# NTSB ERA12CA546: Cessna 172M, N21214, Bardstown, KY, August 30, 2012 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: August 30, 2012, 14:00 local (18:00 UTC) - Place: Bardstown, KY - Coordinates: 37.808612, -85.493057 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.8086&lon=-85.4931&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Maneuvering: Fuel starvation](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report February 14, 2013 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA / FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 84945 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA12CA546 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/84945/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=84945 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA12CA546 ## Probable cause The flight instructor's decision to turn the fuel selector to the off position and his delayed remedial actions to restart the engine, which resulted in fuel starvation and a subsequent forced landing. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Fuel system: fuel selector/shutoff valve](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022823): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Incorrect use/operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172M, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022823/cases.md?model=2072418), [All aircraft, 176 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022823/cases.md) - [Info processing/decision: decision making/judgment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Instructor/check pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172M, 36 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md?model=2072418), [All aircraft, 3,098 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md) - [Action: delayed action](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Instructor/check pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172M, 20 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025/cases.md?model=2072418), [All aircraft, 894 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Maneuvering: Fuel starvation](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 172M, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191/sequence.md?model=2072418), [All aircraft, 733 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191/sequence.md) - [Maneuvering: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341); cases with it: [Cessna 172M, 19 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=2072418), [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md) - [Emergency descent: Attempted remediation/recovery](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060); cases with it: [Cessna 172M, 19 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md?model=2072418), [All aircraft, 1,422 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md) - [Emergency descent: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440); cases with it: [Cessna 172M, 28 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=2072418), [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 172M, 15 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490/sequence.md?model=2072418), [All aircraft, 1,309 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490/sequence.md) ## Analysis According to the flight instructor, he and the student pilot had practiced various maneuvers during the training flight and were returning to the airport. The airplane was about 2,500 feet above ground level and within gliding distance of the airport when the flight instructor turned the fuel selector to the "OFF" position so the student pilot could practice engine failure procedures. (Although no regulations prohibit turning the fuel selector to the off position while practicing engine failure procedures, the practice results in an actual, not a simulated, loss of engine power, and is therefore inherently more risky than a reduction in engine power to idle, especially when initiated at a low altitude.) The student pilot trimmed the airplane for best glide speed, initiated a turn toward the airport, and reviewed the pertinent emergency procedure guidance in the pilot operating handbook. The student pilot could not locate the airport until the flight instructor directed him. When the student pilot was unable to restart the engine, the flight instructor took control of the airplane and tried to restart the engine. The flight instructor’s efforts to restart the engine were also unsuccessful, and, believing it was too risky to try to reach the airport, the flight instructor selected the best available field for a forced landing. During the landing, the nose landing gear impacted the ground and the firewall was substantially damaged. The student pilot, who was also a mechanic, reported that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal engine restart and operation. ## Factual narrative According to the flight instructor, he and the student pilot were practicing maneuvers approximately 2,500 feet above ground level. The flight instructor decided to practice simulated engine failure procedures within the vicinity of the airport and turned the fuel selector to the "OFF" position. The student pilot trimmed the airplane for best glide speed, initiated a turn toward the airport, and then took time to locate the pilot operating handbook in order to follow the emergency procedure. In addition, the student pilot could not locate the exact position of the airport until the flight instructor directed him. The student pilot unsuccessfully attempted to restart the engine and the flight instructor took control of the airplane. Then, the flight instructor unsuccessfully attempted to restart the engine, and subsequently selected a field to land to perform a forced landing. During the landing, the nose landing gear impacted the ground, which resulted in substantial damage to the firewall. The student pilot/mechanic of the airplane reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N21214](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N21214-2017-10-20), registration cancelled 2017-10-20, S/N 17263908, built 1974 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 172M - Registry model: [Cessna 172M](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172m) (registry code 2072418) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 17263908 - Airframe hours: 1852 - Engines: LYCOMING O-320 SERIES 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Spalding Harry S - Registered owner: Spalding Harry S - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility; Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, August 5, 2012 - Departed: BRY, Bardstown, KY - Destination: BRY, Bardstown, KY - Airport: BRY, Samuels Field Airport ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Flight instructor; age 71; injuries: none; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review March 14, 2012; seat: right; flight hours: 5,000 total, 4,000 in this make and model, 4,500 as pilot in command, 40 in the last 90 days, 20 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours - Student pilot; age 62; injuries: none; student; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; seat: left ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 90° at 4 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 90 °F, dew point 64 °F - Altimeter: 30.04 inHg - Observed at: FTK, 23 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 20120830019809A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20120830019809A), Aug 30, 2012: Cessna 172M, Bardstown, KY, Substantial damage. Aircraft N21214 made an emergency (off airport) landing in a field located approximately 1.5 miles east of Samuels Field, Bardstown KY (bry). The CFI was… ## Docket (7 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on December 28, 2012, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=84945. 1.1 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 624 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40377921&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Flight Instructor Statement (item 2, .PDF, 75 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40377027&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Flight%20Instructor%20Statement-Redacted.PDF - Student Pilot Statement (item 3, .PDF, 86 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40377028&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Student%20Pilot%20Statement-Redacted.PDF - Memorandum of Record: Student Pilot/Mechanic (item 4, .PDF, 92 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40377913&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Memorandum%20of%20Record%3A%20Student%20Pilot%2FMechanic-Master.PDF - Federal Aviation Administration Inspector Statement (item 5, .PDF, 84 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40377029&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Federal%20Aviation%20Administration%20Inspector%20Statement-Redacted.PDF - FTK Weather Observations (item 6, .PDF, 13 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40377030&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=FTK%20Weather%20Observations-Master.PDF - Photo 1: View of Airplane at Rest (Courtesy of FAA) (item 7, .PDF, 175 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40377031&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201%3A%20View%20of%20Airplane%20at%20Rest%20(Courtesy%20of%20FAA)-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.