LAX02FA056

The airplane lost engine power and the pilot ditched it in the Pacific Ocean about 1/4-mile offshore. He was on the return leg of a cross-country flight and had experienced no problems with the airplane or engine on the outbound leg. The pilot did not note any anomalies during the engine run up prior to takeoff on the return leg, and thought that takeoff performance was similar to previous takeoffs with passengers on board. The pilot established the airplane in cruise at 4,500 feet and an airspeed of 90 knots on an airway about 7 miles from the shoreline. He established 2,200 revolutions per minute (rpm) and leaned for cruise. Immediately thereafter, the engine speed dropped to 1,000 rpm. He did not recall any loud noises; he just noted the loss of engine rpm. He attempted to diagnose the problem, but his efforts had no results. The engine stopped, and he made a turn towards the shore. During the glide the pilot was able to affect a restart, but the engine lost power in less than 2 minutes and the rpm never rose above 1,000. The pilot told air traffic control that he wasn't going to make it to shore, and ditched the airplane about 300 yards offshore. The pilot and the passengers exited the airplane before it sank in 70 feet of water. They were on the top of the airplane for about a minute before it sank. Local authorities rescued the pilot and recovered one victim; one victim was not recovered and is presumed to be deceased. Investigators were unable to establish magneto timing or obtain spark during the wreckage examination. Disassembly of the magneto revealed that the impulse coupling spring was fractured and separated at two places. Upon reassembly without the impulse coupling, one magneto fired on all four leads; the other magneto fired intermittently on three leads due to salt water corrosion on the contacts. Metallurgical examination revealed that the surfaces of both coupling spring fractures exhibited micro features of corrosion on the surfaces. These fractured areas appeared consistent with stress corrosion cracking. Optical and scanning electron microscope examinations of the spring pieces uncovered many areas of corrosion and corrosion pitting on the spring surfaces. The corrosion pitting was particularly evident on the edges of the springs, but other corrosion areas were visible on the flat faces of the spring. A broken spring could retard the magneto timing to top dead center or after (the specified timing is 25 degrees before top dead center). The engine logbooks showed that the magneto inspections required in Airworthiness Directive 96-12-07 had been complied with. Examination of the airframe and the rest of the engine found no evidence of an anomaly that would have contributed to a loss of engine power.

History of flight

On December 25, 2001, at 1503 Pacific standard time, a Cessna 172N, N738BC, lost engine power and ditched in the Pacific Ocean about 1/4-mile offshore from San Clemente, California. Security Aviation was operating the rental airplane under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91. The private pilot sustained serious injuries, one passenger sustained fatal injuries, and one passenger is missing and presumed to be deceased. The airplane was destroyed. The personal cross-country flight departed McClellen/Palomar Field (CRQ), Carlsbad, California, at 1449, en route to Hawthorne (HHR), California. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed. The primary wreckage was at 33 degrees 20.02 minutes north latitude and 117 degrees 30.26 minutes west longitude.

The Hawthorne based operator reported that the pilot scheduled the airplane for a flight on Tuesday, December 25, between the hours of 1000 and 1400. The pilot came in on Monday to get the keys.

The National Transportation Safety Board investigator-in-charge (IIC) interviewed the pilot. The pilot stated that he had flown this route frequently. He experienced no problems with the airplane or engine on the flight from Hawthorne to Palomar. He stayed on the ground at Palomar about 1 hour.

On the way to Palomar, the pilot stated that he had the right tank selected; however, when he set up for landing, he placed the fuel selector in the "BOTH" position. He left it there through landing and takeoff, and had not moved the fuel selector at the time of the accident.

The pilot stated that he completed a preflight inspection at both Hawthorne and Palomar. He visually checked the fuel level and drained fuel. He did engine run ups prior to both takeoffs, and noted no anomalies.

At Palomar, the pilot rotated about 65 knots, and thought that takeoff performance was similar to previous takeoffs with passengers on board.

The pilot said that he transitioned from climb to cruise at 4,500 feet. He had just established the airplane at an airspeed of 90 knots on an airway about 7 miles from the shoreline. He established 2,200 revolutions per minute (rpm) and leaned for cruise.

Immediately thereafter, the rpm dropped. The pilot stated that the engine speed dropped to 1,000 rpm. He did not recall any loud noises; he just noted the loss of engine rpm. He thought that he had leaned it too much so he richened the mixture. The engine did not respond, and he attempted to diagnose the problem. He adjusted the carburetor heat, but it had no effect. He leaned it a little bit, but that didn't work so he went full rich. The propeller began to slow and then stopped.

