# NTSB ERA18LA074: Cessna 172, N294ME, Babylon, NY, January 29, 2018 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: January 29, 2018, 09:28 local (14:28 UTC) - Place: Babylon, NY - Coordinates: 40.621387, -73.27333 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.6214&lon=-73.2733&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Enroute: Loss of engine power (partial)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 3 uninjured - Status: Completed, report February 5, 2019 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/ FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 96670 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA18LA074 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/96670/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=96670 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA18LA074 ## Probable cause The partial loss of engine power after a simulated engine failure for reasons that could not be determined because a postaccident examination and an engine test run did not reveal any anomalies that would have precluded normal operation. ## 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 172S, 25 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md?model=2072439), [All aircraft, 2,247 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md) - [Runway/land/takeoff/taxi surface: soft surface](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023020): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome; cases with it: [Cessna 172S, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023020/cases.md?model=2072439), [All aircraft, 264 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023020/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Enroute: Simulated/training event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/600); cases with it: [Cessna 172S, 8 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/600/sequence.md?model=2072439), [All aircraft, 173 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/600/sequence.md) - [Enroute: Loss of engine power (partial)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 172S, 10 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342/sequence.md?model=2072439), [All aircraft, 1,858 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096); cases with it: [Cessna 172S, 34 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md?model=2072439), [All aircraft, 2,287 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Cessna 172S, 118 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=2072439), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The flight instructor reported that, during a local instructional flight along a coastline, he reduced engine power to idle when the airplane was at an altitude of about 2,000 ft above ground level and had the student pilot perform the checklist for an in-flight engine failure. As part of the simulated event, the student also performed the checklist for "unable to start engine." As the airplane reached an altitude of about 1,000 ft above ground level, the student increased engine power to recover, at which time the engine produced about 1,500 rpm and then returned to idle, even as the throttle was further increased. The flight instructor immediately took the flight controls. He turned off the magnetos and the engine. He then turned on the electric fuel pump for 2 seconds and attempted to restart the engine, but the engine produced only partial power. The flight instructor then performed a forced landing to a clearing on a beach. During the landing roll, the airplane's nosewheel sunk into the sand, and the airplane nosed over. The airplane's right wing and fuselage sustained substantial damage. Postaccident examination of the airplane did not reveal evidence of any preexisting mechanical anomalies that would have precluded normal operation. A postaccident test run of the airplane's engine revealed that it started and operated normally at various power settings up to 2,000 rpm. Thus, given the available evidence, the reason(s) for the partial loss of engine power could not be determined. ## Factual narrative On January 29, 2018, about 0930 eastern standard time, a Cessna 172S, N294ME, was substantially damaged during an emergency landing on the Robert Moses State Park Beach in Babylon, New York. The flight instructor, student pilot, and passenger were not injured. The airplane was registered to Hickory Lane Corp. and operated by 30 Aviation Inc., doing business as Nassau Flyers under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as an instructional flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed for the flight, which originated from Republic Airport (FRG), Farmingdale, New York, about 0835. According to the flight instructor, the student pilot completed multiple ground reference maneuvers, and as they were headed back to FRG, the student requested to practice an emergency procedure. The flight instructor agreed, climbed the airplane to about 2,000 ft above ground level (agl), reduced engine power to idle, and had the student perform the "engine failure in-flight checklist." Subsequently, the student continued the simulated event by proceeding to the "unable to start engine checklist," and as part of the checklist, moved the mixture control knob about 75% toward idle-cut-off. The flight instructor stopped the student pilot from moving the control knob any further and returned the mixture to full rich, and the student continued the checklist, with the flight instructor making sure the student did not actually "touch anything" further. About 1,000 ft agl, the flight instructor told the student to increase power, and as he did so, the engine produced about 1,500 rpm and then returned to idle, as the throttle was increased further. The flight instructor immediately took the flight controls, pulled throttle to idle, then increased the throttle