# NTSB CEN18LA352: Cessna 172, N4379L, Rushville, IN, August 27, 2018 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: August 27, 2018, 13:50 local (17:50 UTC) - Place: Rushville, IN - Coordinates: 39.674999, -85.322219 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.6750&lon=-85.3222&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Enroute: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 2 minor - Status: Completed, report September 14, 2020 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA Indianapolis FSDO, Continental Motors - SAIBs cited in the narratives: [SAIB CE-09-35](https://openairdocs.org/saib/CE-09-35) (OpenAirDocs) - NTSB case key (mKey): 98166 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN18LA352 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/98166/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=98166 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN18LA352 ## Probable cause Loss of engine power due to carburetor icing and the pilot's failure to use carburetor heat in weather conditions conducive to carburetor icing. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Action: lack of action](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041030): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172G, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041030/cases.md?model=2072420), [All aircraft, 792 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041030/cases.md) - [Info processing/decision: identification/recognition](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041510): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172G, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041510/cases.md?model=2072420), [All aircraft, 559 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041510/cases.md) - [Ice/rain protection system: intake anti-ice, deice](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023020): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Not used/operated (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172G, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023020/cases.md?model=2072420), [All aircraft, 108 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023020/cases.md) - [Temp/humidity/pressure: conducive to carburetor icing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03031030): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on equipment (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172G, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03031030/cases.md?model=2072420), [All aircraft, 435 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03031030/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Enroute: Other weather encounter](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400); cases with it: [Cessna 172G, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400/sequence.md?model=2072420), [All aircraft, 1,127 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400/sequence.md) - [Enroute: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 172G, 10 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=2072420), [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md) - [Enroute: Attempted remediation/recovery](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060); cases with it: [Cessna 172G, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md?model=2072420), [All aircraft, 1,422 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md) - [Enroute: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440); cases with it: [Cessna 172G, 12 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=2072420), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md) - [Landing: Collision during takeoff/land](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490); cases with it: [Cessna 172G, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490/sequence.md?model=2072420), [All aircraft, 1,309 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot indicated that, during the cross-country flight, the engine "sputtered" several times then regained power. During the descent, it sputtered again and then lost power. The pilot reported she did not believe she was experiencing carburetor icing conditions during the cruise portion of the flight and did not remember what temperature the carburetor temperature gauge was displaying at the time. During the descent, the pilot attempted to troubleshoot the engine power loss without applying carburetor heat but was not successful in regaining engine power. During the forced landing, she attempted to maneuver the airplane between a power line pole and several trees. The airplane struck the power lines and impacted a field in a slightly nose-down attitude, which resulted in substantial damage to the wings and fuselage. Postaccident examination of the airplane and engine revealed no mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. The airplane had adequate fuel on board to complete the flight. The weather conditions at the time of the accident were conducive to serious carburetor icing at glide power settings. The loss of engine power likely occurred due to carburetor icing and the pilot's failure to apply carburetor heat in conditions conducive to carburetor icing. ## Factual narrative On August 27, 2018, about 1350 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 172G , N4379L, sustained substantial damage when it was involved in an accident near Rushville, Indiana. The private pilot and the passenger sustained minor injuries. