# NTSB CEN10CA325: Cessna 172, N52519, Traverse City, MI, June 15, 2010

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: June 15, 2010, 10:00 local (14:00 UTC)
- Place: Traverse City, MI
- Coordinates: 44.74139, -85.582221
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=44.7414&lon=-85.5822&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 October 21, 2010
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Central Region
- Parties: Federal Aviation Administration
- NTSB case key (mKey): 76349
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN10CA325
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/76349/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=76349
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN10CA325

## Probable cause

Damage to the firewall for undetermined reasons.

## 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 172S, 25 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md?model=2072439), [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 172S, 12 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/000/sequence.md?model=2072439), [All aircraft, 1,703 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/000/sequence.md)

## Analysis

During a scheduled 50/100 hour inspection by the operator, the engine firewall was discovered to be bent and wrinkled when the engine cowl was removed. Following the discovery, the operator performed a hard landing inspection of the airplane. The operator stated that a hard landing was not reported by any of its students or flight instructors.

## Factual narrative

During a scheduled 50/100 hour inspection by the operator, the engine firewall was discovered to be bent and wrinkled when the engine cowl was removed. Following the discovery, the operator performed a hard landing inspection of the airplane. The operator stated that a hard landing was not reported by any of its students or flight instructors.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N52519](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N52519), registered now, S/N 172S10903, built 2009 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 172 (S)
- Registry model: [Cessna 172S](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172s) (registry code 2072439) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming IO-360-L2A](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-360-l2a) (registry code 41597, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 10903
- Airframe hours: 450
- Engines: Lycoming IO-360-L2A 180 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Operator: Northwestern Michigan College
- Registered owner: Northwestern Michigan College
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility; Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, April 27, 2010
- Departed: Traverse City, MI
- Destination: Unknown, MI
- Flight plan: Unknown
- Airport: TVC, Cherry Capital Airport

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; medical: unknown; flight hours: 0 total, 0 in this make and model

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Not reported

## Docket (1 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on July 21, 2010, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=76349. 562 KB in all.

- Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 562 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40333148&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-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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