# NTSB CEN10LA282: Cessna 172, N2723U, Las Cruces, NM, May 30, 2010 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: May 30, 2010, 15:00 local (20:00 UTC) - Place: Las Cruces, NM - Coordinates: 32.286945, -106.919723 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.2869&lon=-106.9197&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Initial climb: Fuel contamination](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/193) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious, 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report October 21, 2010 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA Flight Standards District Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 76180 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN10LA282 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/76180/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=76180 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN10LA282 ## Probable cause A loss of engine power due to fuel starvation as a result of water contamination in the fuel, and the pilot's inadequate preflight inspection. Contributing the accident was an inoperative number 5 cylinder exhaust valve. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Fluids: water](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071030): Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware · Inadequate inspection (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172D, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071030/cases.md?model=2072410), [All aircraft, 13 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071030/cases.md) - [Inspection: preflight inspection](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061510): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172D, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061510/cases.md?model=2072410), [All aircraft, 551 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061510/cases.md) - [Power plant](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057100): Aircraft › Aircraft power plant · Inoperative (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172D, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057100/cases.md?model=2072410), [All aircraft, 198 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057100/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Initial climb: Fuel contamination](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/193) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 172D, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/193/sequence.md?model=2072410), [All aircraft, 225 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/193/sequence.md) - [Emergency descent: Controlled flight into terr/obj (CFIT)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/120); cases with it: [Cessna 172D, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/120/sequence.md?model=2072410), [All aircraft, 1,074 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/120/sequence.md) ## Analysis The engine lost partial power shortly after takeoff. During the forced landing, the airplane went through a chain link fence before coming to rest against a sand berm and mesquite tree. There were other documented reports of partial power failures involving this airplane. The engine was partially disassembled and examined. The number 5 cylinder exhaust valve was found to be stuck open. A clear, unidentified liquid was found in the fuel line. A significant amount of water was drained from the fuel system, mostly from the left tank. It was reported that the airplane had sat outside during the winter in several rain storms. Maintenance personnel reported a considerable amount of water was drained from the right fuel tank during the most recent annual inspection. ## Factual narrative On May 30, 2010, approximately 1500 mountain daylight time, a Cessna 172D, N2723U, registered to and operated by Adventure Leasing, was substantially damaged when it struck a chain link fence and impacted terrain following a partial loss of power shortly after taking off from Las Cruces International Airport (LRU), Las Cruces, New Mexico. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The personal flight was being conducted under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 91 without a flight plan. The pilot was seriously injured and two passengers were uninjured. The local flight had just originated. According to the pilot’s accident report, the pre-flight inspection, engine run-up, and takeoff were normal. At 450 feet altitude, the engine lost partial power. The pilot attempted to land in an area that had recently been used as a staging area for runway construction. The airplane touched down and went through a chain link fence before coming to rest against a sand berm and mesquite tree. FAA inspectors examined the airplane on June 1, 2010, and the airplane was moved to a local hangar and secured. Throttle and the mixture controls were both full forward, and the flaps and flap handle were in the up position. There was very little water or contamination in fuel samples taken. This was the flight of the airplane since its annual inspection. FAA inspectors received other reports of other partial power failures involving N2723U. Some of these failures were attributed to water in the fuel and others were unexplained. A review of the airplane’s maintenance records and pertinent Airworthiness Directives revealed anomalies with the airplane carburetor. The carburetor was retained by FAA . On June 28, 2010, the engine was partially disassembled and examined. The top spark plugs showed signs of a rich mixture setting, and the pilot confirmed that he had moved the mixture to rich while troubleshooting the engine power loss. The number 5 cylinder exhaust valve was found to be stuck open. A clear, unidentified liquid was found in the fuel line. A significant amount of water was drained from the fuel system, mostly from the left tank. It was reported that the airplane had sat outside during the winter in several rain storms. Maintenance personnel reported a considerable amount of water was drained from the right fuel tank during the most recent annual inspection. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N2723U](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N2723U-2012-03-14), registration cancelled 2012-03-14, S/N 17250323, built 1963 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 172 (D) - Registry model: [Cessna 172D](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172d) (registry code 2072410) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental 0-300 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-0-300-series) (registry code 17022, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 17250323 - Engines: Continental O-300-D 145 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Adventure Leasing - Registered owner: Adventure Leasing - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: LRU, Las Cruces, NM - Destination: LRU, Las Cruces, NM - Airport: LRU, Las Cruces International, runway 08, 6,069 × 100 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; injuries: serious; airline transport; seat: left ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 250° at 13 knots, gusting 19 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Altimeter: 29.98 inHg - Observed at: LRU ## 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 20100530035459A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20100530035459A), May 30, 2010: Cessna 172D, Las Cruces, NM, Destroyed. At 1500 MDT on may 30, 2010, N2723U, a Cessna 172, crashed on airport property at the Las Cruces, NM airport. The aircraft had departed on a local sight seeing… ## Other investigations on N2723U (1) 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 UNK64X2929](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/UNK64X2929), Jul 19, 1964: Cessna 172D (N2723U), Washington, IN, substantial damage ## Docket (8 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on July 14, 2010, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=76180. 9.6 MB in all. - NTSB Form 6120.1-2, Pilot-Operator Aircraft Accident Report (item 1, .PDF, 161 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40332121&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=NTSB%20Form%206120.1-2,%20Pilot-Operator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report-Redacted.PDF - Passenger Meloan's Statement (item 2, .PDF, 3.7 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40332151&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Passenger%20Meloan%27s%20Statement-Redacted.PDF - Passenger Hoppe's Statement (item 3, .PDF, 4.7 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40332154&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Passenger%20Hoppe%27s%20Statement-Redacted.PDF - Record of Investigation (item 4, .PDF, 12 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40332274&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Investigation-Master.PDF - Event Log (item 5, .PDF, 86 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40332275&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Event%20Log-Redacted.PDF - Weather Reports and Records (item 6, .PDF, 19 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40332155&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Weather%20Reports%20and%20Records-Master.PDF - Photo 1. Chain link fence that was struck by N2723U. (item 7, .PDF, 544 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40332471&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201.%20Chain%20link%20fence%20that%20was%20struck%20by%20N2723U.-Master.PDF - Photo 2. Wreckage of N2723U. (item 8, .PDF, 374 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40332472&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%202.%20Wreckage%20of%20N2723U.-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. --- 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.