# NTSB CEN11LA069: Cessna 172R, N531HF, Farmersburg, IN, November 12, 2010

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: November 12, 2010, 15:15 local (20:15 UTC)
- Place: Farmersburg, IN
- Coordinates: 39.261665, -87.418052 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.2617&lon=-87.4181&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Maneuvering: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report October 17, 2011
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Central Region
- Parties: FAA-Indianapolis FSDO
- ADs cited in the narratives: [AD 2001-06-17](https://openairdocs.org/ad/2001-06-17) (OpenAirDocs)
- NTSB case key (mKey): 77802
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN11LA069
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/77802/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=77802
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN11LA069

## Probable cause

A total loss of engine power for undetermined reasons.

## Findings

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

- [Engine (reciprocating)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058500): Aircraft › Aircraft power plant · Not specified (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172R, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058500/cases.md?model=2072401), [All aircraft, 497 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058500/cases.md)
- [Not determined](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000): Not determined › Not determined · Unknown/Not determined (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172R, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md?model=2072401), [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.

- [Maneuvering: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 172R, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=2072401), [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md)
- [Emergency descent: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440); cases with it: [Cessna 172R, 8 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=2072401), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md)
- [Landing-landing roll: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096); cases with it: [Cessna 172R, 9 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md?model=2072401), [All aircraft, 2,287 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The accident occurred during a private pilot practical test. The flight test progressed normally and had included steep-turn and stall demonstrations prior to the loss of engine power. The pilot examiner reported that he initiated a simulated engine failure by reducing the throttle to idle. However, when he attempted to terminate the maneuver by applying full throttle, the engine only produced a short burst of partial power. The engine subsequently lost power completely. The flight crew's efforts to restore engine power were not successful. The examiner subsequently executed a forced landing to a soybean field. The airplane nosed over during the landing rollout and came to rest inverted. Postaccident examination and component testing did not reveal any anomalies consistent with the loss of engine power.

## Factual narrative

On November 12, 2010, about 1515 eastern standard time, a Cessna 172R, N531HF, piloted by a student pilot, was substantially damaged during a forced landing following an in-flight loss of engine power near Farmersburg, Indiana. The purpose of the flight was to conduct a private pilot practical test. The pilot and designated pilot examiner on-board were not injured. The airplane was registered to the Terre Haute International Airport Authority and operated by Terre Haute Air Center. The local flight was being conducted under 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 without a flight plan. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. The flight departed Terre Haute International Airport – Hulman Field (HUF), Terre Haute, Indiana, at 1430. The flight test progressed normally, and had included steep turn and stall demonstrations prior to the loss of engine power. The pilot examiner reported that he initiated a simulated engine failure beginning about 2,500 feet above ground level (agl) by reducing the throttle to idle. About 700 feet agl, the examiner attempted to terminate the maneuver by applying full throttle; however, the engine only produced a short burst of partial power. The engine subsequently lost power completely. The flight crew's efforts to restore engine power were not successful. The examiner subsequently executed a forced landing to a soybean field. The airplane nosed over during the landing rollout and came to rest inverted. A postaccident examination did not reveal any anomalies consistent with the loss of engine power. The fuel injector servo and fuel flow divider were sent to the manufacturer for bench testing under the direct supervision of the NTSB. No anomalies which would have contributed to a loss of engine power were observed. The airframe manufacturer had previously issued a service bulletin (SB01-11-02, dated March 5, 2001) in response to issues related to rough engine operation due to improper fuel flow settings, and to difficulties in restarting an engine in-flight. The Federal Aviation Administration in turn issued airworthiness directive (AD 2001-06-17, effective date April 20, 2001) to require inspection and adjustment, if necessary, of the engine idle speed and fuel control mixture setting. The AD also required operators to incorporate revisions to the Pilot's Operating Handbook and Pilot's Checklists that modified procedures to ensure the engine was idling correctly prior to flight. According to the airframe manufacturer, the inspection and adjustment requirements of the AD were incorporated into the maintenance manual in June 2001. The operator reported that the most recent inspection was completed in September 2010. The engine idle speed was checked and adjusted at that time in accordance with the maintenance manual provisions.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N531HF](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N531HF-2012-12-13), registration cancelled 2012-12-13, S/N 17280889, built 2000 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 172R
- Registry model: [Cessna 172R](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172r) (registry code 2072401) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming I0360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-i0360-series) (registry code 41515, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 17280889
- Airframe hours: 4449
- Engines: LYCOMING IO-360 SER 160 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Operator: Terre Haute Air Center
- Registered owner: Terre Haute International Airport Authority
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility; Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, September 23, 2010
- Departed: HUF, Terre Haute, IN
- Destination: HUF, Terre Haute, IN
- Airport: HUF, Terre Haute Intl-Hulman Field

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 20; injuries: none; student; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; last flight review September 18, 2010; seat: left; flight hours: 77 total, 69 in this make and model, 10 as pilot in command, 21 in the last 90 days, 11 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours
- Check pilot; age 71; injuries: none; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine sea, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; seat: right; flight hours: 15,583 total, 5,550 in this make and model, 15,230 as pilot in command, 117 in the last 90 days, 55 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 5° at 170 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 72 °F, dew point 34 °F
- Altimeter: 30.22 inHg
- Observed at: HUF

## 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 20101112052159A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20101112052159A), Nov 12, 2010: Cessna 172R, Farmersburg, IN, Substantial damage. The second pilot was conducting an examination of the first pilot to receive a private pilot certificate. After coming out of a simulated emergency landing at…

## Docket (8 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on September 16, 2011, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=77802. 1.4 MB in all.

- Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 937 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40352139&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF
- Pilot Statement (item 2, .PDF, 142 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40352154&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%20Statement-Redacted.PDF
- Designated Examiner Statement (item 3, .PDF, 83 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40352155&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Designated%20Examiner%20Statement-Redacted.PDF
- Fuel Servo Test Record (item 4, .PDF, 40 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40353629&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Fuel%20Servo%20Test%20Record-Master.PDF
- Conversation Record -- FAA Inspector (item 5, .PDF, 47 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40353784&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Conversation%20Record%20--%20FAA%20Inspector-Master.PDF
- Conversation Record -- Cessna Aircraft (item 6, .PDF, 46 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40353785&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Conversation%20Record%20--%20Cessna%20Aircraft-Master.PDF
- FAA Airworthiness Directive -- 2001-06-17 (item 7, .PDF, 38 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40353787&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=FAA%20Airworthiness%20Directive%20--%202001-06-17-Master.PDF
- FAA Special Airworthiness Information Bulletin -- CE-02-20 (item 8, .PDF, 27 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40353788&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=FAA%20Special%20Airworthiness%20Information%20Bulletin%20--%20CE-02-20-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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