# NTSB CEN13CA246: Cessna 172N, N737FK, New Orleans, LA, April 28, 2013

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: April 28, 2013, 14:58 local (19:58 UTC)
- Place: New Orleans, LA
- Coordinates: 30.03861, -90.023612 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.0386&lon=-90.0236&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report July 29, 2013
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Central Region
- Parties: FAA Baton Rouge FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 86773
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN13CA246
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/86773/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=86773
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN13CA246

## Probable cause

The pilot's failure to perform a steep climb before going around following a low pass for a banner tow pickup.

## Findings

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

- [Performance/control parameters: climb rate](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062035): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Incorrect use/operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172N, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062035/cases.md?model=2072434), [All aircraft, 265 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062035/cases.md)
- [Action: incorrect action performance](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172N, 29 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015/cases.md?model=2072434), [All aircraft, 1,386 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

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

- [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Miscellaneous/other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900); cases with it: [Cessna 172N, 15 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900/sequence.md?model=2072434), [All aircraft, 1,556 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900/sequence.md)
- [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 172N, 45 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=2072434), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md)
- [Uncontrolled descent: 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)

## Analysis

The pilot reported that on his first low-pass attempt, he had missed picking up an advertising banner with the airplane’s grapple hook assembly. On the second pass, he thought he had again missed the aerial pickup towline, so he made a shallow climb. A steep climb is required when a banner is picked up to quickly lift the banner off the ground. The pilot was unaware that during the airplane’s second pass, the nose gear had inadvertently snagged the forward end of the 300-foot-long towline. The banner could not be jettisoned, and it was dragged on the ground during the shallow climb, creating additional drag on the airplane. The pilot reported an abrupt downward pull on the nose of the airplane, which caused him to lose control. The airplane impacted terrain about 1,000 feet south of the pickup location. The impact resulted in substantial damage to the lower fuselage, the engine mount, and the forward firewall. The pilot also reported that there was no preimpact mechanical malfunction or failure that would have precluded normal operation.

## Factual narrative

The pilot reported that on his first low pass attempt he had missed picking up an advertising banner with the airplane’s grapple hook assembly. On the second pass he thought he had again missed the aerial pickup towline and he made a shallow climb out instead of the steep climb required when the banner is picked up. The pilot was then unaware that during the airplane’s second pass the nose gear had inadvertently snagged the forward end of the 300 foot long towline. The banner could not be jettisoned and it was dragged on the ground during the shallow climb out. The pilot reported an abrupt downward pull on the nose of the airplane, which caused him to lose control. The airplane impacted terrain about 1,000 feet south of the pickup location. The impact resulted in substantial damage to the lower fuselage, the engine mount and forward firewall. The pilot also reported that there was no preimpact mechanical malfunction or failure.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N737FK](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N737FK-2018-02-08), registration cancelled 2018-02-08, S/N 17269383, built 1977 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 172N
- Registry model: [Cessna 172N](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172n) (registry code 2072434) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 17269383
- Airframe hours: 2733
- Engines: LYCOMING 0-320 SERIES 180 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Banner tow, Part 91
- Operator: Air Reldan Inc, doing business as Air Reldan Inc
- Registered owner: Air Reldan Inc
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Unknown, March 11, 2013, 25 hours before
- Departed: NEW, New Orleans, LA
- Destination: NEW, New Orleans, LA
- Airport: NEW, Lakefront Airport, runway 18L, 3,697 × 75 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 50; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; last flight review October 29, 2012; seat: left; flight hours: 797 total, 30 in this make and model, 669 as pilot in command, 68 in the last 90 days, 17 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 350° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 6,000 ft broken
- Temperature: 73 °F, dew point 66 °F
- Altimeter: 29.98 inHg
- Observed at: KNEW

## 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 20130428006699A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20130428006699A), Apr 28, 2013: Cessna 172N, New Orleans, LA, Substantial damage. While picking up a banner the pilot snagged the tow rope used to pick up the banner on the aircraft nose gear which dragged the aircraft down towards the…

## Docket (1 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on May 30, 2013, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=86773. 3.3 MB in all.

- Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 3.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40392630&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.