# NTSB CEN17LA153: Cessna 152, N95551, La Porte, TX, April 12, 2017 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: April 12, 2017, 11:15 local (16:15 UTC) - Place: La Porte, TX - Coordinates: 29.669721, -95.068054 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.6697&lon=-95.0681&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Approach-VFR pattern final: Fuel contamination](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/193) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report June 14, 2017 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 94996 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN17LA153 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/94996/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=94996 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN17LA153 ## Probable cause A total loss of engine power due to fuel contamination, which resulted from the pilot’s inadequate preflight inspection that did not detect water contamination. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Fluids: fuel](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010): Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware · Fluid condition (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 152, 26 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md?model=2071835), [All aircraft, 1,695 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md) - [Inspection: preflight inspection](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061510): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 152, 14 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061510/cases.md?model=2071835), [All aircraft, 551 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061510/cases.md) - [Terrain](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021000): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome; cases with it: [Cessna 152, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021000/cases.md?model=2071835), [All aircraft, 267 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021000/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Approach-VFR pattern final: Fuel contamination](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/193) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 152, 11 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/193/sequence.md?model=2071835), [All aircraft, 225 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/193/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096); cases with it: [Cessna 152, 37 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md?model=2071835), [All aircraft, 2,287 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md) ## Analysis The commercial pilot was conducting a postmaintenance test flight. He reported that no evidence of water was found in samples from the main fuel tanks during the preflight inspection. He added that, during approach to the runway, the engine lost power. He attempted to restore power but was unsuccessful. There was no remaining runway in front of him, so he turned the airplane to avoid a ditch and landed on the soft ground. The airplane nosed over, which resulted in substantial damage to the empennage and firewall. During postaccident examination of the airplane, water was found in the fuel lines, engine fuel bowl, and carburetor. An examination of the engine and fuel systems revealed no mechanical anomalies that would have precluded normal operation. It is likely that the loss of engine power resulted from water contamination of the fuel system. ## Factual narrative On April 12, 2017, about 1115 central daylight time, a Cessna 152 airplane, N95551, was substantially damaged when it nosed over following a forced landing at the La Porte Municipal Airport (T41), La Porte, Texas. The commercial pilot was not injured. The post-maintenance test flight was conducted under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 without a flight plan. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. The local flight departed about 1150. According to the written statement submitted by the pilot, during a low approach to the runway, "there was a noticeable lag in the response of the engine " and the engine lost power. The pilot attempted to restore power but was unsuccessful. There was no remaining runway so the pilot turned the airplane to avoid a ditch. During the landing the airplane encountered soft ground and the nose wheel dug into the ground. The airplane nosed over resulting in substantial damage to the empennage and firewall. The airframe and engine examination revealed water contamination in the engine's fuel lines, fuel bowl, and carburetor. No water contamination was noted in either of the fuel tanks. An examination of the engine and fuel system revealed no mechanical anomalies that would have precluded normal operations. The pilot wrote that the preflight inspection did not show any evidence of water when samples from the main fuel tanks were taken. During the preflight run-up the engine ran without hesitation or sputtering. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N95551](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N95551), registered now, S/N 15285919, built 1984 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 152 - Registry model: [Cessna 152](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-152) (registry code 2071835) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-235 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-235-series) (registry code 41505, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 15285919 - Year built: 1984 - Airframe hours: 9167.9 - Engines: Lycoming O-235-N2C 115 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Flight test, Part 91 - Operator: Harvey & Rihn Aviation - Registered owner: Larry D. Dollens - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility - Last inspection: 100 hour, May 20, 2016 - Departed: T41, La Porte, TX - Destination: T41, La Porte, TX - Airport: T41, La Porte Municipal Airport, runway 23, 2,998 × 75 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Stall warning system ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 45; injuries: none; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; last flight review November 18, 2015; seat: right; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 2,561 total, 173.8 in this make and model, 2,480 as pilot in command, 137.3 in the last 90 days, 57.2 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 70° at 9 knots - Visibility: 7 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 1,100 ft overcast - Temperature: 73 °F, dew point 68 °F - Altimeter: 30.20 inHg - Observed at: KEFD, 6 nm away ## 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 20170412002299A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20170412002299A), Apr 12, 2017: Cessna 152, La Porte, TX, Substantial damage. N95551 was on a test flight after maintenance. The pilot descended rapidly trying to do a ?high energy? Pass down the runway trying to reproduce a problem the… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on April 20, 2017, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=94996. 8.2 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 598 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40453770&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - FAA Inspector Statement (item 2, .PDF, 11 photos, 7.5 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40451336&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=FAA%20Inspector%20Statement-Master.PDF - Pilot's Written Statement - Preflight Inspection (item 3, .PDF, 108 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40451337&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%27s%20Written%20Statement%20-%20Preflight%20Inspection-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.