# NTSB CEN21LA268: Cessna 172S, N365CP, Saint James, LA, June 10, 2021

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report
- Date: June 10, 2021, 10:08 local (15:08 UTC)
- Place: Saint James, LA · Intersection at highway 3127.
- Coordinates: 30.038001, -90.927146
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.0380&lon=-90.9271&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Pressure/environ sys malf/fail](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/331)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish
- NTSB office: Central Region
- Parties: FAA Baton Rouge FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 103265
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN21LA268
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/103265/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=103265
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN21LA268

## Probable cause

The in-flight fatigue failure of an air-conditioning system hose which resulted in a precautionary landing and impact with a road sign.

## Findings

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

- [Air conditioning system](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022100): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Failure (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172S, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022100/cases.md?model=2072439), [All aircraft, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022100/cases.md)
- [Air conditioning system](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022100): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Fatigue/wear/corrosion (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172S, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022100/cases.md?model=2072439), [All aircraft, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022100/cases.md)
- [Misc hardware: hoses and tubes](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071410): Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware · Not specified (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172S, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071410/cases.md?model=2072439), [All aircraft, 40 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071410/cases.md)
- [Info processing/decision: decision making/judgment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172S, 41 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md?model=2072439), [All aircraft, 3,098 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md)
- [Object/animal/substance: sign/marker](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022015): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Effect on equipment (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172S, 11 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022015/cases.md?model=2072439), [All aircraft, 214 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022015/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: Pressure/environ sys malf/fail](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/331) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 172S, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/331/sequence.md?model=2072439), [All aircraft, 116 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/331/sequence.md)
- [Emergency descent: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440); cases with it: [Cessna 172S, 15 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=2072439), [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 172S, 9 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490/sequence.md?model=2072439), [All aircraft, 1,309 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot of the low-level pipeline patrol flight reported that after about one hour into the flight, a “very loud pop” noise emitted from behind the instrument panel followed by an unidentified high-pressure air/gas release into the cabin. After not seeing any flames, the pilot opened his window to vent the cabin and decided to conduct an off-airport emergency landing on an empty multi-lane highway. During the landing rollout, the left wing impacted a metal road sign, and the airplane came to a stop on a grass median. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing. A postaccident examination of the airplane revealed that a high-pressure air conditioning hose failed and separated at a metal crimp connection at the firewall pass-through. The hose ends at the separation showed signs of age deterioration. Maintenance records revealed that the hose had been in service for about 20 years, accumulating 12,512.5 total hours. According to the air conditioning system maintenance manual, the system’s components are to be inspected every 600 hours or every annual inspection, whichever comes first, and are to be cleaned or replaced as necessary.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N365CP](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N365CP), registered now, S/N 172S8838, built 2001 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 172S
- Registry model: [Cessna 172S](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172s) (registry code 2072439) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming I0360 SER A&C](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-i0360-ser-a-c) (registry code 41511, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 172S8838
- Year built: 2001
- Airframe hours: 12520.3
- Engines: Lycoming Engines IO-360-L2A 180 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Aerial observation, Part 91
- Operator: Barr Air Patrol LLC, doing business as Barr Air Patrol LLC
- Registered owner: Barr Air Patrol LLC
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, June 7, 2021, 7.3 hours before
- Departed: REG, Gonzales, LA
- Destination: CWF, Lake Charles, LA
- Flight plan: Company VFR
- Equipment: Electronic flight bag or handheld device, Auto-pilot, ADS-B, Satellite tracking device, Onboard weather

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 67; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, single-engine sea; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review October 25, 2020; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 7,433 total, 791 in this make and model, 6,830 as pilot in command, 150 in the last 90 days, 52 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 220° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Temperature: 84 °F, dew point 75 °F
- Altimeter: 30.04 inHg
- Observed at: KREG, 8 nm away
- METAR: KREG 101455Z AUTO 22005KT 10SM SCT021 SCT028 29/24 A3004 RMK AO2 T02930236

## Other investigations on N365CP (1)

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.

- [NTSB CEN20CA195](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN20CA195), May 21, 2020: Cessna 172 (N365CP), Houma, LA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to maintain adequate clearance from a ground obstacle during landing.

## Docket (3 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on July 15, 2021, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=103265. 10.5 MB in all.

- Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 9 pages, 1.5 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12458305&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=NTSB%20Form%206120_1%20Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Accident photographs (item 2, PDF, 6 pages, 3.6 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12458139&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Accident%20Photographs-Rel.pdf
- Additional documents (item 3, PDF, 14 pages, 5.5 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12457944&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Additional%20Documents%20Redacted-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.

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