# NTSB FTW93LA094: Cessna 172N, N8071E, Houston, TX, March 3, 1993 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: March 3, 1993, 17:40 local (23:40 UTC) - Place: Houston, TX - Coordinates: 29.560594, -95.099914 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.5606&lon=-95.0999&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report October 25, 1993 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 18705 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW93LA094 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/18705/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW93LA094 ## Probable cause FUEL STARVATION POWER LOSS DUE TO CARBURETOR RESTRICTION FROM A FOREIGN OBJECT, THE INADEQUATE INSPECTION AND IMPROPER OVERHAUL OF THE CARBURETOR BY OTHER MAINTENANCE PERSONNEL ## 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, cruise - fluid,fuel - starvation (cause) - fuel system,carburetor - foreign object (cause) - maintenance,overhaul - improper, other maintenance personnel (cause) - maintenance,inspection - inadequate, other maintenance personnel (cause) - Forced landing, descent - emergency - On ground/water collision with object, landing - roll - object - tree(s) - terrain condition - none suitable ## Analysis WHILE IN CRUISE FLIGHT, A TOTAL LOSS OF POWER OCCURRED AND THE PILOT WAS FORCED TO LAND IN A SMALL FIELD LOCATED NEAR HOUSES IN A HEAVILY WOODED AREA. THE AIRPLANE IMPACTED TREES AFTER ROLLING APPROXIMATELY 500 FEET. EXAMINATION OF THE CARBURETOR BY THE FAA REVEALED A PIECE OF BRASS LODGED IN THE FUEL METERING PORT WHICH HAD STARVED THE ENGINE OF FUEL. THE CARBURETOR HAD 29.7 HOURS OF OPERATION SINCE OVERHAUL. NO WORK HAD BEEN DONE TO IT SINCE INSTALLATION. ## Factual narrative On March 3, 1993, at approximately 1740 central standard time, a Cessna 172N, N8071E, was substantially damaged when it impacted trees during the landing roll in a small field after an in flight total loss of power forced the pilot to land. The field was located approximately 6 statute miles east of David Wayne Hooks Airport, Houston, Texas. The private pilot was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the personal flight. The flight originated in Longview, Texas, and was bound for David Wayne Hooks Airport, Houston, Texas. The pilot reported a total loss of power occurred while in cruise flight. The pilot stated the terrain below the airplane was housing in a heavily wooded area. Additionally, he said he had to maneuver the airplane under a power line and veer around several trees to be able to land in the field. During the landing roll, the airplane impacted trees before the pilot could bring it to a complete stop after rolling approximately 500 feet. The FAA inspector reported finding a piece of brass metal (foreign object) in the carburetor's float needle seat port (fuel metering needle). The carburetor had been overhauled along with the engine and had 29.7 hours of operating time since installation. A review of the aircraft's log books did not reveal any maintenance being performed to the carburetor since the overhaul was accomplished. A copy of the FAA inspector's statement is attached to this report. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N8071E](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8071E-2013-05-13), registration cancelled 2013-05-13, S/N 17272127, built 1978 (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: 17272127 - Airframe hours: 6659 - Engines: LYCOMING O-320-H2AD 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Powell, Kenneth W., doing business as Omega Aviation - Registered owner: Powell, Kenneth W. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, August 26, 1992, 179 hours before - Departed: GGG, LONGVIEW, TX ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 53; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 2,944 total, 1,900 in this make and model, 2,683 as pilot in command, 20 in the last 90 days, 10 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Dusk - Wind: 330° at 10 knots - Visibility: 20 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 64 °F, dew point 39 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: DWH, 6 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 19930303007949A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19930303007949A), Mar 3, 1993: Cessna 172N, Houston, TX, Substantial damage. Lost power. Struck trees on forced landing. Metal object in carb float needle seat caused fuel starvation. 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.