The pilot received flight following on all of his flights. Southern California Terminal Radar Approach Control (SCT) provided the airplane with flight following. He notified SCT that he was having engine problems and simultaneously made a turn towards the shore. He asked for vectors and SCT told him that Oceanside was at 110 degrees. He set up for an emergency landing at 60 to 65 knots, and then tried to restart the engine. The engine started for about 2 seconds; it went to a low rpm setting and then stopped. He started the engine again; it was on for about 2 seconds and then died. He told SCT that he wasn't going to make it to shore, and was going to make a water impact. He felt that the controllers were very helpful. They talked to him all the way until the airplane dropped off radar. He estimated that occurred about a minute prior to impact. He also stated that he left the master switch in the "ON" position.

The pilot landed the airplane about 300 yards offshore. The pilot and the passengers exited the airplane before it sank in 70 feet of water. Local authorities rescued the pilot and recovered one victim. Search and rescue units located the wreckage on Wednesday, December 26, and a recovery agent retrieved the wreckage onto a barge on December 27.

Personnel information

The operator reported that the pilot held a private pilot certificate with a rating for airplane single engine land. The pilot held a third-class medical certificate issued on March 9, 2000. It had no limitations or waivers. His total flight time was 133 hours. He logged 3.5 hours in the last 30 days. He had 14.6 hours in this make and model.

Aircraft information

The airplane was a Cessna 172N, serial number 17269840. The operator reported that the airplane had a total airframe time of 6,168 hours. The tachometer read 6,169.3 when examined; the Hobbs hour meter read 2,819.2. It had an annual inspection on July 17, 2001. The last 100-hour inspection occurred on November 20, 2001, at a total time of 6,101 hours. A 50-hour inspection occurred on December 14, at a total time of 6,154.7.

The engine was a Textron Lycoming O-320-H2AD, serial number L-5692-76T. At the last 100-hour inspection, total time since a factory major overhaul was 1,569 hours, and time since major overhaul was 1,369 hours.

The operator's records showed that the previous flight occurred on Sunday, December 23. That flight lasted 0.7 hours, and the last pilot refueled the airplane with 3.56 gallons of fuel, which he said filled the tanks. The IIC interviewed the pilot, who reported that he did not observe any discrepancies with the airplane or engine.

Communications

The airplane was in contact with SCT.

Wreckage and impact information

The airplane came to rest in 70 feet of water in an upright position.

Survival aspects

The pilot stated that nearing the water the nose dropped a little, and he flared during the landing. The airplane touched down in a fairly level attitude, and the airspeed was about 40 knots when it hit the water. He did not brief the ditching, and neither he nor the male passenger in the front seat unlatched their doors prior to touchdown. Both occupants in the front seats had their lap belts and shoulders harnesses secured. The female passenger in the left rear seat only had a lab belt, and she had it secured. There were no injuries, and everyone exited the airplane under their own power. At first, the pilot couldn't open his door because of water pressure. He opened the window and was then able to open his door. The pilot and the rear seat passenger exited through the left door. The front seat passenger had no difficulties opening his door, and exited through it. They were on the top of the airplane for about a minute before it sank.

The swells were high, and the water was cold. The pilot said that his clothes were water soaked and heavy. He was wearing boots as well as a sweater/sweatshirt. His passengers were wearing casual clothes. With each swell, the distance increased between the pilot and his passengers. The female was closer to him, and he tried to grab her hand. He thought that she was having difficulties. He kept going under water, and when he resurfaced, he noted that he was farther away from both of them. He lost sight of them, and then tried to swim towards the shore.

The pilot flipped over onto his back and watched the way the clouds moved for reference. While in the water he tried to get his boots off, but he was unable to do so. He was struggling and exhausted, but fought hard to keep his head above water. He stayed determined that he was not going to give up.

An airplane flew overhead, and the pilot thought that it was a Baron. Some time later, he heard the sheriff's helicopter overhead. He heard them say something to him over a bullhorn. He was very tired and due to the condition he was in, he didn't know what they were saying. He looked to his left and saw a life vest. He swam over to it, put it on, and then passed out. The next thing he remembered was being in the hospital.

The pilot felt that his training helped him stay focused on getting the airplane down safely. Most of his training had been at the same f