.