# NTSB NYC95LA006: Cessna 140, N2450V, Farmington, ME, October 11, 1994 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: October 11, 1994, 18:15 local (22:15 UTC) - Place: Farmington, ME - Location: 44.6684° N, 70.1440° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Farmington, ME, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=44.6684&lon=-70.1440&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report April 5, 1995 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 38882 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC95LA006 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/38882/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC95LA006 ## Probable cause LOSS OF ENGINE POWER FOR UNDETERMINED REASONS. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power, takeoff - initial climb - reason for occurrence undetermined (cause) - Forced landing, descent - emergency - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - emergency - terrain condition - swampy ## Analysis THE PILOT DEPARTED ON A FLIGHT FROM ONE AIRSTRIP TO ANOTHER. AFTER ONE LANDING AND TAKEOFF, THE PILOT FLEW BACK TO THE DEPARTURE AIRSTRIP, WHERE HE PERFORMED A SIMULATED FORCED LANDING. AFTER LANDING HE BACK TAXIED AND DEPARTED TO THE NORTH. AT 250 FEET AGL THE ENGINE LOST POWER. THE PILOT SWITCHED FROM THE RIGHT TO THE LEFT FUEL TANK AND PRIMED THE ENGINE. THE ENGINE SURGED BRIEFLY AND QUIT AGAIN. THE PILOT THEN PERFORMED A FORCED LANDING TO A SWAMPY AREA. INVESTIGATION REVEALED 6 GALLONS OF AVIATION 100LL IN THE LEFT TANK AND 3 1/2 GALLONS OF AUTOMOTIVE FUEL IN THE RIGHT TANK. THE ENGINE WAS TEST RUN ON THE AIRPLANE AND OPERATED NORMALLY. THE AIRPLANE WAS EQUIPPED WITH A 12 1/2 GALLON FUEL TANK IN EACH WING, AND THE OPERATIONS MANUAL STATED NOT TO TAKEOFF ON LESS THAN 1/4 TANK. ## Factual narrative On October 11, 1994, at 1815 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 140, N2450V, owned and piloted by Douglas Freeman, was substantially damaged during a forced landing to a swamp near the Farmington Airport, Farmington, Maine. The pilot received minor injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan had been filed for the flight operating under 14 CFR 91. In the NTSB Form 6120.1/2, the pilot stated he departed from the private grass strip in Farmington, Maine, and flew to another airstrip. After one landing and takeoff, the pilot flew back to the original departure airstrip. Arriving over the Farmington Airstrip at 3,500 feet above mean sea level (msl), he performed a simulated forced landing. He applied carburetor heat, reduced the throttle to 1,000 RPM, and completed a successful low power landing to the airstrip. He further stated: "...after landing I back taxied and tookoff to the north. On climbout at 250 feet AGL [above ground level], the engine quit. I tried changing fuel selector valve, pulled carb heat, and primed engine. The engine surged briefly and quit. The prop stopped. I picked a landing spot straight ahead and made a controlled landing into a swampy area..." According to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Inspector's report, the pilot reported while climbing out, at approximately 250 feet, the engine sputtered and lost power. The pilot switched fuel tank selection from the right to the left, pumped the engine fuel primer and added carburetor heat. The FAA report further stated: "...The reporting inspector found normal ignition, compression and the fuel system was intact except for the gascolator bowl which was unseated. The gascolator had been pushed into the firewall on impact. The engine was subsequently started and ran normally except for the vibration caused by the bent prop..." Examination of the airplane revealed that the left fuel tank contained about 6 gallons of 100LL aviation fuel and the right fuel tank contained 3 1/2 gallons of automobile fuel. The airplane had been issued a Supplemental Type Certificate (STC) by the FAA, for the use of automobile fuel in place of aviation fuel. According to the Cessna Operations Manual for the Cessna 120/140, the fuel system consists of a 12 1/2 gallon fuel tank in each wing. In the Operations Manual it stated, "Set fuel tank selector to fullest tank. (Do not takeoff on less than 1/4 tank)." In the Cessna Pilot Safety and Warning Supplements it stated: "Never use automotive gasoline in an airplane unless the engine and airplane fuel system are specifically certified and approved for automotive gasoline use. The additives used in the production of automotive gasoline vary widely throughout the petroleum industry and may have deteriorating effects on airplane fuel system components. The qualities of automotive gasoline can induce vapor lock, increase the probability of carburetor icing and cause internal engine problems stemming from detonation." In the Continental Aircraft Engine Service Bulletin, M87-12, Revision 1, dated November 20, 1987, it stated, "...All TCM aircraft engines are to be operated only on aviation grade fuel. If the specified fuel is not available, the next higher grade fuel must be used...Warning...Automotive fuels are NOT TCM APPROVED for use in aircraft engines...." ## Aircraft - Registration: [N2450V](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N2450V), registered now, S/N 14703 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 140 - Registry model: [Cessna 140](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-140) (registry code 2071602) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental 0-200 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-0-200-series) (registry code 17020, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 14703 - Airframe hours: 3065 - Engines: CONTINENTAL O-200-A 100 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Douglas S. Freeman - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, September 2, 1994, 17 hours before - Departed: NONE - Destination: NONE - Airport: NONE, Young'S Airstrip, runway 36, 2,200 × 50 ft, grass/turf ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 43; private; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 1,250 total, 350 in this make and model, 1,250 as pilot in command, 48 in the last 90 days, 22 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Dusk - Wind: 360° at 7 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 37 °F, dew point 27 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: WVL, 23 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 19941011048449A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19941011048449A), Oct 11, 1994: Cessna 140, Farmington, ME, Substantial damage. Engine quit on takeoff. Landed in a swamp. No anomalies except use of auto fuel. Possible vapor lock. 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.