# NTSB NYC97FA019: Cessna 172N, N4926G, Andover, MA, November 21, 1996 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Field investigation · Final report - Date: November 21, 1996, 17:30 local (22:30 UTC) - Place: Andover, MA - Location: 42.6557° N, 71.1422° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Andover, MA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.6557&lon=-71.1422&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report October 31, 1997 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 39262 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC97FA019 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/39262/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=39262 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC97FA019 ## Probable cause failure of the dual magneto, which resulted in a total loss of engine power, and subsequent collision with trees during a forced landing at night. Darkness and trees in the emergency landing area were related factors. ## 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, cruise - normal - ignition system,magneto - failure,total (cause) - Forced landing, emergency descent/landing - In flight collision with object, emergency landing - light condition - dark night (contributing factor) - object - tree(s) (contributing factor) ## Analysis The purpose of the local night flight, was to conduct a traffic report. During cruise flight, about 1,500 feet above mean sea level, the engine lost power. The pilot's attempts to restore power were unsuccessful, and the engine continued to lose power. Subsequently, the pilot performed a forced landing, during which the airplane impacted trees. Examination of the engine revealed that it was equipped with a Bendix D3000 magneto, a dual magneto with a common shaft. No spark was observed when the magneto was rotated. Disassembly of the magneto revealed that the cam followers were worn, which prevented the cam lobes from contacting the followers, and subsequently, prevented the points from operating. ## Factual narrative HISTORY OF FLIGHT On November 21, 1996, about 1730 eastern standard time, a Cessna 172N, N4926G, operated by General Aviation Services Inc., was substantially damaged when it collided with trees during a forced landing near Andover, Massachusetts. The certificated commercial pilot and passenger were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the local flight. No flight plan was filed for the night flight that departed the Beverly Municipal Airport, Beverly, Massachusetts, about 1600. The aerial observation flight was conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. In a written statement submitted by the pilot, he stated that the purpose of the flight was to conduct a local traffic report. He performed a preflight inspection and then taxied to runway 34 for departure. Prior to takeoff, a satisfactory engine run-up was performed. About 1 hour and 10 minutes after takeoff, during cruise, at 1,500 feet above mean sea level, "the engine gave a loud "pop" or "bang" and lost 80 percent power, with some sputtering and backfiring." The pilot performed emergency procedures; however, the engine continued to lose power. He then performed a forced landing to an area of trees, and stated that "I slowed the aircraft down as much as possible and put it down on the tree tops. . . ." The accident occurred during the hours of darkness, about 42 degrees, 43 minutes north latitude, and 71 degrees, 20 minutes west longitude, at an elevation of 200 feet. PERSONNEL INFORMATION The pilot had a commercial pilot certificate with ratings for single and multiengine land, and instrument airplane. The pilot also held a flight instructor certificate with ratings for single and multiengine land, and instrument airplane. The pilot's most recent second class medical certificate was issued on August 13, 1996, with no limitations. The pilot reported that he had a total flight experience of 1,090 hours, of which 46 were at night. WRECKAGE AND IMPACT INFORMATION The airplane wreckage was examined at the accident site on November 22, 1996. On November 22, 1996, the wreckage was removed, and the engine was examined in a hangar, the following day, at the Lawrence Municipal Airport, North Andover, Massachusetts. Attempts to run the engine were unsuccessful; however, the propeller rotated. The engine was equipped with a Bendix D3000, single drive, dual magneto. Internal magneto timing was confirmed to be within limits. Attempts to confirm engine to magneto timing were unsuccessful. Rotation of the magneto failed to produce spark, and when removed, revealed that neither set of points would open; however, both sets of points opened with hand pressure. The magneto was disassembled, and when rotated by hand, the cam lobes did not contact either cam follower. Examination of the cam followers revealed that they were worn smoothly, at 45 degree angles. The cam followers appeared black in color at the edges of the 45 degree angle, and dark brown in the center. A review of the airplane's maintenance records revealed that a 100 hour inspection was performed on November 19, 1996, 2 flight hours prior to the accident flight. About 1 flight hour prior to the accident flight, the top spark plugs were removed and cleaned in response to a report that the magneto was misfiring. Also, on July 16, 1996, new points were installed in the magneto. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION The wreckage was released in part on November 23, 1996, to a representative of the insurance company, at Ryan Insurance Services, Inc., Scarborough, Maine. The magneto was retained for further examination and released on January 23, 1997. ## Aircraft - Registration: N4926G (not matched to a registry record) - Reported make and model: Cessna 172N - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 17273473 - Airframe hours: 8198 - Engines: Lycoming O-320-H2AD 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Aerial observation, Part 91 - Registered owner: Air Horizons Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, November 19, 1996, 2 hours before - Departed: BVY, BEVERLY, MA ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 23; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 1,090 total, 457 in this make and model, 1,999 as pilot in command, 220 in the last 90 days, 62 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/dark - Wind: 270° at 9 knots - Visibility: 20 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: LWM, 8 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 19961121036209A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19961121036209A), Nov 21, 1996: Cessna 172N, Andover, MA, Substantial damage. Aircraft crashed due to engine failure. (-23) picked up ac in bed at 1430. Maintenance said all was good after 15 min run. Did preflight. Run up good. Full RPM… ## Docket (11 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on September 2, 1997, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=39262. 2.4 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 402 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40445416&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Supplement A (item 2, .PDF, 238 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40072035&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Supplement%20A-Master.PDF - Supplement B (item 3, .PDF, 349 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40072036&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Supplement%20B-Master.PDF - Supplement S (item 4, .PDF, 62 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40072037&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Supplement%20S-Master.PDF - Summary of Interviews (item 5, .PDF, 74 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40445417&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Summary%20of%20Interviews-Redacted.PDF - Maintenance Records (item 6, .PDF, 461 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40445418&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Maintenance%20Records-Redacted.PDF - Map of Wreckage Site (item 7, .PDF, 92 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40445419&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Map%20of%20Wreckage%20Site-Redacted.PDF - FAA Inspector Report (item 8, .PDF, 254 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40445420&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=FAA%20Inspector%20Report-Redacted.PDF - Refueling records (item 9, .PDF, 102 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40072043&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Refueling%20records-Master.PDF - Statement of Party Representatives to NTSB Investigation (item 10, .PDF, 333 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40445421&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Statement%20of%20Party%20Representatives%20to%20NTSB%20Investigation-Redacted.PDF - Release of Aircraft Wreckage, NTSB Form 6120.15 (item 11, .PDF, 82 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40445422&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Release%20of%20Aircraft%20Wreckage,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.15-Redacted.PDF 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.