# NTSB FTW04LA229: Cessna 175, N6517E, De Ridder, LA, September 2, 2004 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: September 2, 2004, 17:25 local (22:25 UTC) - Place: De Ridder, LA - Coordinates: 30.831666, -93.339721 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.8317&lon=-93.3397&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report December 3, 2004 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Baton Rouge FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 60048 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW04LA229 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/60048/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW04LA229 ## Probable cause The partial loss of engine power for undetermined reasons. A contributing factor was the lack of suitable terrain for the forced landing. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(partial) - nonmechanical, takeoff - initial climb - reason for occurrence undetermined (cause) - Forced landing, emergency landing - On ground/water collision with object, emergency landing - object - fence - terrain condition - none suitable (contributing factor) ## Analysis The 290-hour pilot reported that shortly after take-off, when the airplane was approximately 175 feet above ground level (agl) and approximately 4,000 feet down the 5,495- foot-long and 100-foot-wide runway, the engine lost power and was unable to maintain altitude. He elected to execute a forced landing, and turned approximately seven degrees to the left of the runway to avoid hitting a localizer antennae located near the end of the runway; however, the airplane impacted a fence with the left wing. The engine was later test run under the supervision of an FAA inspector. The reason for the reported loss of engine power could not be determined. ## Factual narrative On September 2, 2004, approximately 1725 central daylight time, a Cessna 175 single engine airplane, N6517E, was substantially damaged during a forced landing following a loss of engine power shortly after takeoff from the Beauregard Regional Airport (DRI) near De Ridder, Louisiana. The private pilot and his passenger were not injured. The airplane was registered and operated by a private individual. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed for the personal flight conducted under 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. The flight was originating at the time of the accident and was destined for the Leesville Airport near Leesville, Louisiana. A Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector, who responded to the accident site, interviewed the pilot. According to the inspector, the 290-hour pilot reported that after takeoff, when the airplane was approximately 175 feet above ground level (agl) and approximately 4,000 feet down the 5,495- foot-long and 100-foot-wide runway, the engine lost power. The pilot cycled the throttle, but the engine showed no increase in power. The airplane was unable to maintain altitude, and the pilot elected to turn approximately seven degrees to the left of the runway to avoid colliding with the localizer antennae located near the end of the runway; however the airspeed was too high and the airplane impacted a fence with the left wing. After impacting the fence, the pilot re-started the engine and taxied the airplane back to the hangar. Examination of the airframe by the FAA inspector revealed structural damage to the left wing. The engine was run on September 8, 2004, under the supervision of an FAA inspector. It ran at various power settings for approximately five minutes with no interruptions. No leaks were observed at this time. The reason for the reported loss of engine power could not be determined. At 1655, the automated weather observing system at Polk Army Airfield located near Fort Polk, Louisiana, approximately 15 nautical miles northeast of the accident site, reported wind from 010 degrees at 4 knots, scattered clouds at 5,000 feet, broken clouds at 12,000 feet, an overcast at 20,000 feet, temperature 84 degrees Fahrenheit, dew point 68 degrees Fahrenheit, and a barometric pressure of 29.97 inches of Mercury. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N6517E](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N6517E), registered now, S/N 56017 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 175 - Registry model: [Cessna 175](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-175) (registry code 2072502) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental GO-300 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-go-300-series) (registry code 17024, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 56017 - Engines: Continental GO300 175 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Charles Williams - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, April 1, 2004, 40 hours before - Departed: KDRI, De Ridder, LA - Destination: LA29, LEESVILLE, LA - Airport: KDRI, Beauregard Regional Airport, runway 36, 5,945 × 100 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 39; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; last flight review August 19, 2003; seat: left; flight hours: 290 total, 14 in this make and model, 233 as pilot in command, 18 in the last 90 days, 4 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 10° at 4 knots - Visibility: 7 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 12,000 ft broken - Temperature: 84 °F, dew point 68 °F - Altimeter: 29.96 inHg - Observed at: KPOE, 26 nm away 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.