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight.The pilot reported that the purpose of the flight was to fly cross-country to visit family members. She landed at the Greater Portsmouth Regional Airport (PMH), Portsmouth, Ohio, and topped off both fuel tanks. She then departed about 1145 for her planned next stop at the Crawfordsville Municipal Airport (CFJ), Crawfordsville, Indiana. After the departure climb from PMH, the engine temporarily "sputtered" and then operated normally. While in cruise flight about 2,900 ft above mean sea level (msl) and traveling about 85 kts with a heading of 300°, the engine "sputtered" and ceased producing power. The pilot stated the outside air temperature gauge indicated about 80° F and she did not believe the engine was experiencing carburetor icing conditions. The pilot did not remember what temperature the carburetor temperate gauge was displaying at the time. The engine power decreased to 1,500 rpm, then 1,000 rpm. The pilot advanced the mixture to the full rich position and the engine "smoothed out a little." As the airplane descended to 2,000 ft msl, the engine began "sputtering" again and the engine power decreased to about 1,000 rpm and ceased producing power. She attempted to troubleshoot the engine power loss without applying carburetor heat but was not successful in regaining engine power. Although her aeronautical navigational chart showed a private airstrip close to her location for executing a forced landing, the pilot elected not to land there due to her airspeed and altitude, and instead choose to land in an open soybean field. During the forced landing sequence, she attempted to maneuver the airplane between a powerline pole and several trees. The airplane struck the powerlines and impacted the field, coming to rest in a slightly nose down attitude. Two Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) aviation safety inspectors traveled to the accident site to document the wreckage. The airplane sustained substantial damage to both wings and the fuselage from the impact sequence. The inspectors noted that the both the left and right wing fuel tanks had not been breached and contained an adequate amount of usable fuel for the flight to CFJ. An airframe and engine examination were performed by an airframe and powerplant mechanic under the supervision of the FAA. During the examination, no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures were noted with the airframe and engine. An examination of the airplane's maintenance records revealed no evidence of uncorrected mechanical discrepancies with the airframe and engine. The airplane was equipped with an analog carburetor temperature gauge that was located on the right side of the cockpit, about6 inches to the right and level with the base of the control yoke. The gauge displayed a temperature range of -20° C to 20° C, with a yellow arc range of -15° C to 5° C, and a green arc range from 5° C to 20° C. There was also a placard that read, "keep needle out of yellow arc during possible carburetor icing conditions." At the time of the accident, the nearest weather reporting station at Shelbyville Municipal Airport (GEZ), Indiana, 17 miles west-southwest of the accident site, reported a dew point of 72° F. Based on the weather conditions reported by the pilot and at GEZ, the carburetor icing probability chart from the FAA Special Airworthiness Information Bulletin CE-09-35 Carburetor Icing Prevention, showed a probability of serious icing at glide power. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N4379L](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4379L-2019-03-05), registration cancelled 2019-03-05, S/N 17254458, built 1966 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 172 (G) - Registry model: [Cessna 172G](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172g) (registry code 2072420) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental 0-300 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-0-300-series) (registry code 17022, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 17254458 - Year built: 1966 - Engines: Continental Motors O-300D 145 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, November 1, 2017 - Departed: PMH, Portsmouth, OH - Destination: CFJ, Crawfordsville, IN - Flight plan: VFR - Equipment: None ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 40; injuries: minor; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; seat: left; restraint: lap only ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 210° at 13 knots, gusting 20 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Temperature: 88 °F, dew point 72 °F - Altimeter: 30.09 inHg - Observed at: KGEZ, 23 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 20180827012369A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20180827012369A), Aug 27, 2018: Cessna 172G, Rushville, IN, Substantial damage. On August 27, 2018 at about 1345 eastern daylight time (EDT), a Cessna 172G, N4379L substained substantial damage when it lost engine power and made an off… ## Docket (6 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 26, 2020, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=98166. 3.7 MB in all. - Accident Photographs (item 1, .PDF, 1.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40484851&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Accident%20Photographs%20-Master.PDF - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 2, .PDF, 2.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40484852&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Pilot and Passenger Statements (item 3, .PDF, 144 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40484853&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%20and%20Passenger%20Statements%20-Master.PDF - FAA Email (item 4, .PDF, 33 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40484854&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=FAA%20Email%20-Master.PDF - FAA Record of Conversation (item 5, .PDF, 102 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40484855&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=FAA%20Record%20of%20Conversation%20-Master.PDF - NTSB Party Member Form (item 6, .PDF, 397 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40484856&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=NTSB%20Party%20Member%20Form%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. --- 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.