# NTSB WPR11LA150: Cessna 140A, N5351C, Newark, CA, February 26, 2011 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: February 26, 2011, 12:45 local (20:45 UTC) - Place: Newark, CA - Coordinates: 37.499721, -122.101669 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.4997&lon=-122.1017&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Prior to flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/100) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Prior to flight: Fuel contamination](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/193) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report November 5, 2012 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 78458 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR11LA150 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/78458/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=78458 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR11LA150 ## Probable cause A loss of engine power due to water contamination in the fuel system as a result of the pilot’s inadequate preflight inspection to identify and remove the water. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Fluids: fuel](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010): Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware · Fluid condition (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 140A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md?model=2071604), [All aircraft, 1,695 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md) - [Inspection: preflight inspection](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061510): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 140A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061510/cases.md?model=2071604), [All aircraft, 551 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061510/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Prior to flight: Fuel contamination](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/193) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 140A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/193/sequence.md?model=2071604), [All aircraft, 225 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/193/sequence.md) - [Enroute-climb to cruise: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341); cases with it: [Cessna 140A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=2071604), [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md) - [Emergency descent: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440); cases with it: [Cessna 140A, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=2071604), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096); cases with it: [Cessna 140A, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md?model=2071604), [All aircraft, 2,287 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that he had just purchased the airplane. Prior to the flight, he completed a preflight inspection, which included filling the fuel tanks and then draining the fuel sump points and looking for water. During the initial climb after takeoff, the engine lost power and the pilot made a forced landing. During the landing roll, the airplane nosed over. A postaccident engine examination found water in the carburetor bowl. The estimated quantity of water was about 3/4 ounce. Evidence of water was also found in the gascolator. At the conclusion of the engine examination, no evidence of a preimpact mechanical malfunction or failure was found that would have precluded normal operation. ## Factual narrative HISTORY OF FLIGHT On February 26, 2011, about 1245 Pacific standard time (PST), a Cessna 140A, N5351C, nosed over during a forced landing following a loss of engine power near Newark, California. The owner/pilot was operating the airplane under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 91. The airline transport pilot was not injured; the airplane sustained substantial damage. The cross-country personal flight departed Palo Alto Airport, Palo Alto, California, about 1240, with a planned destination of Victorville, California. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed. The pilot had just purchased the airplane on February 26, 2011, and it was being flown to his home in Illinois. After takeoff, the pilot reported that the engine lost power. During the forced landing the airplane flipped over. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the main landing gear box. The airplane was recovered for further investigation. The pilot submitted a Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report (NTSB Form 6120.1/2), and reported that he had drained the sump points after filling the airplane with fuel; however, he did not lift the tail prior to sumping the tanks. He opined that since the airplane was a tailwheeled airplane, the water might have been trapped. On March 2, 2011, the airplane and engine were examined at Plain Parts Enterprises, Pleasant Grove, California. During the examination, water was found in the carburetor bowl. The estimated quantity of water was about 3/4 ounce. Evidence of water was also found in the gascolator. A copy of the wreckage examination is attached to the accident docket. At the conclusion of the engine examination, no evidence of preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures were found that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N5351C](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N5351C), registered now, S/N 15482, built 1950 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 140A - Registry model: [Cessna 140A](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-140a) (registry code 2071604) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental C90 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-c90-series) (registry code 17009, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 15482 - Airframe hours: 2050 - Engines: CONT MOTOR C90 SERIES 95 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Morris Kenneth E - Registered owner: Morris Kenneth E - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility - Last inspection: Annual, February 2, 2011, 1 hours before - Departed: PAO, Palo Alto, CA - Destination: Victorville, CA ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 56; injuries: none; flight instructor, flight engineer, airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review May 24, 2010; seat: left; flight hours: 30,000 total, 2,500 in this make and model, 20,000 as pilot in command, 30 in the last 90 days, 10 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 350° at 8 knots - Visibility: 30 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 4,000 ft broken - Temperature: 66 °F, dew point 30 °F - Altimeter: 29.88 inHg - Observed at: PAO, 3 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 20110226003569A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20110226003569A), Feb 26, 2011: Cessna 140A, Newark, CA, Substantial damage. After departing palo alto airport (pao), Cessna 140A lost engine power and was forced to land in the wetlands near Newark, CA. Aircraft came to rest inverted. ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 1, 2012, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=78458. 1.9 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 792 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40372282&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - NTSB Examination Report (item 2, .PDF, 21 photos, 1.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40372283&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=NTSB%20Examination%20Report-Master.PDF - Release of Aircraft Wreckage, NTSB Form 6120.15 (item 3, .PDF, 48 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40373773&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.