# NTSB FTW01LA153: Cessna 182Q, N4834N, Houston, TX, June 23, 2001 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: June 23, 2001, 11:55 local (16:55 UTC) - Place: Houston, TX - Coordinates: 29.610227, -95.120399 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.6102&lon=-95.1204&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious - Status: Completed, report July 15, 2002 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Teledyne Continental Motors, Federal Aviation Administation - NTSB case key (mKey): 52557 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW01LA153 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/52557/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW01LA153 ## Probable cause the loss of engine power for an undetermined reason, which resulted in a collision with terrain. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power, takeoff - initial climb - reason for occurrence undetermined (cause) - Forced landing, emergency landing after takeoff - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - emergency - object - tree(s) - terrain condition - ground ## Analysis According to the pilot, he and another individual completed Teledyne Continental Motors Service Information Directive (SID) 97-3 (adjustment of the fuel flow injection system) and then completed an engine run-up. No anomalies were noted during the engine run-up. The pilot then taxied the airplane to takeoff for a test flight. The flight departed and while the airplane was climbing through 300 feet agl the engine lost total power. The pilot stated that he turned the fuel selector to the OFF position and executed a forced landing adjacent to the airport. The airplane contacted trees and the ground during the forced landing, and came to rest upright. According to witnesses, the airplane departed from runway 17L and was climbing through 300 feet when the engine "failed." The airplane was observed making a "steep" 180-degree turn to the right back toward the airport when the right wing dropped, and the airplane entered a nose low attitude and impacted the ground. The engine was test run and examined, and no findings were observed that would preclude operation of the engine. Additionally, the fuel metering unit, fuel manifold, and fuel pump were examined and flow tested and no anomalies were noted. ## Factual narrative On June 23, 2001, at 1155 central daylight time, a Cessna 182Q single engine airplane, N4834N, was substantially damaged when it impacted terrain during a forced landing following a loss of engine power during the initial takeoff climb from the David Wayne Hooks Memorial Airport, Houston, Texas. The airplane was registered to and operated by Southwestern Gas Pipeline Inc., of The Woodlands, Texas. The airline transport pilot, sole occupant of the airplane, sustained serious injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and a flight plan was not filed for the 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 maintenance test flight. The local flight was originating at the time of the accident. According to the pilot, who also holds an FAA airframe and power plant mechanic certificate, he and another individual completed Teledyne Continental Motors (TCM) Service Information Directive (SID) 97-3 (adjustment of the fuel flow injection system), and then did a "complete engine run up." The pilot then taxied to runway 17L for a test flight. The flight departed and while the airplane was climbing through 300 feet agl, the engine "quit." The pilot stated that he turned the fuel selector to the OFF position and executed a forced landing adjacent to the airport. During the forced landing, the airplane contacted trees and the ground, and came to rest upright. The pilot reported that the nose landing gear and right main landing gear assemblies separated from the airframe, and the engine firewall was damaged. According to witnesses, the airplane departed from runway 17L and was climbing through 300 feet when the engine "failed." The airplane was observed making a "steep" 180-degree turn to the right back toward the airport when the right wing dropped, and the airplane entered a nose low attitude and impacted the ground. On August 7, 2001, the TCM IO-470-F33 engine was placed in a test stand, test run, and examined under supervision of the NTSB Investigator-In-Charge. The engine was test run for seven minutes and operated at idle, cruise, and maximum power settings. A magneto check was performed at 1,800 rpm, which resulted in a left magneto drop of 175 rpm and a right magneto drop of 150 rpm. No anomalies were noted during the test run. Following the engine test run a differential compression check of the cylinders was performed and the following results were noted: #1 75/80, #2 68/80, #3 70/80, #4 79/80, #5 72/80 and #6 73/80. The fuel manifold was disassembled, it appeared intact and its fuel screen was clear, and it was then reassembled. The main fuel screen in the fuel metering unit was removed and a small amount of debris was observed. The fuel metering unit, fuel manifold, and fuel pump were sent to the TCM facility in Mobile, Alabama, for further testing, under supervision of an FAA supervisor. The fuel metering unit, fuel manifold, and fuel pump were flow tested and according to TCM "all components flowed at or near TCM specifications." According to the engine logbook, on November 19, 2000, the engine was overhauled at the TCM Factory and was installed in the airplane on January 26, 2001. At the time of the accident, the engine had accumulated 94.6 hours since major overhaul. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N4834N](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4834N-2001-08-02), registration cancelled 2001-08-02, S/N 18267404 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 182Q - Registry model: [Cessna 182Q](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-182q) (registry code 2072732) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 18267404 - Airframe hours: 8219.4 - Engines: Continental IO-470-F33 260 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Flight test, Part 91 - Registered owner: Southwestern Gas Pipeline Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, May 8, 2001, 12.2 hours before - Departed: DWH, Houston, TX - Destination: DWH - Airport: DWH, David Wayne Hooks, runway 17L, 3,997 × 35 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 49; injuries: serious; airline transport, commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review November 4, 2000; seat: left; flight hours: 6,300 total, 3,500 in this make and model, 6,300 as pilot in command, 200 in the last 90 days, 83 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: variable at 3 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 25,000 ft broken - Temperature: 84 °F, dew point 66 °F - Altimeter: 30.07 inHg - Observed at: IAH, 10 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 20010623015609A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20010623015609A), Jun 23, 2001: Cessna 182Q, Houston, TX, Substantial damage. (.19) On June 23, 2001, at 1158 central daylight time, a Cessna 182Q, N4834N, was substantially damaged when it impacted terrain following a loss of engine… 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.