# NTSB FTW02LA267: Cessna A188, N9710V, Wellington, TX, September 27, 2002 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: September 27, 2002, 11:05 local (16:05 UTC) - Place: Wellington, TX - Coordinates: 34.845554, -100.196113 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.8456&lon=-100.1961&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report March 2, 2004 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 55787 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW02LA267 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/55787/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW02LA267 ## Probable cause The loss of engine power for an undetermined reason. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power, maneuvering - aerial application - reason for occurrence undetermined (cause) - Forced landing, emergency descent/landing - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, emergency descent/landing - terrain condition - ground ## Analysis During the aerial application maneuver, the fuel pressure dropped and the engine RPM dropped to 1,800-1,900 rpm's. The airplane was not able to maintain altitude, and the pilot initiated an emergency landing. The airplane landed hard and slid to a stop. The pilot exited the airplane during the onset of the post crash fire. Extensive thermal deformation was found throughout the airplane and engine. During the examination and teardown of the engine, there were no discrepancies found that would have precluded operation of the engine prior to the impact. The reason for the reported loss of power could not be determined. ## Factual narrative On September 27, 2002, approximately 1105 central daylight time, a Cessna A188 agricultural airplane, N9710V, was destroyed during a forced landing following a loss of engine power during an aerial application flight near Wellington, Texas. The airplane was owned by AAA Flying Service of Memphis, Texas, and operated by HLS, LLC of Hamlin, Texas, under 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 137. The commercial pilot received minor injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the local flight, and a company visual flight rules (VFR) flight plan was filed. The flight originated at Memphis, Texas, approximately 1030. The FAA inspector, who responded to the accident site, found the airplane resting upright in a grassland area on a measured heading of 260 degrees. The main landing gears were found separated from the airframe. There was thermal deformation found throughout the airframe, engine, and engine accessories. The operator and pilot reported to the FAA inspector that during the initial maneuvering entry to spray the grassland, the fuel pressure and the engine pressure dropped to 1,800-1,900 rpm's. The airplane was not able to maintain altitude, and the pilot initiated an emergency landing. The airplane landed hard and slid to a stop. The pilot exited the airplane during the onset of the fire. On August 21, 2003, under the supervision of a NTSB investigator, an examination and teardown of the Continental IO-520-D1 engine, serial number 1582-12-6-D, was performed in Mobile, Alabama. There were no discrepancies found that would have precluded operation of the engine prior to the impact. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N9710V](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N9710V-2013-08-27), registration cancelled 2013-08-27, S/N 188-0160, built 1966 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna A188 - Registry model: [Cessna A188](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-a188) (registry code 2073004) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental IO-520 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-io-520-series) (registry code 17032, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 0168 - Airframe hours: 3553 - Engines: Continental IO-520-D 300 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Fire: On-Ground - Flight: Aerial application, Part 137 - Operator: Hls, LLC - Registered owner: AAA Flying Service, Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special) - Departed: F21, Wellington, TX - Flight plan: Company VFR ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 59; injuries: minor; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review June 1, 2001; seat: center; flight hours: 5,000 total, 3,000 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 135° at 3 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles ## 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 20020927026689A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20020927026689A), Sep 27, 2002: Cessna A188, Wellington, TX, Destroyed. (-23) On September 27, 2002, at 11:05 CDT, a Cessna 188, single engine, agricultural airplane, N9710V made an emergency landing in a pasture approximately five… 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.