# NTSB ERA19TA235: Cessna 152, N47028, Wakefield, VA, July 25, 2019 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 3 · Final report - Date: July 25, 2019, 11:40 local (15:40 UTC) - Place: Wakefield, VA - Coordinates: 36.981109, -77.003051 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.9811&lon=-77.0031&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Takeoff: Fuel contamination](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/193) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 3 - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 99934 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA19TA235 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/99934/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=99934 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA19TA235 ## Probable cause The pilot's inadequate preflight inspection, which failed to detect and remove all water from fuel, and maintenance personnel’s unapproved repair of the right wing fuel cap, which resulted in fuel contamination and a subsequent partial loss of engine power during takeoff. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [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) - [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) - [Maintenance: repair](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02062015): Personnel issues › Task performance · Maintenance personnel (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 152, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02062015/cases.md?model=2071835), [All aircraft, 99 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02062015/cases.md) - [Fuel system: fuel storage](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022810): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Incorrect service/maintenance (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 152, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022810/cases.md?model=2071835), [All aircraft, 60 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022810/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Takeoff: 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) - [Takeoff: Loss of engine power (partial)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342); cases with it: [Cessna 152, 21 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342/sequence.md?model=2071835), [All aircraft, 1,858 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342/sequence.md) - [Takeoff-rejected takeoff: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300); cases with it: [Cessna 152, 38 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=2071835), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md) - [Takeoff-rejected takeoff: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Cessna 152, 84 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=2071835), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis During the preflight inspection, the pilot sampled the fuel from the right main fuel tank seven times until no water was present in the sample. He also checked the airplane’s left main fuel tank, fuel strainer, and a belly sump and there was no water in those samples. He flew uneventfully to a nearby airport where he intended to perform practice touch and go landings. During the takeoff phase of the first practice touch-and-go landing, the airplane was flying about 25 ft above ground level when the engine sputtered. The pilot landed the airplane on the remaining portion of the runway near the departure end, then because there was insufficient runway to stop, he turned the airplane left. The airplane impacted a perimeter fence before coming to rest upright. The fuselage and right wing were substantially damaged. Examination of the airplane revealed water in fuel samples recovered from the carburetor, the belly sump, and the firewall sump, which indicates that water was still present in the fuel system following the pilot’s preflight inspection. The examination also revealed a gray putty substance around the right wing fuel cap gasket, which did not appear to be an approved repair. Additionally, before the day of the accident, the airplane sat outside in rain. Given this information, it is likely that rainwater leaked into the fuel system throught he improperly sealing right wing tank fuel cap. ## Factual narrative On July 25, 2019, about 1140 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 152, N47028, was substantially damaged during a rejected takeoff at Wakefield Municipal Airport (AKQ), Wakefield, Virginia. The solo private pilot was not injured. The personal flight was conducted under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed for the local flight. The pilot stated that prior to his first flight of the day from Norfolk International Airport (ORF), Norfolk, Virginia, he performed a preflight inspection of the airplane that included a check of each fuel tank, which were full. No water was detected in the left main fuel tank, but during sump testing of the right main fuel tank, he had to get seven samples from the tank before the sample was clear and no water was present. He also checked the fuel strainer and a belly drain, and there was no water in the sample from either. The pilot flew from ORF to AKQ uneventfully with the intention to perform touch-and-go landings on runway 20, a 4,337-ft-long asphalt runway. During the takeoff phase of the first touch-and-go landing, about 25 feet above ground level, the engine sputtered. The pilot landed the airplane on the remaining portion of the runway, near the departure end. Realizing there was insufficient runway to stop, he turned the airplane left and it impacted a perimeter fence before coming to rest upright. The pilot added that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions with the airplane. Examination of the airplane by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector revealed that the right wing and right horizontal stabilizer were damaged. During the examination, the inspector recovered fuel with water in it from three sources: the carburetor, the belly sump, and the firewall sump. The inspector also noted what appeared to be a gray putty substance around the right wing fuel cap gasket, which did not appear to be an approved repair. The inspector added that prior to the day of the accident, the airplane sat outside in rain. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N47028](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N47028), registered now, S/N 15283159 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 152 - 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: 15283159 - Year built: 1979 - Airframe hours: 8685 - Engines: Lycoming O-235 SERIES 115 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Norfolk Flying Club - Registered owner: Bishop's LTD - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility - Last inspection: Annual, February 11, 2019, 68 hours before - Departed: AKQ, Wakefield, VA - Destination: AKQ, Wakefield, VA - Airport: AKQ, Wakefield Municipal Airport, runway 20, 4,337 × 75 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Handheld GPS, Stall warning system ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 65; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review March 28, 2019; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 235 total, 5 in this make and model, 134 as pilot in command, 2 in the last 90 days, 2 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: variable at 4 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 82 °F, dew point 63 °F - Altimeter: 30.12 inHg - Observed at: AKQ ## 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 20190725016179A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20190725016179A), Jul 25, 2019: Cessna 152, Wakefield, VA, Substantial damage. Pilot performing touch & goes, landed runway 20 and was throttling back up when aircraft experienced engine loss. Aircraft clipped a perimeter fence and landed… ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on January 3, 2020, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=99934. 3.4 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 2.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40479600&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Interview Summaries (item 2, .PDF, 72 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40479601&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Interview%20Summaries-Master.PDF - Excerpt From Maintenance Records (item 3, .PDF, 182 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40479602&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Excerpt%20From%20Maintenance%20Records-Master.PDF - Photo Array (item 4, .PDF, 1.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40479603&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.