# NTSB ERA21LA144: Cessna 172, N5631E, Boynton Beach, FL, February 26, 2021 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report - Date: February 26, 2021, 14:45 local (19:45 UTC) - Place: Boynton Beach, FL - Coordinates: 26.505, -80.195556 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=26.5050&lon=-80.1956&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Enroute: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 3 - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA - SAIBs cited in the narratives: [SAIB CE-09-35](https://openairdocs.org/saib/CE-09-35) (OpenAirDocs) - NTSB case key (mKey): 102685 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA21LA144 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/102685/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=102685 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA21LA144 ## Probable cause A total loss of engine power for undetermined reasons. ## 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 172N, 24 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md?model=2072434), [All aircraft, 2,247 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Enroute: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 172N, 28 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=2072434), [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 172N, 31 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=2072434), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md) ## Analysis The student pilot was performing ground reference maneuvers at 1,000 ft when the flight instructor noticed that the airplane had descended “about 100 ft.” He advised the student pilot to climb the airplane back to the desired altitude, but the airplane did not respond to the student’s control inputs. The instructor took control of the airplane and his remedial actions failed to restore engine power, so he performed a forced landing to a dirt road between cultivated fields, which resulted in substantial damage to the airplane. A detailed examination of the airplane and a successful postaccident engine run failed to reveal any preimpact mechanical anomalies. Although atmospheric conditions at the time of the accident were conducive to serious icing at glide power, the reason for the loss of engine power could not be determined based on the available information. ## Factual narrative On February 26, 2021, about 1445 eastern standard time, a Cessna 172N, N5631E, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Boynton Beach, Florida. The flight instructor and student pilot were not injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 instructional flight. The instructor and the student pilot provided written statements that were consistent throughout. About 10 minutes after departure, the student was performing ground reference maneuvers at 1,000 ft when the flight instructor noticed the airplane had descended “about 100 ft.” He advised the student to climb the airplane back to the desired altitude, but the airplane did not respond to the student’s control inputs. The instructor assumed control of the airplane and performed remedial actions to restore engine power, which were unsuccessful. He then selected a dirt road that bisected cultivated fields for a forced landing. After landing, the airplane’s right wing, right main landing gear, and right wing strut impacted a gate post along the road, which separated the gear and strut, collapsed the wing at its root, and rotated the airplane 180° before it came to rest on its right side. Review of maintenance information revealed that the airplane’s most recent 100-hour inspection was completed on February 13, 2021, at 15,942 total aircraft hours. The airplane was recovered, and a detailed examination of the airplane was performed by a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) aviation safety inspector. The examination revealed no preimpact mechanical anomalies, and a fuel can was plumbed into the fuel system at the wing root, as the wings were removed during recovery. The engine started immediately, accelerated smoothly, and ran continuously without interruption. A magneto check was performed satisfactorily, and an inspection of the carburetor heat system revealed that the system operated as designed with no anomalies or blockages noted. According to the New Carburetor Icing-Probability chart published by the Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) and cited in the FAA report, atmospheric conditions at the time of the accident were conducive to "serious icing at descent power.” Review of the icing probability chart contained within the FAA Special Airworthiness Information Bulletin CE-09-35 revealed the atmospheric conditions at the time of the accident were “conducive to serious icing at glide power.” ## Aircraft - Registration: [N5631E](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N5631E), registered now, S/N 17271906 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 172 (N) - Registry model: [Cessna 172N](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172n) (registry code 2072434) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 17271906 - Airframe hours: 15942.9 - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Pilot Training Center - Registered owner: N141ns LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, February 13, 2021, 42.1 hours before - Departed: LNA, West Palm Beach, FL - Airport: LNA ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Flight instructor; age 52; injuries: none; commercial, airline transport, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; seat: right; flight hours: 2,200 total, 800 in this make and model - Student pilot; age 35; injuries: none; student; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; seat: left; flight hours: 20 total, 20 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 100° at 8 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 82 °F, dew point 68 °F - Altimeter: 30.12 inHg - Observed at: KBCT, 10 nm away - METAR: KBCT 261947Z 10008KT 10SM SCT024 28/20 A3012 ## 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 20210226000209A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20210226000209A), Feb 26, 2021: Cessna 172N, Lantana, FL, Substantial damage. Part 141 operator certificate no. [privacy data omitted], Pilot training center, preforming instruction operating Cessna CE-172N, registration N531E, sn:… ## Docket (5 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on March 1, 2023, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=102685. 4.2 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 10 pages, 2.8 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12121994&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=N5631E%20NTSB_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Memorandum for record a�� telephone interview, pilot (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 117 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12122004&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Memorandum%20for%20Zargar%20Amini%20CFI-Rel.pdf - FAA inspector's statement (item 3, PDF, 5 pages, 462 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12121618&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Inspector%20Statement%20N5631E%20_Redacted-Rel.pdf - FAA SAIB - carburetor icing prevention (item 4, PDF, 3 pages, 107 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15118170&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=FAA_SAIB_CE-09-35_Carb_Icing_Prevention-Rel.pdf - Photo array (item 5, PDF, 2 pages, 720 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12122014&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=ERA21LA144%20Photo%20Array-Rel.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.