# NTSB CHI08CA011: Cessna 172P, N65998, Belleville, IL, September 29, 2007

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: September 29, 2007, 00:00 local (05:00 UTC)
- Place: Belleville, IL
- Coordinates: 38.545, -89.835
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.5450&lon=-89.8350&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Unknown](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/990) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report March 31, 2008
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Parties: STL FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 66990
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI08CA011
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/66990/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI08CA011

## Probable cause

the design limits of the aircraft being exceeded by a previous pilot during an unknown phase of flight.

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Miscellaneous/other, unknown
  - fuselage,firewall - bent (cause)
  - design stress limits of aircraft - exceeded, pilot of a previous flight (cause)
- Miscellaneous/other, unknown

## Analysis

The rental/instructional airplane was found with substantial damage during a post flight inspection by the airplane operator's maintenance personnel. On the day before the damage was discovered, two pilots, each of whom had separately flown the airplane, reported airplane discrepancies to maintenance personnel. The first pilot reported a discrepancy with the tire sidewall that he noted during his preflight inspection. The airplane was retuned to service after the wheel assembly was replaced and no further inspection was performed. The pilot then flew the airplane and returned without any further reported discrepancies. The second pilot reported a binding in the control column and could not reinstall the gust lock without difficulty during his preflight inspection. Maintenance personnel then grounded the airplane for the day and found damage to the airplane firewall.

## Factual narrative

The rental/instructional airplane was found with substantial damage during a post flight inspection by the airplane operator's maintenance personnel. On the day before the damage was discovered, two pilots, each of whom had separately flown the airplane, reported airplane discrepancies to maintenance personnel. The first pilot reported a discrepancy with the tire sidewall that he noted during his preflight inspection. The airplane was retuned to service after the wheel assembly was replaced and no further inspection was performed. The pilot then flew the airplane and returned without any further reported discrepancies. The second pilot reported a binding in the control column and could not reinstall the gust lock without difficulty during his preflight inspection. Maintenance personnel then grounded the airplane for the day and found damage to the airplane firewall.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N65998](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N65998-2014-07-17), registration cancelled 2014-07-17, S/N 17275944 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Cessna 172P
- Registry model: [Cessna 172P](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172p) (registry code 2072436) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 17275944
- Airframe hours: 2045
- Engines: Textron Lycoming O-320-D2J 160 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Scott AFB Aero Club
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, June 1, 2007
- Departed: KBLV, Belleville, IL
- Destination: KBLV, Belleville, IL
- Flight plan: Unknown

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 0; medical: unknown; flight hours: 0 total, 0 in this make and model

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Not reported

## 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 20070929022579A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20070929022579A), Sep 29, 2007: Cessna 172P, Belleville, IL, Substantial damage. (-23) On September 28, 2007, during preflight, one of the flying club's member pilots discovered damage on the aircraft. Upon closer investigation, it was…

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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