# NTSB SEA89LA004: Cessna 177RG, N2068Q, Bellingham, WA, October 1, 1988

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: October 1, 1988, 10:47 local (17:47 UTC)
- Place: Bellingham, WA
- Coordinates: 48.790828, -122.409179 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=48.7908&lon=-122.4092&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 2 minor
- Status: Completed, report September 19, 1989
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 40945
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA89LA004
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/40945/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA89LA004

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Loss of engine power(partial) - nonmechanical, takeoff - initial climb
  - fuel system,line - foreign object (cause)
  - maintenance,installation - improper, other maintenance personnel (cause)
  - fuel system,line - blocked(partial) (cause)
- Forced landing, maneuvering - turn to landing area (emergency)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, landing
  - terrain condition - rough/uneven (contributing factor)

## Analysis

DRG THE INITIAL CLIMB AFTER TAKEOFF, THE ENG LOST POWER. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE ACFT WAS DAMAGED DRG AN EMERGENCY LANDING IN A ROUGH FIELD NORTHWEST OF THE ARPT. A POST-ACDNT ENG RUN-UP WAS MADE WITH A CLUB PROP INSTALLED. THE ENG OPERATED NORMALLY TO 1500 RPM WITH NO DISCREPANCIES NOTED. HOWEVER, A VISUAL INSPECTION OF THE FUEL LINES REVEALED THE PRESENCE OF A SMALL/FLAT PIECE OF RUBBER IN THE FUEL DISTRIBUTOR. THE PIECE OF RUBBER HAD THE APPEARANCE OF HAVING BEEN INDUCED WHEN A METAL CONNECTOR WAS INSERTED IN A HOSE DRG MAINTENANCE. THIS WAS THE 2ND FLT AFTER FUEL LINE MAINTENANCE.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N2068Q](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N2068Q-1990-07-19), registration cancelled 1990-07-19, S/N 177RG0468 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 177RG
- Registry model: [Cessna 177RG](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-177rg) (registry code 2073709) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming IO-360-A1B6D](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-360-a1b6d) (registry code 41593, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 177RG60468
- Airframe hours: 2529
- Engines: LYCOMING IO-360-A1B6D 200 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Registered owner: Flying School Of The Cascades
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, September 30, 1988
- Airport: BLI, Bellingham, runway 34, 5,000 × 150 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 38; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: right; flight hours: 2,916 total, 165 in this make and model, 2,738 as pilot in command, 109 in the last 90 days, 23 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 190° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 64 °F, dew point 57 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: BLI

## 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 19881001048589A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19881001048589A), Oct 1, 1988: Cessna 177RG, Bellingham, WA, Substantial damage. Lost power on intitial climbout. Impacted hard on runway. Flap of rubber blocked fuel line at metal line connection

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.