# NTSB CEN10CA267: Cessna R172E, N7871N, Alamogordo, NM, March 22, 2010

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: March 22, 2010, 12:00 local (18:00 UTC)
- Place: Alamogordo, NM
- Coordinates: 32.851665, -106.108329 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.8517&lon=-106.1083&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Unknown](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/990) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Unknown: Unknown or undetermined](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/000)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Status: Completed, report July 1, 2010
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Central Region
- NTSB case key (mKey): 76109
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN10CA267
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/76109/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=76109
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN10CA267

## Probable cause

An unknown event that resulted in damage to the airplane's firewall.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Not determined](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000): Not determined › Not determined · Unknown/Not determined (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna R172E, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md?model=2072413), [All aircraft, 2,247 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Unknown: Unknown or undetermined](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/000) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna R172E, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/000/sequence.md?model=2072413), [All aircraft, 1,703 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/000/sequence.md)

## Analysis

Damage to the airplane's firewall was discovered during a 100-hour inspection. The airplane belongs to an aero club and was rented by several pilots prior to the damage being discovered; consequently, the operator could not determine when the airplane was damaged.

## Factual narrative

Damage to the airplane's firewall was discovered during a 100-hour inspection. The airplane belongs to an aero club and was rented by several pilots prior to the damage being discovered; consequently, the operator could not determine when the airplane was damaged.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N7871N](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N7871N-2017-10-06), registration cancelled 2017-10-06, S/N R172-0262, built 1967 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA R172E
- Registry model: [Cessna R172E](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-r172e) (registry code 2072413) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental IO-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-io-360-series) (registry code 17025, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: R172-0262
- Airframe hours: 15500
- Engines: CONT MOTOR IO-360 SER 300 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: United States Air Force-Owner
- Registered owner: United States Air Force-Owner
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility; Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, March 22, 2010, 0 hours before
- Departed: HMN, Alamogordo, NM
- Destination: HMN, Alamogordo, NM
- Flight plan: Unknown
- Airport: HMN, Holloman Air Force Base, runway 22

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 0; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3; flight hours: 0 total, 0 in this make and model

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day

## 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 20100322033629A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20100322033629A), Mar 22, 2010: Cessna T41, Alamagordo, NM, Substantial damage. On March 22, 2010 a Cessna R172E (T-41C), N7871N registered to the united states air force (Holloman afb aero club) during routine maintenance was found to…

## Docket (1 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 3, 2010, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=76109. 18 KB in all.

- Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1: Not requested (item 1, .PDF, 18 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40330722&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1%3A%20Not%20requested-Master.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.

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