# NTSB ERA17LA268: Cessna 140, N89738, Mount Sterling, KY, August 5, 2017 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: August 5, 2017, 10:00 local (14:00 UTC) - Place: Mount Sterling, KY - Coordinates: 38.036109, -83.799446 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.0361&lon=-83.7994&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Enroute-cruise: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious - Status: Completed, report June 3, 2020 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/ROC - NTSB case key (mKey): 95757 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA17LA268 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/95757/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=95757 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA17LA268 ## Probable cause A total loss of engine power for reasons that could not be determined based on the available information. ## 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 140, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md?model=2071602), [All aircraft, 2,247 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md) - [Object/animal/substance: fence/fence post](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022047): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome; cases with it: [Cessna 140, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022047/cases.md?model=2071602), [All aircraft, 313 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022047/cases.md) - [Object/animal/substance: water/moisture](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022057): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome; cases with it: [Cessna 140, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022057/cases.md?model=2071602), [All aircraft, 10 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022057/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Enroute-cruise: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 140, 9 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=2071602), [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md) - [Landing: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440); cases with it: [Cessna 140, 11 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=2071602), [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 140, 32 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=2071602), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis According to the pilot, while the airplane was in cruise flight about 20 minutes after departure, the engine lost total power. He made a forced landing to a field; after touchdown, the airplane went over a fence and down a hill before impacting a creek, which resulted in substantial damage to the right wing and fuselage. Postaccident examination of the engine and airframe did not reveal any evidence of a mechanical malfunction or failure that would have precluded normal operation. Thus, the reason for the loss of engine power could not be determined. ## Factual narrative On August 5, 2017, about 1000 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 140, N89738, was substantially damaged during a forced landing following a total loss of power near Mount Sterling, Kentucky. The private pilot sustained serious injuries. The personal flight was conducted under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed for the local flight that departed Stanton Airport (I50), Stanton, Kentucky.The pilot reported that he departed from I50 with about 9 gallons of fuel in the left tank and 12 gallons in the right tank, and with the fuel selector positioned to the left fuel tank. About 20 minutes into the flight, while flying at an altitude of 2,400 ft with the engine operating at 2,400 rpm and the mixture leaned, the engine experienced a total loss of power. He made a forced landing in a field, and after touchdown the airplane went over a fence and down a hill before impacting a creek. Before exiting the airplane he turned off the "…master switch, fuel, radio, and ignition." Postaccident examination of the airplane by the FAA inspector revealed substantial damage to the right wing and fuselage. The right fuel tank was full, about 12 gallons of fuel. The left tank had about 2.5 gallons of fuel. The fuel was free of water and contaminates. No fuel was found in the carburetor bowl. The fuel selector valve was intact and in the "OFF" position. The fuel tank vent caps were unobstructed. The engine's crankshaft was manually rotated by turning the propeller, and continuity of the crankshaft and compression was confirmed on all cylinders. The cylinders were examined using a lighted borescope and no anomalies were noted. All leads from the left and right magnetos produced spark when rotated by hand. The two-seat, high wing, tailwheel-equipped airplane, was powered by a Lycoming O-235, 116-horsepower engine. The last engine overhaul was completed on June 3, 1975. The pilot held a private pilot certificate with a rating for airplane single-engine land. He reported 1,200 hours of total flight experience on his most recent application for an FAA third-class medical certificate, which was issued on August 3, 2016. The 1255 weather at Mount Sterling Montgomery County Airport (I50), about 9 miles northwest of the accident site included wind from 100° at 6 knots; visibility 10 statute miles; temperature 22° C; dew point 11° C; and altimeter setting 30.18 inches of mercury. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N89738](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N89738-2018-11-05), registration cancelled 2018-11-05, S/N 8787, built 1946 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 140 (G) - Registry model: [Cessna 140](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-140) (registry code 2071602) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-235 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-235-series) (registry code 41505, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 8787 - Year built: 1946 - Engines: LYCOMING O-235 SERIES 108 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, April 9, 2017 - Departed: I50, STANTON, KY - Destination: I50, STANTON, KY - Equipment: Unknown ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 64; injuries: serious; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; seat: left; flight hours: 1,200 total ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 64 °F, dew point 54 °F - Altimeter: 30.18 inHg - Observed at: KIOB, 9 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 20170805024269A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20170805024269A), Aug 5, 2017: Cessna 140, Mt. Sterling, KY, Destroyed. At 2200 feet flying straight and level, pilot experienced loss of power. Pilot did an emergency landing in a field, was unable to stop the aircraft and went… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on March 25, 2020, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=95757. 1.7 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 653 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40481529&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - FAA Inspector's Statement (item 2, .PDF, 58 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40481530&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=FAA%20Inspector%27s%20Statement-Master.PDF - Photo Array (item 3, .PDF, 972 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40481531&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%20Array-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.