# NTSB LAX94LA026: Cessna 177B, N18174, Pleasant Grove, CA, October 28, 1993 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: October 27, 1993, 18:00 local (Oct 28, 1993, 01:00 UTC) - Place: Pleasant Grove, CA - Coordinates: 38.83028, -121.50093 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.8303&lon=-121.5009&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report September 30, 1994 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 28580 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX94LA026 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/28580/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX94LA026 ## Probable cause THE FAILURE OF THE STARTER TO TURN THE ENGINE OVER DUE TO INADEQUATE MAINTENANCE AND INSPECTION. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power, maneuvering - emergency procedure - simulated, pilot in command(cfi) - engine accessories,engine starter - output low (cause) - maintenance - inadequate, other maintenance personnel (cause) - Forced landing, descent - emergency - Nose over, landing - roll - terrain condition - soft (contributing factor) ## Analysis THE INSTRUCTOR REPORTED THAT HE PULLED THE MIXTURE TO IDLE CUT OFF TO SIMULATE AN ENGINE FAILURE FOR THE STUDENT. WHEN HE TRIED TO RESTART THE ENGINE, THE STARTER WOULD NOT TURN THE PROPELLER. A FORCED LANDING WAS MADE IN A RICE PADDY AND THE AIRPLANE NOSED OVER. THE STARTER WAS SUBSEQUENTLY TESTED AND FOUND TO DEVELOP 50% OF ITS DESIGNED CRANKING POWER. IT ALSO MADE GRINDING NOISES. INSPECTION OF THE STARTER REVEALED THAT IT HAD 24 VOLT BRUSHES INSTEAD OF THE REQUIRED 12 VOLT BRUSHES. FURTHER INSPECTION REVEALED THAT THE STARTER WAS NOT LUBRICATED, HAD A DRY BENDIX COUPLING, AND WAS CRACKED AT THE REAR BEARING HOUSING. COMPLETE REVIEW OF THE AIRPLANE'S MAINTENANCE RECORDS REVEALED NO HISTORICAL INFORMATION ON THE STARTER REGARDING DATE OF MANUFACTURE, OVERHAUL, OR INSTALLATION ON THE ENGINE. ## Factual narrative On October 27, 1993, at 1800 Pacific daylight time, a Cessna 177B, N18174, landed in a rice paddy near Pleasant Grove, California, when the pilot was unable to restart the engine following a simulated loss of engine power. The certificated flight instructor was conducting a local area dual instructional flight at the time. The airplane, operated by Sacramento Aero Service, sustained substantial damage. Neither the instructor nor the student pilot were injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. The flight originated from Sacramento Natomas Field, Sacramento, California, on the day of the mishap at 1730. In a verbal and written statement, the pilot reported that he pulled the mixture to idle cut off to simulate an engine failure for the student. He said that when he tried to restart the engine, the starter would not turn the propeller. He said he chose a landing site and landed the plane in a rice paddy. The aircraft nosed over during the landing roll. The starter was removed and taken to George's Electrical Service in Sacramento, California. The starter was put on a calibrated test stand where it was tested. It developed 50 percent of its designed cranking power and made grinding noises. Inspection of the starter revealed that the starter had 24 volt brushes instead of the required 12 volt brushes. Further inspection also revealed that the starter was not lubricated, had a dry bendix coupling, and was cracked at the rear bearing housing. A complete review of the maintenance records for the aircraft revealed no historical information on the starter. The dates of manufacture, overhaul, and installation on the engine were not located. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N18174](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N18174), registered now, S/N 17702535, built 1976 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 177B - Registry model: [Cessna 177B](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-177b) (registry code 2073708) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming O&VO-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-vo-360-series) (registry code 41514, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 02535 - Airframe hours: 4843 - Engines: LYCOMING O-360-A1F6 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Registered owner: Sacramento Aero Service - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, September 25, 1993, 25 hours before - Departed: Q96, SACRAMENTO, CA ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 47; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: right; flight hours: 3,900 total, 50 in this make and model, 3,676 as pilot in command, 5 in the last 90 days, 3 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Dusk - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 64 °F ## 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 19931027040769A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19931027040769A), Oct 27, 1993: Cessna 177B, Pleasant Grove, CA, Substantial damage. Pulled mixture on simulated forced landing. Starter failed turn prop for restart. Noseover landing. Starter bushes. ## Other investigations on N18174 (1) 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. - [NTSB LAX86LA136](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX86LA136), Mar 7, 1986: Cessna 177B (N18174), Tehachapi, CA, substantial damage 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.