# NTSB IAD96LA043: Cessna 177A, N30422, Sidney, OH, February 17, 1996 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: February 16, 1996, 19:12 local (Feb 17, 1996, 00:12 UTC) - Place: Sidney, OH - Coordinates: 40.279811, -84.160163 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.2798&lon=-84.1602&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report November 11, 1996 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 28023 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=IAD96LA043 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/28023/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/IAD96LA043 ## Probable cause fuel contamination, and the pilot's inadequate preflight inspection, which resulted in subsequent loss of engine power during cruise flight. A factor relating to the accident was: rough terrain in the emergency landing area. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, cruise - fluid,fuel - contamination (cause) - aircraft preflight - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - Forced landing, emergency descent/landing - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, emergency landing - terrain condition - rough/uneven (contributing factor) ## Analysis The pilot reported that the airplane was in cruise flight at 3000 feet MSL, when the engine began to sputter, then lost power. The pilot stated that he applied carburetor heat, switched fuel tanks, and turned on the fuel boost pumps, but all restart attempts were unsuccessful. He made a forced landing in a rough field, and the airplane was damaged during the landing roll. Postaccident examination revealed evidence of fuel contamination. A brown colored substance was found in the fuel sump drain. The engine was test run using auxiliary fuel and auxiliary electrical power. During the test run, the engine ran smoothly with no indication of a malfunction. ## Factual narrative On February 16, 1996, at about 1912 eastern standard time (EST), a Cessna 177A, N30422, lost engine power during cruise flight, and made a forced landing near Sidney, Ohio. The airplane sustained substantial damage during the forced landing. The certificated private pilot and one passenger were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and a flight plan was not filed. The repositioning flight was operated under 14 CFR Part 91. The flight originated from Lima, Ohio, at 1900 EST. The intended destination was Sidney, Ohio. The pilot reported that the flight was cruising at 3000 feet Mean Sea Level (MSL), when the engine started to sputter. He stated that he applied carburetor heat and switched fuel tanks, but the engine continued to lose power. The pilot stated that he switched on the fuel boost pumps, but all attempts to restore power were unsuccessful. The pilot made a forced landing in a rough field, and the left main landing gear separated during the landing roll. According to the Ohio State Police, the pilot said that he was repositioning his airplane when the engine lost power about six miles north of Sidney. The pilot told the police officer that the airplane had been in Lima, Ohio, for maintenance since October, 1995. The officer reported that there was about 15 to 20 gallons of fuel onboard the airplane after the accident. The airplane was examined by a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Inspector after the accident. The Inspector stated that the examination included checking the fuel in the carburetor and fuel sump drain. The Inspector stated that when they examined the fuel system, a brown colored substance was found in the fuel sump drain. A postaccident engine test run was conducted with the engine still installed on the airframe. Auxiliary fuel and auxiliary electrical power were supplied for the test run. According to the FAA Inspector, the engine started normally, and "...ran smoothly. There was no indication of any malfunction during the run... ." ## Aircraft - Registration: [N30422](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N30422-1997-02-05), registration cancelled 1997-02-05, S/N 17701247 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 177A - Registry model: [Cessna 177A](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-177a) (registry code 2073706) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 17701244 - Engines: Lycoming O-360-A2F 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Jeffrey Meckstroth - Registered owner: Sidney Flying Club - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, June 15, 1995, 24 hours before - Departed: AOH, LIMA, OH - Destination: I12, OH ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 38; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 268 total, 268 in this make and model, 175 as pilot in command ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Dusk - Wind: 340° at 7 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 4,000 ft overcast - Temperature: 21 °F, dew point 12 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: DAY, 25 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 19960216001999A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19960216001999A), Feb 16, 1996: Cessna 177A, Sidney, OH, Substantial damage. Lost power en route. Separated left main landing gear in rough field. Had sat idle prior 5 months. Fuel contaminated (-23) the pilot states he was… 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.