# NTSB FTW85LA095: Cessna 172N, N73849, Houston, TX, January 9, 1985

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: January 9, 1985, 17:30 local (23:30 UTC)
- Place: Houston, TX
- Coordinates: 29.92918, -95.600807 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.9292&lon=-95.6008&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 1 minor
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 21655
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW85LA095
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/21655/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW85LA095

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Loss of engine power(total) - mech failure/malf, descent - normal
  - fuel system,line - undertorqued (cause)
  - maintenance - improper, other maintenance personnel (cause)
  - fuel system,line - loose (cause)
  - fuel system,line - disconnected (cause)
  - fluid,fuel - starvation (cause)
- Forced landing, descent - emergency
- In flight collision with terrain/water, landing - flare/touchdown
  - terrain condition - dirt bank/rising embankment (contributing factor)
- Nose over, landing

## Analysis

INITIALLY, AFTER A TOP OVERHAUL, THE ENG WOULD NOT RUN. THE MECHANIC REMOVED THE CARBURETOR & FOUND A PIECE OF SILICON. AFTER REINSTALLING THE CARBURETOR, THE ENG OPERATED NORMALLY. THE PLT THEN TOOK OFF ON A MAINTENANCE TEST FLT. AS HE BEGAN A DESCENT BACK TOWARD THE ARPT, THE ENG STOPPED RUNNING & WOULD NOT RESTART, EXCEPT IT RESTARTED MOMENTARILY WHEN HE OPERATED THE PRIMER. DURING AN EMERGENCY LANDING, THE ACFT HIT A RICE FIELD LEVEE & NOSED OVER. AN EXAM REVEALED THAT THE FUEL LINE HAD BECOME DISCONNECTED FROM THE CARBURETOR AT A THREADED FITTING. A LABORATORY EXAM OF THE THREADED FITTING REVEALED A LACK OF SMEARING OR SCRATCHING THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN PRESENT IF THE FITTING HAD BEEN PROPERLY TORQUED.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N73849](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N73849-2013-05-07), registration cancelled 2013-05-07, S/N 17267720, built 1976 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 172N
- 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: 17267720
- Airframe hours: 1979
- Engines: LYCOMING O-320-H2AD 160 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Fire: On-Ground
- Flight: Part 91
- Registered owner: Alfred C. Hableman
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, January 9, 1985, 0 hours before
- Departed: T17

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 33; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 488 total, 241 in this make and model, 386 as pilot in command, 36 in the last 90 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Dusk
- Wind: 120° at 13 knots
- Visibility: 12 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 64 °F, dew point 54 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: 3 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 19850109016349A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19850109016349A), Jan 9, 1985: Cessna 172N, Houston, TX, Substantial damage. Engine quit on test flight after overhaul. Hit levee and flipped over in field. Fuel line fitting to carb backed out

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.

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