# NTSB CEN21LA103: Cessna 172H, N3702R, Cypress, TX, December 29, 2020 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report - Date: December 28, 2020, 20:00 local (Dec 29, 2020, 02:00 UTC) - Place: Cypress, TX - Coordinates: 30.047197, -95.667653 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.0472&lon=-95.6677&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Enroute-descent: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 3 - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 102474 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN21LA103 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/102474/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=102474 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN21LA103 ## Probable cause A total loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion. ## 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 level (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172H, 10 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md?model=2072424), [All aircraft, 1,695 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md) - [Planning/preparation: fuel planning](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172H, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030/cases.md?model=2072424), [All aircraft, 719 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Enroute-descent: Fuel exhaustion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192); cases with it: [Cessna 172H, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192/sequence.md?model=2072424), [All aircraft, 804 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192/sequence.md) - [Enroute-descent: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 172H, 13 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=2072424), [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 172H, 12 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=2072424), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported the engine lost power as he descended to enter the traffic pattern for landing. His efforts to restore engine power were unsuccessful and he executed a forced landing to an open field, which resulted in substantial damage to the right wing. A postaccident examination revealed no fuel in either fuel tank; however, fuel was present in the fuel lines. The engine was started at the accident site, and it ran for 45 seconds before it shut down. Temporary repairs were made to the right wing, fuel was added to the fuel tanks, and the airplane was ferried to an airport for further repairs. The engine operated normally during the flight. Based on the available information, it is likely that the engine lost power due to fuel exhaustion. ## Factual narrative On December 28, 2020, about 2000 central standard time, a Cessna 172H, N3702R, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Cypress, Texas. The pilot was not injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The pilot reported that the engine lost power as he descended to enter the traffic pattern for landing. His efforts to restore engine power were unsuccessful and he executed a forced landing to an open field, which resulted in substantial damage to the right wing. A postaccident examination of the airplane by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector revealed no fuel in either fuel tank. The operator reported that there was no fuel in either fuel tank but there was fuel in the lines and gascolator. The engine was started and ran normally for about 45 seconds at the accident site. A temporary repair to the right wing was completed, fuel was added to the fuel tanks, and the airplane was ferried to an airport for permanent repairs. The engine performed normally during the ferry flight. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N3702R](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N3702R-2023-04-01), registration cancelled 2023-04-01, S/N 17255502, built 1966 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 172H (NO SERIES) - Registry model: [Cessna 172H](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172h) (registry code 2072424) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental 0-300 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-0-300-series) (registry code 17022, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 17255502 - Year built: 1966 - Airframe hours: 3822 - Engines: CONT MOTOR O-300-D 145 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Texas Flight Aviation - Registered owner: Aerograce Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility; Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, December 23, 2020, 3.5 hours before - Departed: AQO, Llano, TX - Destination: DWH, Spring, TX - Equipment: ADS-B, Stall warning system ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 31; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; last flight review December 1, 2020; seat: left; restraint: lap only; flight hours: 86 total, 4 in this make and model, 22 as pilot in command, 43 in the last 90 days, 6 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night - Wind: 120° at 6 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 63 °F, dew point 55 °F - Altimeter: 30.21 inHg - Observed at: KDWH, 6 nm away - METAR: KDWH 290153Z AUTO 12006KT 10SM CLR 17/13 A3021 RMK AO2 SLP229 T01670133 ## 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 20201228019129A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20201228019129A), Dec 28, 2020: Cessna 172H, Tomball, TX, Substantial damage. The aircraft left dwh on Monday, December 28th @ 02:39PM and flew direct to llano, TX (aqo) landing @ 04:18PM. "Flight aware" shows the aircraft then departed… ## Docket (5 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 16, 2022, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=102474. 30.5 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 -- pilot (item 1, PDF, 10 pages, 22.9 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=11805037&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Accident%20Report%20--%20Pilot_redacted-Rel.pdf - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 -- operator (item 2, PDF, 3 pages, 5.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=11819946&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Accident%20Rpt%20--%20Operator-Rel.pdf - Accident photos (item 3, PDF, 3 pages, 2.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=11814221&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Accident%20Photos%20--%20CEN21LA103-Rel.pdf - Conversation summary -- FAA (item 4, PDF, 1 page, 154 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=11814822&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=ROC%20--%20FAA%20(Carl%20Thomas)%20--%2005Jan2021-Rel.pdf - Conversation summary -- operator (item 5, PDF, 1 page, 159 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=11815081&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=ROC%20--%20Texas%20Flight%20(Gary%20Kruger)%20--%2006Jan2021-Rel.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.