- Date
- May 6, 1997, 19:30 local (May 7, 1997, 01:30 UTC)
- Place
- Las Cruces, NM
- Injuries
- 3 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Enroute
- Aircraft
- N733WJCessna 172N
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report February 2, 1998
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19970507008489A
- Case key
- 20212
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The improper installation of the throttle arm castellated nut, which resulted in a partial loss of power. A factor was the lack of suitable terrain for the forced landing.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
The pilot reported that while in cruise flight the engine RPM decreased to 2,100. He pulled the throttle out and the RPM decreased to 1,900 RPM. He then applied full throttle and the RPM only increased to 2,000. A forced landing was performed to a young pecan orchard. Examination of the aircraft's fuel system revealed that the right fuel tank had approximately 20 gallons of fuel, and the left fuel tank was empty. Further examination of the aircraft's throttle assembly revealed that the throttle arm castellated nut was loose, and the cotter pin was missing allowing the throttle arm to move without actuating the throttle shaft. A review of the maintenance records revealed the throttle shaft was replaced 6.2 hours earlier during an annual inspection. The person who performed the throttle shaft replacement reported that the airplane left his facility with the cotter pin installed.
Factual narrative
On May 6, 1997, at 1930 mountain daylight time, a Cessna 172N, N733WJ, registered to and operated by a private owner as a Title 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight, was substantially damaged during a forced landing following a partial loss of power near, Las Cruces, New Mexico. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and a flight plan was not filed for the cross country flight. The airline transport rated pilot and his two passengers were not injured. The flight originated from St. Johns, Arizona, about 2 hours and 40 minutes prior to the accident.
The pilot reported to the FAA inspector that while in cruise flight the engine RPM decreased to 2,100. He pulled the throttle out and the RPM decreased to 1,900 RPM. He then applied full throttle and the RPM only increased to 2,000. The pilot performed a forced landing to a young pecan orchard and the airplane nosed over.
Examination of the aircraft by the FAA inspector revealed that both wings sustained structural damage, and the nose landing gear and right main landing gear were separated from the fuselage. Examination of the aircraft's fuel system revealed that the right fuel tank contained approximately 20 gallons of fuel, and the left fuel tank was empty.
Further examination of the aircraft's throttle assembly revealed that the throttle arm castellated nut was loose, and the cotter pin was missing allowing the throttle arm to move without actuating the throttle shaft. A review of the maintenance records revealed the throttle shaft was replaced 6.2 hours earlier during an annual inspection. The person who performed the throttle shaft replacement reported that the airplane left his facility with the cotter pin installed.
Repeated attempts to obtain a completed Pilot/Operator Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1/2, were unsuccessful.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N733WJ
- Reported as
- Cessna 172N
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 17268604
- Airframe hours
- 6,585
- Engine
- Lycoming O-320-H2AD, 160 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- James D. Hossler
- Registered owner
- Latrenda D. Hossler
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · June 10, 1996 · 6 hours before
- Departed
- SJN · St. Johns, AZ
- Destination
- ELP · El Paso, TX
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 40
- Certificates
- Flight instructor, Commercial, Airline transport
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land, Multi-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 3, Expired
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 8,000 total
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 310° at 3 knots
- Lowest ceiling
- None
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.