# NTSB NYC93LA163: Cessna 172, N9845J, Hope Valley, RI, August 19, 1993 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: August 19, 1993, 15:25 local (19:25 UTC) - Place: Hope Valley, RI - Location: 41.5126° N, 71.7196° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Hope Valley, RI, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.5126&lon=-71.7196&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report September 13, 1994 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 38638 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC93LA163 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/38638/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC93LA163 ## Probable cause The engine failure as the result of ingestion of pieces of carburetor into the cylinders, and the subsequent forced landing and nose over during the landing roll after encountering soft terrain. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(total) - mech failure/malf, climb - to cruise - fuel system,carburetor - failure,partial (cause) - Forced landing, descent - emergency - Nose over, landing - roll - terrain condition - soft (cause) ## Analysis AFTER COMPLETING A SIMULATED FORCED LANDING, THE CERTIFIED FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR (CFI) AND THE STUDENT PILOT INITIATED A CLIMB TO CRUISE ALTITUDE. AT APPROXIMATELY 1100 FEET, THE ENGINE SPUTTERED AND QUIT. THE CFI WAS UNABLE TO RESTART THE ENGINE, AND A FORCED LANDING WAS ACCOMPLISHED. DURING THE LANDING ROLL, THE NOSE WHEEL ENCOUNTERED SOFT TERRAIN AND THE AIRPLANE NOSED OVER. EXAMINATION OF THE ENGINE REVEALED THAT THE CARBURETOR ACCELERATOR PUMP TUBE WAS MISSING FROM THE CARBURETOR THROAT, AND PIECES OF THE TUBE WERE FOUND IN CYLINDERS #2 AND #3. ## Factual narrative On Thursday, August 19, 1993, at 1525 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 172, N9845J, registered to Spy In The Sky Aviation, Inc., and piloted by David C. Thomas, sustained substantial damage during a forced landing in a field in Hope Valley, Rhode Island. The pilot and student pilot were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed. The flight was being conducted under 14 CFR 91. The Certified Flight Instructor (CFI) simulated an engine failure, and the student conducted a simulated forced landing. After completing this maneuver, the throttle was advanced and a climb was initiated to cruise altitude. During the forced landing maneuver, the CFI stated that full carburetor heat was used, and the he added "full power for 2 to 3 seconds to clear out the engine." In his written report, the CFI stated: We maintained a good rate of climb to approximately 1100 feet AGL, when the engine coughed, sputtered, and quit with the propeller continuing to rotate. After waiting 3 or 4 seconds to determine this was an actual emergency...I told [the student] that I had the aircraft....After finding the nearest field...while re-doing the emergency checklist... I also instructed [the student] to start priming the engine. The CFI's statement continued: Immediately after touchdown the nose wheel sank into the soft field....causing the aircraft to roll over... Mr. Don Micknak, Aviation Safety Inspector (Airworthiness) for the Federal Aviation Administration, examined the airplane wreckage. In his report, Mr. Micknak stated: It was noticed that the pump discharge tube was missing from the carburetor throat. Two pieces of the tube were found in #3 cylinder and one piece, about 1" long was discovered in #2 cylinder. From these findings, it is possible that the pump discharge tube pieces, lodged under the valves in the cylinders and disordered the firing sequence. Furthermore, the fuel flow towards the venturi was disrupted by the missing nozzle when full power demand was essential during a climbing stage of flight. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N9845J](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N9845J-2013-05-30), registration cancelled 2013-05-30, S/N 17273931, built 1980 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 172 - Registry model: [Cessna 172N](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172n) (registry code 2072434) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 73931 - Airframe hours: 5143 - Engines: LYCOMING O-320-H2AD 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Registered owner: Spy In The Sky Aviation - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, July 28, 1993, 58 hours before - Departed: RVD, PROVIDENCE, RI ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 28; flight instructor, commercial, airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: right; flight hours: 4,700 total, 2,400 in this make and model, 4,520 as pilot in command, 270 in the last 90 days, 80 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 50° at 7 knots - Visibility: 15 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 81 °F, dew point 61 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg ## 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 19930819029799A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19930819029799A), Aug 19, 1993: Cessna 172N, Hope Valley, RI, Substantial damage. Lost power on climb from practice engine out. Nosed over landing. Carb pump discharge tube broke. Jammed valves. 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.