# NTSB NYC94LA108: Cessna 172N, N734TU, Bristol, NH, July 2, 1994 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: July 2, 1994, 14:00 local (18:00 UTC) - Place: Bristol, NH - Location: 43.6033° N, 71.7342° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Bristol, NH, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=43.6033&lon=-71.7342&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor, 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report January 12, 1995 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 38776 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC94LA108 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/38776/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC94LA108 ## Probable cause the failure of maintenance personnel to remove an object from the carburetor heat duct during annual inspection which blocked induction air and resulted in the loss of engine power, and the subsequent collision with the terrain during a forced landing. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(partial) - nonmechanical, maneuvering - induction air ducting - blocked(partial) (cause) - maintenance,100-hour inspection - inadequate, other maintenance personnel (cause) - Forced landing, descent - emergency - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - roll - terrain condition - rough/uneven (cause) ## Analysis THE PILOT WAS CONDUCTING A COMMERCIAL SIGHTSEEING FLIGHT. HE STATED THAT WHILE IN CRUISE FLIGHT, THERE WAS A LOSS OF ENGINE POWER. HE ATTEMPTED TO REGAIN ENGINE POWER, BUT THE ENGINE DID NOT RESPOND. HE INITIATED A FORCED LANDING TO A FIELD. DURING THE LANDING ROLL, THE NOSE GEAR COLLAPSED AND DAMAGED THE FIREWALL. AN FAA INSPECTOR EXAMINED THE ENGINE AND FOUND A RAG IN THE CARBURETOR HEAT DUCTING. THIS WAS THE AIRPLANE'S THIRD FLIGHT SINCE AN ANNUAL INSPECTION. ## Factual narrative On Saturday, July 2, 1994, at 1400 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 172N, N734TU, piloted by Thomas Oliver and operated by Emerson Aviation, Inc., sustained substantial damage during a forced landing near Bristol, New Hampshire. The pilot received minor injuries, and the two passengers were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed. The flight was operated under 14 CFR Part 91. The sightseeing flight was maneuvering at 2500 feet, when the pilot reported a loss of engine power. There was insufficient engine power to sustain flight; therefore, the pilot established a forced landing to the nearest field. During the landing roll, the nose gear collapsed and the firewall was damaged. Mr. Sylvester Dye, a Federal Aviation Administration Airworthiness Inspector, examined the airplane. He found a rag in the carburetor heat duct. The airplane had flown three flights since the completion of an annual inspection. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N734TU](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N734TU), registered now, S/N 17269108, built 1977 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 172N - 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: 17269108 - Engines: LYCOMING O-320-H2AD 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Part 91 - Operator: Emerson Aviation, Inc. - Registered owner: Russell Jones - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: LCI, LACONIA, NH ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 26; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 310 total, 175 in this make and model, 264 as pilot in command, 36 in the last 90 days, 27 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 220° at 11 knots, gusting 16 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 84 °F, dew point 57 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: LCI, 22 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 19940702017209A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19940702017209A), Jul 2, 1994: Cessna 172N, Bristol, NH, Substantial damage. Lost power on sightseeing flight. Collapsed nose gear landing in a field. Found a rag blocking carb heat duct. ## Other investigations on N734TU (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 LAX78DUJ79](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX78DUJ79), Jul 7, 1978: Cessna 172N (N734TU), Wintersburg, AZ, 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.