# NTSB CHI94LA336: Cessna 170, N4271V, Lakeville, MN, September 18, 1994 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: September 18, 1994, 18:00 local (23:00 UTC) - Place: Lakeville, MN - Coordinates: 44.670604, -93.23957 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=44.6706&lon=-93.2396&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 2 minor, 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report May 4, 1995 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 9689 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI94LA336 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/9689/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI94LA336 ## Probable cause An inadequate pre-flight inspection by the pilot when he did not insure that all the water was drained from the airplane's fuel tanks. Factors associated with this accident were contaminated fuel and powerlines. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, takeoff - initial climb - fluid,fuel - water (contributing factor) - aircraft preflight - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - Forced landing, descent - emergency - In flight collision with object, descent - emergency - object - wire,transmission - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled - terrain condition - roadway/highway ## Analysis AFTER FLYING THE AIRPLANE FOR APPROXIMATELY ONE HOUR THE PILOT REFUELED IT AND DRAINED THE SUMPS. THE PILOT SAID HE DRAINED ABOUT ONE CUP OF WATER FROM EACH FUEL TANK BEFORE HE DEPARTED THE AIRPORT. SHORTLY AFTER TAKEOFF THE AIRPLANE'S ENGINE STOPPED RUNNING. THE PILOT SAID HE PLANNED ON LANDING THE AIRPLANE ON A FOUR LANE HIGHWAY BUT COLLIDED WITH POWERLINES. THE ON-SCENE INVESTIGATION REVEALED TRACES OF WATER IN THE CARBURETOR ACCELERATOR PUMP WELL AND FLOAT CHAMBER. ENGINE DAMAGE PREVENTED IT FROM BEING TEST RUN. EVIDENCE OF PRE- COLLISION MECHANICAL FAILURE WAS NOT FOUND. ## Factual narrative On September 18, 1994, at 1800 central daylight time (cdt), a Cessna 170, N4271V, registered to Donald J. Dennehey Jr. of Lakeville, Minnesota, and piloted by a private pilot, was substantially damaged during a collision with powerlines and terrain following a pilot reported power loss and forced landing. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The 14 CFR Part 91 flight was not operating on a flight plan. The pilot and two passengers reported minor injuries, a third passenger reported no injuries. The flight departed Lakeville, Minnesota, at 1740 cdt. During an interview with a Federal Aviation Administration Principal Maintenance Inspector (PMI), the pilot said the engine stopped running shortly after takeoff. He said he attempted to land the airplane on a four-lane highway, but collided with powerlines that crossed the highway. The pilot was asked where the airplane is normally stored. He said it had been stored outside. The pilot told the PMI the airplane had not been flown since September 8, 1994. He said the airplane's fuel tanks were topped off about ten days before that flight. The airplane was not refueled after the September 8 flight. According to the PMI, the pilot said he had flown the airplane for one hour before refueling it on September 18, 1994. The PMI said the pilot told him that he had drained about one cup of water from each fuel tank before the accident flight's departure. The on-scene investigation revealed water in the carburetor float bowl according to the PMI. The PMI said the fuel was removed from the airplane's fuel tanks before he arrived on-scene because the fire department believed a fire hazard existed. The PMI said he examined the engine's carburetor and found what appeared to be traces of water in the accelerator pump well and float chamber. An examination of the fuel tank caps revealed a tight fit and an undamaged gasket on each cap. N4271V's engine sustained damage during the crash sequence that prevented it from being run. Evidence of precollision mechanical failure was not found by the PMI. The PMI stated he had checked the fuel source for N4271V. He said the airport operator's tanks were inspected, and passed, by the State of Minnesota about 30 days before the accident. Other airplanes were refueled before and after the accident according to the PMI. He said these airplanes reported no problems with their fuel supply. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N4271V](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4271V-1996-08-14), registration cancelled 1996-08-14, S/N 18629 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 170 - Registry model: [Cessna 170](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-170) (registry code 2072302) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 18629 - Airframe hours: 4001 - Engines: CONTINENTAL O-300 145 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Donald J. Dennehey Jr. - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special); Standard, Transport; Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, July 27, 1994, 29 hours before - Airport: Y12, Airlake ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 40; foreign, private, airline transport, student; airplane ratings: single-engine land, single-engine sea; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 1,100 total, 200 in this make and model, 32 in the last 90 days, 30 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 81 °F, dew point 55 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: Y12, 3 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 19940918028319A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19940918028319A), Sep 18, 1994: Cessna 170, Lakeville, MN, Destroyed. Lost power. Struck known and visible powerline on forced landing. Found fuel pump and strainer had contaminates. 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.