to full power, which produced the same engine performance. Subsequently, he "turned the magnetos off and pulled the mixture [to idle-cut-off] to turn the engine off." He then turned the electric fuel pump on for two seconds, "started the engine again," and "applied the throttle to the same effect." About 700 to 800 ft agl, the flight instructor identified a clearing on the beach, extended the flaps to 30° and touched down about 62 knots. He reported that the airplane slowed much faster than he had anticipated, and he gently applied brakes to slow the airplane down further. As he continued to apply the brakes, the nose wheel sunk into the sand and the airplane nosed over. A Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector's examination of the airplane revealed that the fuselage and right wing sustained substantial damage during the landing. The inspector examined the wreckage at the accident site and found that the fuel-shutoff-valve (SOV) located between the two pilot seats, near the floorboards, was partially pulled toward the closed position. After the airplane was recovered, an engine test run was performed. The FAA inspector observed the engine start and runcontinuously at multiple power settings up to 2,000 rpm without interruption, with the engine utilizing the airplane's own battery and fuel system. During the test, the fuel SOV was moved to the position it was found at the accident site (partially pulled toward closed) and the engine also produced 2,000 rpm with no abnormalities observed. The inspector added that no abnormalities were observed during a functional on/closed test of the fuel SOV. During a postaccident interview, the FAA inspector asked the student pilot if he had moved the fuel SOV during flight, and the student reported that he had not. The flight instructor also could not recall if anyone had moved the fuel SOV during flight, or during the evacuation. The flight instructor also reported that he and student pilot did not discuss simulated engine failure procedures during preflight. According to FAA airworthiness records, the four-seat, high-wing, single-engine airplane was manufactured in 2000. It was equipped with a Lycoming IO-360-L2A, 180-horsepower engine. The engine had accumulated 1,420 hours, and the airframe had accumulated 6,097 hours. The most recent annual and 100-hour inspection was performed on December 22, 2017. A Nassau Flyers Cessna 172S normal and emergency procedures checklist was found in the airplane. The following emergency procedure actions were highlighted in red on the checklist: ENGINE FAILURE DURING FLIGHT • Pitch (Best Glide) 68 KIAS • Landing Site Select • Fuel Shutoff Valve ON • Fuel Selector Both • Aux Fuel Pump ON • Mixture Full Rich • Magnetos Both/ Start The weather conditions reported at FRG airport, about 9 miles northwest of the accident site, included wind from 050° at 11 knots, visibility 10 statute miles, clear skies, temperature 4°C, and dew point -2°C. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N294ME](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N294ME-2019-01-16), registration cancelled 2019-01-16, S/N 172S8552, built 2000 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 172 (S) - Registry model: [Cessna 172S](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172s) (registry code 2072439) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming I0360 SER A&C](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-i0360-ser-a-c) (registry code 41511, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 172S8552 - Year built: 2000 - Airframe hours: 6097 - Engines: LYCOMING IO-360-L2A 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: 30 Aviation Inc., doing business as Nassau Flyers - Registered owner: Hickory Lane Corp - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility; Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, December 22, 2017 - Departed: FRG, FARMINGDALE, NY - Destination: FRG, FARMINGDALE, NY - Equipment: Stall warning system, Auto-pilot ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Flight instructor; age 26; injuries: none; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; last flight review January 10, 2017; seat: right; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 541 total, 273 in this make and model, 460 as pilot in command, 98 in the last 90 days, 26 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours - Student pilot; age 16; injuries: none; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 4 total, 4 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 50° at 11 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 39 °F, dew point 28 °F - Altimeter: 30.20 inHg - Observed at: KFRG, 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 20180129001699A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20180129001699A), Jan 29, 2018: Cessna 172S, Babylon, NY, Substantial damage. 1/29/2018: Arrived on scene at 10AM local. The PIC stated that after practicing ground reference maneuvers, he decided simulate emergency landing procedures.… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on April 24, 2018, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=96670. 346 KB in all. - Record of Conversations (FAA Inspectors) (item 1, .PDF, 74 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40462383&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversations%20(FAA%20Inspectors)-Master.PDF - Record of Conversation (Flight Instructor) (item 2, .PDF, 63 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40462384&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation%20(Flight%20Instructor)-Master.PDF - Nassau Flyers C172s Checklist (item 3, .PDF, 209 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40462385&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Nassau%20Flyers%20C172s%20Checklist-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.