# NTSB MIA02LA006: Cessna 170, N4180V, Bennettsville, SC, October 5, 2001 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: October 5, 2001, 13:15 local (17:15 UTC) - Place: Bennettsville, SC - Coordinates: 34.629585, -79.679306 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.6296&lon=-79.6793&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report June 4, 2002 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA Flight Standards District Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 53596 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA02LA006 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/53596/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA02LA006 ## Probable cause The blockage of the fuel vent and also the collapsed fuel supply line resulting in the total loss of engine power due to fuel starvation. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, takeoff - initial climb - fuel system,vent - blocked(total) (cause) - fuel system,line - collapsed (cause) - fluid,fuel - starvation - In flight collision with terrain/water, emergency descent/landing - terrain condition - ditch ## Analysis The airplane was flown a total of approximately 2 hours 25 minutes on two separate flights since the fuel tanks were filled. The first flight was approximately 2 hours duration taking place 1 day before the accident. The second flight lasted approximately 25 minutes and took place earlier on the accident date departing with nearly full fuel in the left fuel tank and approximately1 hour of fuel remaining in the right fuel tank. The pilot stated that after takeoff on the accident flight with the fuel selector positioned to the "both" position, the engine quit when the flight was approximately 200 feet above ground level. The pilot maneuvered the airplane for a forced landing in a field and while in a foward slip; the right main landing gear collided with a ditch. The right wing then contacted the ditch and the airplane came to rest. Postaccident examination of the airplane by the pilot/owner who is also an airframe and powerplant mechanic revealed that the vent line which connects to both fuel tanks was blocked near the left wing root area. Additionally, the fuel supply line between the fuel selector valve and the fuel strainer was found to be kinked and foreign matter was found inside the kinked line. The owner/pilot reported that the damage to the line was not the result of the forced landing and subsequent damage to the airplane. ## Factual narrative On October 5, 2001, about 1315 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 170, N4180V, registered to Vega Aero Services, Inc., experienced a loss of power during the initial climb after takeoff and collided with terrain during a forced landing near Bennettsville, South Carolina. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan was filed for the 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight. The airplane was substantially damaged and the commercial-rated pilot and one passenger were not injured. The flight originated about 2 minutes earlier. The airplane was flown a total of approximately 2 hours 25 minutes on two separate flights since the fuel tanks were filled. The first flight was approximately 2 hours duration taking place 1 day before the accident. The second flight lasted approximately 25 minutes and took place earlier on the accident date departing with nearly full fuel in the left fuel tank and approximately1 hour of fuel remaining in the right fuel tank. The pilot stated that after takeoff on the accident flight with the fuel selector positioned to the "both" position, the engine quit when the flight was approximately 200 feet above ground level. The pilot maneuvered the airplane for a forced landing in a field and while in a foward slip; the right main landing gear collided with a ditch. The right wing then contacted the ditch and the airplane came to rest. The pilot and passenger exited the airplane out the right door. Postaccident examination of the airplane by the pilot/owner who is also an airframe and powerplant mechanic revealed that the vent line which connects to both fuel tanks was blocked near the left wing root area. Additionally, the fuel supply line between the fuel selector valve and the fuel strainer was found to be kinked and foreign matter was found inside the kinked line. The owner/pilot reported that the damage to the line was not the result of the forced landing and subsequent damage to the airplane. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N4180V](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4180V-2019-10-21), registration cancelled 2019-10-21, S/N 18513, built 1948 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 170 - Registry model: [Cessna 170](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-170) (registry code 2072302) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental 0-300 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-0-300-series) (registry code 17022, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 18513 - Engines: Continental O-300D 145 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Vega Aero Services - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal; Standard, Utility - Last inspection: Annual, July 28, 2001, 33 hours before - Departed: Bennettsville, SC - Destination: SOP, SOUTHERN PINES, NC ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 66; injuries: none; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review August 2, 2001; seat: left; flight hours: 4,454 total, 300 in this make and model, 4,350 as pilot in command, 175 in the last 90 days, 26 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 230° at 7 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 79 °F, dew point 59 °F - Altimeter: 30.13 inHg - Observed at: KFLO ## 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 20011005029229A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20011005029229A), Oct 5, 2001: Cessna 170, Bennettsville, SC, Substantial damage. (-23) The flight began at the moore county airport, NC. The pilot stated that he and a friend went to stanton's fly-in barbeque, near Bennettsville, SC. Upon… 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.