# NTSB ERA17LA040: Cessna 177, N30703, Hopkinton, RI, November 8, 2016 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: November 8, 2016, 14:15 local (19:15 UTC) - Place: Hopkinton, RI - Coordinates: 41.537223, -71.758613 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.5372&lon=-71.7586&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Enroute: Fuel exhaustion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report April 20, 2020 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 94354 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA17LA040 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/94354/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=94354 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA17LA040 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to accurately determine the airplane's fuel quantity before the flight, which resulted in a total loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Fluids: fuel](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010): Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware · Fluid management (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 177B, 9 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md?model=2073708), [All aircraft, 1,695 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md) - [Planning/preparation: fuel planning](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 177B, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030/cases.md?model=2073708), [All aircraft, 719 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030/cases.md) - [Inspection: preflight inspection](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061510): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 177B, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061510/cases.md?model=2073708), [All aircraft, 551 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061510/cases.md) - [Object/animal/substance: tree(s)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022020): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome; cases with it: [Cessna 177B, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022020/cases.md?model=2073708), [All aircraft, 933 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022020/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Prior to flight: Aircraft inspection event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/050); cases with it: [Cessna 177B, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/050/sequence.md?model=2073708), [All aircraft, 229 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/050/sequence.md) - [Enroute: Fuel exhaustion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 177B, 9 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192/sequence.md?model=2073708), [All aircraft, 804 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192/sequence.md) - [Enroute: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341); cases with it: [Cessna 177B, 9 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=2073708), [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 177B, 10 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=2073708), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md) - [Landing: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Cessna 177B, 20 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=2073708), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The private pilot planned to fly the airplane to another airport to purchase fuel. Before departing, he used a wooden stick to estimate the airplane's fuel level. While en route, the engine abruptly lost power. The pilot was unable to restart the engine and executed a forced landing to a field; the airplane struck trees, which resulted in substantial damage to the wings and fuselage. Postaccident examination of the accident site, the airplane's fuel tanks, and components of the airplane's fuel system revealed only trace quantities of fuel. Thus, it is likely that the pilot overestimated the airplane's fuel quantity before departing on the flight and that the engine lost power due to fuel exhaustion. ## Factual narrative On November 8, 2016, about 1415 eastern standard time, a Cessna 177B, N30703, was substantially damaged during a forced landing near Hopkinton, Rhode Island. The private pilot was not injured. No flight plan was filed for the flight that originated at Windham Airport (IJD), Willimantic, Connecticut, and was destined for Richmond Airport (08R), West Kingston, Rhode Island. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the personal flight conducted under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. After a normal preflight inspection, the pilot departed towards the southwest for the 28 nautical mile flight to 08R. During cruise flight, about 7 nautical miles from the destination airport, the engine suddenly lost all power. The pilot attempted to restart the engine but was unsuccessful. From an altitude of 1,800 ft mean sea level, the pilot selected a field and executed a forced landing. During the landing roll, the airplane impacted two small trees before it came to rest, which resulted in substantial damage to the wings and the fuselage. The pilot stated that the purpose of the flight was to get fuel at 08R. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector who examined the airplane before it was recovered did not observe any fuel in the intact left wing fuel tank, or the compromised right fuel tank; nor was there any blighting of the grass or any other evidence of a fuel spill. The first responders did not report any fuel leaking from the airplane; and recovery personnel removing the wings did not report any fuel present in the fuel strainer bowl when the fuel line was removed. During a subsequent exam by an FAA inspector, 12 ounces of fuel was drained from the carburetor, electric fuel pump, and fuel bowl. The fuel pump contained a few drops of residual fuel. The fuel collected was free of debris and water. The Cessna 177 Pilot Operating Handbook (POH) requires that fuel quantity be "visually checked" during preflight. According to the pilot, he "stuck" the tanks with a wooden stick prior to departing and determined there was about 3 inches of fuel from the bottom of the tank; which he determined to be about 12 total gallons of fuel, or 6 gallons of fuel per tank. He stated that the engine typically consumed about 10 gallons of fuel per hour. He planned for the flight to 08R to take about 20 to 30 minutes. The airplane had flown two previous flights before since last being fueled. The four-seat, high-wing, tricycle-gear airplane was manufactured in 1969. It was powered by Lycoming O-360, 180-horsepower engine, driving McCauley controllable pitch propeller. Its most recent annual inspection was completed November 6, 2015. The weather conditions reported at the Westerly State Airport (WST), Westerly, Rhode Island, which was located about 11 miles south of the accident site, included wind from 210° at 5 knots, visibility 10 statute miles, clear skies, temperature 15° C, dew point 3° C, and an altimeter setting of 30.05 inches ofmercury. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N30703](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N30703-2018-05-30), registration cancelled 2018-05-30, S/N 17701412, built 1969 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 177 (B) - Registry model: [Cessna 177B](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-177b) (registry code 2073708) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming O&VO-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-vo-360-series) (registry code 41514, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 17701412 - Year built: 1969 - Airframe hours: 4461.3 - Engines: LYCOMING IO-360-A1B6D 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, November 6, 2015 - Departed: IJD, WILLIMANTIC, CT - Destination: 08R, WEST KINGSTON, RI - Equipment: Stall warning system, Auto-pilot ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 73; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review August 1, 2016; seat: left; flight hours: 1,517 total, 37 in this make and model, 1,480 as pilot in command, 14 in the last 90 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 210° at 5 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 59 °F, dew point 37 °F - Altimeter: 30.04 inHg - Observed at: KWST, 11 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 20161108024599A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20161108024599A), Nov 8, 2016: Cessna 177B, Hopkinton, RI, Substantial damage. On November 08, 2016, about 1415 eastern standard time, a Cessna 177B, N30703, made a forced landing after a total loss of engine power near Hopkinton, rhode… ## Docket (5 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on November 4, 2019, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=94354. 2.2 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 321 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40477689&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Interview Summaries (Courtesy of FAA) (item 2, .PDF, 945 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40477690&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Interview%20Summaries%20(Courtesy%20of%20FAA)-Master.PDF - Photo Array (item 3, .PDF, 2 photos, 750 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40477691&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%20Array-Master.PDF - FAA Inspector's Statement (item 4, .PDF, 62 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40477692&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=FAA%20Inspector%27s%20Statement-Master.PDF - Excerpt from POH (item 5, .PDF, 118 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40477693&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Excerpt%20from%20POH-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.