# NTSB ERA09LA517: Cessna 172N, N734TV, Hillsville, VA, September 13, 2009 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: September 13, 2009, 13:50 local (17:50 UTC) - Place: Hillsville, VA - Coordinates: 36.766109, -80.823333 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.7661&lon=-80.8233&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Approach-VFR pattern base: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report March 3, 2010 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 74719 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA09LA517 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/74719/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=74719 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA09LA517 ## Probable cause The total loss of engine power for an undetermined reason. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Not determined](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000): Not determined › Not determined · Unknown/Not determined (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172N, 24 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md?model=2072434), [All aircraft, 2,247 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Approach-VFR pattern base: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 172N, 28 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=2072434), [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 172N, 31 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=2072434), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Cessna 172N, 134 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=2072434), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096); cases with it: [Cessna 172N, 44 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md?model=2072434), [All aircraft, 2,287 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md) ## Analysis The student pilot stated that, while on the base leg, the engine stopped and she made a forced landing in a field one quarter of a mile from the airport. The carburetor heat was in use at the time of the loss of power. Examination of the airplane by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector revealed that the flight control system components, engine, and system components showed no evidence of preimpact mechanical malfunction. The current ambient temperature was 73 degrees Fahrenheit, with a dew point of 57 degrees Fahrenheit. Review of the carburetor icing probability chart revealed that serious carburetor icing could occur at glide power. ## Factual narrative On September 13, 2009, at 1350 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 172N, N734TV, experienced a total loss of engine power while on base leg to land at Twin County Airport (HLX), Hillsville, Virginia. The student pilot received minor injuries and the airplane was substantially damaged during the subsequent forced landing. The flight was operated as an instructional flight under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 91, and no flight plan was filed. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The flight originated from Mount Airy/Surry County Airport (MWK), Mount Airy, North Carolina, at 1330. According to the student pilot, the purpose of the flight was to conduct a solo flight from HLX to MWK, and return to HLX. The pilot stated that the aircraft was fueled at HLX and that she departed with at least 29 gallons of fuel onboard. The pilot said that when she arrived at MWK she made three full stop landings and then proceeded back to HLX as planned. She then entered the downwind leg, applied carburetor heat, and reduced the power to 1,500 rpm. The student pilot went on to say that while on the base leg, the engine stopped, and she subsequently made a forced landing in a field one quarter of a mile from the airport. During the landing roll out the airplane hit a ditch, and flipped over inverted. Examination of the airplane by a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector revealed that the airplane touched down on an uphill grade in a field within one quarter of a mile of the airport. The nose landing gear broke off and the aircraft flipped over within 60 feet of the initial touchdown point. The airframe and flight control system components revealed no evidence of preimpact mechanical malfunction. Examination of the engine did not reveal any mechanical malfunctions. No fuel contamination was discovered during the examination of the fuel system, and fuel was observed leaking out of the fuel tanks. The current ambient temperature was 73 degrees Fahrenheit, with a dew point of 57 degrees Fahrenheit. Review of the icing probability chart revealed that the chance of serious icing can occur in this temperature/dew point range. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N734TV](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N734TV-2013-08-23), registration cancelled 2013-08-23, S/N 17269109, built 1977 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 172N - Registry model: [Cessna 172N](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172n) (registry code 2072434) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 17269109 - Airframe hours: 12528 - Engines: LYCOMING 0-320 SERIES 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Twin County Aviation LLC - Registered owner: Twin County Aviation LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, April 16, 2009, 26 hours before - Departed: MWK, Mount Airy, NC - Destination: HLX, Hillsville, VA - Airport: HLX, Twin County Airport, runway 01, 4,204 × 75 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Student pilot; age 39; injuries: minor; student; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; seat: left; flight hours: 34 total, 34 in this make and model, 12 in the last 90 days, 7 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 30° at 5 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 73 °F, dew point 57 °F - Observed at: HLX, 1 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 20090913049739A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20090913049739A), Sep 13, 2009: Cessna 172N, Hillsville, VA, Substantial damage. The aircraft was substantially damaged during a forced landing after experiencing a loss of engine power while on base leg for landing. The aircraft touched… ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on November 13, 2009, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=74719. 805 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 718 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40320163&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Other Pertinent Forms and Reports-Record of conversation student pilot (item 2, .PDF, 49 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40320805&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Other%20Pertinent%20Forms%20and%20Reports-Record%20of%20conversation%20student%20pilot-Master.PDF - Other Pertinent Forms and Reports-Carbice Chart (item 3, .PDF, 25 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40320806&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Other%20Pertinent%20Forms%20and%20Reports-Carbice%20Chart-Master.PDF - Reports from Federal Agencies-Inspector Statement (item 4, .PDF, 14 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40320826&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Reports%20from%20Federal%20Agencies-Inspector%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.