# NTSB ERA17LA336: Cessna 152, N53393, Winder, GA, September 27, 2017 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: September 26, 2017, 20:30 local (Sep 27, 2017, 00:30 UTC) - Place: Winder, GA - Coordinates: 33.990001, -83.67694 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.9900&lon=-83.6769&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Initial climb: Fuel contamination](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/193) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report October 10, 2018 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 96095 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA17LA336 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/96095/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=96095 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA17LA336 ## Probable cause The pilot's inadequate preflight inspection, which resulted in undetected water in the fuel system and a total loss of engine power during the initial climb. ## 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 · Inadequate inspection (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 152, 26 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md?model=2071835), [All aircraft, 1,695 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md) - [Fluids: fuel](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010): Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware · Fluid condition (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 152, 26 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md?model=2071835), [All aircraft, 1,695 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md) - [Inspection: preflight inspection](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061510): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 152, 14 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061510/cases.md?model=2071835), [All aircraft, 551 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061510/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: Preflight or dispatch event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/030); cases with it: [Cessna 152, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/030/sequence.md?model=2071835), [All aircraft, 355 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/030/sequence.md) - [Initial climb: Fuel contamination](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/193) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 152, 11 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/193/sequence.md?model=2071835), [All aircraft, 225 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/193/sequence.md) ## Analysis According to the private pilot, who was the owner of the airplane, the airplane had been parked for an extended period, and he was preparing it for an annual inspection which was nearly 4 years overdue. On the day before the accident flight, he charged the airplane's battery and ran the engine for about 30 minutes. Before departing on the accident flight, he performed a preflight inspection of the airplane, measured the level of fuel in each tank, sampled the fuel tanks and fuel strainer for contaminants, and ran the engine for about 5 to 7 minutes with no anomalies noted. The pilot taxied the airplane for takeoff, performed the before-takeoff checks, and departed. When the airplane reached about 200 ft above ground level, the engine "sputtered" and then stopped producing power. The pilot performed a forced landing to a field beyond the departure end of the runway, which resulted in substantial damage to the fuselage and wings. The left-wing fuel tank was breached by impact and contained no fuel. The right tank was intact and contained about 8 gallons of fuel. The gascolator was drained, and the first 4 ounces drained were clear water; the remaining 4 ounces were a mixture of water and fuel. The carburetor was separated from the engine at impact and was reattached with an adhesive to facilitate an engine operational check. An external fuel tank was then plumbed to the carburetor, and the engine was started on the airframe utilizing the airplane's own battery. The engine started immediately, accelerated smoothly, and ran continuously without interruption. Had the pilot conducted an adequate preflight inspection, he would have likely detected the water contamination in the fuel system. ## Factual narrative On September 26, 2017, about 2030 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 152, N53393, was substantially damaged during a forced landing following a loss of engine power after takeoff from Barrow County Airport (WDR), Winder, Georgia. The private pilot was not injured. The airplane was owned and operated by the pilot under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed for the personal flight, which was originating at the time of the accident. In a telephone interview, the pilot stated that the airplane had been parked for an extended period and that he was preparing it for an annual inspection, which was nearly 4 years overdue. On the day before the accident flight, he charged the airplane's battery and ran the engine for about 30 minutes. Before departing on the accident flight, he performed a preflight inspection of the airplane, measured the level of fuel in each tank, sampled the fuel tanks and fuel strainer for contaminants, and ran the engine for about 5 to 7 minutes with no anomalies noted. The pilot taxied the airplane for takeoff, performed the before-takeoff checks, and departed from runway 31. When the airplane reached about 200 ft above ground level, the engine "sputtered," then stopped producing power. The pilot performed a forced landing to a field beyond the departure end of the runway, which resulted in substantial damage to the fuselage and wings. The pilot held a private pilot certificate with a rating for airplane single-engine land. His most recent Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) third-class medical certificate was issued September 25, 2013. The pilot estimated he had 700 total hours of flight experience, 300 hours of which were in the accident airplane make and model. According to FAA records, the airplane was manufactured in 1979 and had accrued about 1,875.1 total aircraft hours. A review of the airplane's logbooks revealed that its most recent annual inspection was completed November 6, 2012, at 1,864.4 total aircraft hours. At 2035, the weather recorded at WDR included clear skies and calm wind. The temperature was 25°C, and the dew point was 20°C. The altimeter setting was 29.96 inches of mercury. The wreckage was examined at the accident site, and all major components were accounted for at the scene. Both wings were substantially damaged. The left wing fuel tank was breached by impact and contained no fuel. The right tank was intact and contained about 8 gallons of fuel. The gascolator was drained, and the first 4 ounces drained were clear water; the remaining 4 ounces were a mixture of water and fuel. The carburetor was separated from the engine and was reattached with an adhesive to facilitate an engine operational check. An external fuel tank was then plumbed to the carburetor, and the engine was started on the airframe using the airplane's battery. The engine started immediately, accelerated smoothly, and ran continuouslywithout interruption. A magneto check was performed satisfactorily, and the engine was shut down utilizing the airplane's engine controls. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N53393](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N53393-2018-03-23), registration cancelled 2018-03-23, S/N 15283542, built 1979 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 152 (NO SERIES) - Registry model: [Cessna 152](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-152) (registry code 2071835) (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: 15283542 - Year built: 1979 - Airframe hours: 1875.1 - Engines: LYCOMING O-235 SERIES 110 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, November 6, 2012, 11 hours before - Departed: WDR, Winder, GA - Destination: WDR, Winder, GA - Airport: WDR, Barrow County, runway 31, 5,500 × 100 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Stall warning system ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 75; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 700 total, 300 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 77 °F, dew point 68 °F - Altimeter: 29.95 inHg - Observed at: KWDR, 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 20170926019879A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20170926019879A), Sep 26, 2017: Cessna 152, Winder, GA, Destroyed. Pilot took off at approximately 200 ft engine stopped running. Pilot landed aircraft in a field adjacent to airport and crashed. ## Other investigations on N53393 (1) 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. - [NTSB MKC81FCG35](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MKC81FCG35), May 26, 1981: Cessna 152 (N53393), Vibbard, MO, substantial damage ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on September 6, 2018, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=96095. 212 KB in all. - Memorandum for Record - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 46 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40466355&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Memorandum%20for%20Record%20-%20Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Memorandum for Record - Telephone Interview, Pilot (item 2, .PDF, 66 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40466356&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Memorandum%20for%20Record%20-%20Telephone%20Interview,%20Pilot%20-Master.PDF - Memorandum for Record - FAA Inspector's Statement, Wreckage Exam (item 3, .PDF, 47 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40466357&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Memorandum%20for%20Record%20-%20FAA%20Inspector%27s%20Statement,%20Wreckage%20Exam-Master.PDF - Witness Fuel Examination (item 4, .PDF, 1 photo, 54 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40466358&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Witness%20Fuel%20Examination-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.