# NTSB CHI02LA223: Cessna A188B, N9639G, Nickerson, KS, July 31, 2002 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: July 30, 2002, 20:50 local (Jul 31, 2002, 01:50 UTC) - Place: Nickerson, KS - Coordinates: 38.13972, -98.079368 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.1397&lon=-98.0794&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report May 13, 2003 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 55348 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI02LA223 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/55348/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=55348 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI02LA223 ## Probable cause Fuel starvation due to the fuel contamination, the blocked fuel strainer, and the refueling truck's contaminated fuel. A factor was the berm. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(partial) - nonmechanical, maneuvering - aerial application - fuel system,strainer - blocked(total) (cause) - fluid,fuel - contamination,other than water (cause) - fluid,fuel - starvation (cause) - airport facilities,refueling truck/equipment - improper (cause) - Forced landing, emergency descent/landing - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - roll - terrain condition - berm (contributing factor) ## Analysis The airplane struck a berm during a forced landing resulting in substantial damage. The pilot reported he was finishing spraying a field when he "encountered an unscheduled power rollback." He executed a forced landing to an alfalfa field. During the landing roll the airplane impacted a berm and sustained substantial damage. The inspection of the airplane's fuel system revealed the fuel strainer was blocked with a black rubber like substance. The fuel truck that fueled the airplane was checked for contaminates. The same type of substance that was found in the airplane's fuel filter strainer was found in the tank of the refueling truck. ## Factual narrative On July 30, 2002, at 2050 central daylight time, a Cessna A188B, N9639G, operated by Ellinwood Flying Service, was substantially damaged during a forced landing following a loss of engine power while spraying an agricultural field. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The 14 CFR Part 137 aerial application flight was not operating on a flight plan. The commercial pilot reported no injuries. The local flight originated from the Rice County Municipal Airport (LYO), Lyons, Kansas, at 2020. The pilot reported he was finishing spraying a field when he "encountered an unscheduled power rollback." He executed a forced landing to an alfalfa field since the available power was insufficient to sustain flight. During the landing roll the airplane impacted a berm and received substantial damage. The inspection of the airplane's fuel system revealed the fuel strainer was blocked with a black rubber like substance. The fuel truck that fueled the airplane was checked for contaminates. The same type of substance that was found in the airplane's fuel filter strainer was found in the tank of the refueling truck. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N9639G](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N9639G-2016-04-21), registration cancelled 2016-04-21, S/N 18801575, built 1974 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna A188B - Registry model: [Cessna A188B](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-a188b) (registry code 2073005) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental IO-520 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-io-520-series) (registry code 17032, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 18801575 - Airframe hours: 3818 - Engines: Continental IO-520-D 300 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Aerial application, Part 137 - Operator: Ellinwood Flying Service Inc - Registered owner: Ellenwood Flying Service - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special) - Last inspection: 100 hour, July 3, 2002, 25 hours before - Departed: LYO, Lyons, KS ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 47; injuries: none; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review January 8, 2001; seat: center; flight hours: 5,159 total, 175 in this make and model, 4,753 as pilot in command ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 160° at 6 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 82 °F, dew point 66 °F - Altimeter: 29.97 inHg - Observed at: HUT, 10 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 20020730017599A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20020730017599A), Jul 30, 2002: Nickerson, KS, Substantial damage. (.19) On July 30, 2002, at 2050 central daylight time, a Cessna A188B, N9639G, operated by rice county aerial sprayers, inc. was substantially damaged during a… ## Other investigations on N9639G (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 DEN08LA103](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN08LA103), Jun 12, 2008: Cessna A188B (N9639G), Lyons, KS, substantial damage. Probable cause: the loss of engine power for undetermined reasons. A contributing factor was the dirt embankment. ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on April 3, 2003, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=55348. 472 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 393 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40465166&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Pilot Statement (item 2, .PDF, 79 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40465167&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%20Statement-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.