# NTSB WPR17LA142: Cessna 177RG, N7532V, Vacaville, CA, July 7, 2017 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: July 7, 2017, 08:30 local (15:30 UTC) - Place: Vacaville, CA - Coordinates: 38.400001, -121.941947 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.4000&lon=-121.9419&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Initial climb: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report December 19, 2018 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 95514 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR17LA142 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/95514/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=95514 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR17LA142 ## Probable cause The total loss of engine power during initial climb for reasons that could not be determined because postaccident examination of the engine revealed no mechanical failure or malfunction that would have precluded normal operation. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Not determined](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000): Not determined › Not determined · Unknown/Not determined (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 177RG, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md?model=2073709), [All aircraft, 2,247 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Initial climb: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 177RG, 16 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=2073709), [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 177RG, 15 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=2073709), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Cessna 177RG, 22 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=2073709), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The private pilot reported that all indications during the preflight engine runup check were good. After takeoff, when the airplane was about 200 ft above ground level during the initial climb, the engine lost total power. The pilot then chose to land the airplane straight ahead in an open field. During the landing, the left wing and fuselage sustained substantial damage. A postaccident examination of the airframe and engine did not reveal any evidence of preimpact mechanical failures or malfunctions that would have precluded normal operation, and sufficient fuel was aboard the airplane at the time of the accident. As a result, the investigation could not determine why the loss of engine power occurred. ## Factual narrative On July 7, 2017, about 0830 Pacific daylight time, a Cessna 177RG airplane, N7532V, was substantially damaged during a forced landing shortly after takeoff from the Nut Tree Airport (VCB), Vacaville, California. The private pilot was not injured. The airplane was registered to and operated by the pilot under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan was filed. The flight was originating at the time and was destined for Rio Vista Municipal Airport (O88), Rio Vista, California. In a statement provided to the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigator-in-charge (IIC), the pilot reported that prior to departing all indications on the engine runup checks were good. After taking off and at about 200 ft above ground level during the initial climb, the engine "wheezed" and then provided minimum power. The pilot added that after [about] 30 seconds the engine stopped providing power/thrust, which resulted in a forced landing straight ahead to an open field; during the landing the left wing and fuselage were substantially damaged. The pilot reported that the airplane had 30 gallons of fuel on board at the time of takeoff. During the recovery of the airplane, recovery personnel reported that between 18 gallons to 20 gallons of fuel was drained, with about an equal amount from the left and right fuel tanks. The airplane was equipped with a Lycoming IO-360-A1B6D, fuel injected, reciprocating engine. A postaccident examination of the engine and airframe by representatives from the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), revealed the following: all accessories, including the fuel/oil lines, remained secured and attached to the engine. Mixture and propeller control continuity was established from the cockpit to the engine controls, however, the throttle control handle was observed bent downward about 70 ° during impact. Despite attempts to bend the throttle back to its near original position, full travel could not be attained; estimated movement was about 2 inches. The upper spark plugs were removed and exhibited normal wear signatures. Thumb compression was obtained on all 4 cylinders when the crankshaft was rotated by hand. Additionally, spark was obtained on all ignition leads when the crankshaft was rotated. When air pressure was applied to both the left and right wing fuel vent lines, air passed through the lines unobstructed. Prior to an attempt to facilitate the engine run, an external fuel source was attached to the left wing fuel inlet port. Additionally, due to propeller damage, the propeller was replaced with a serviceable propeller.The airframe fuel pump was actuated to prime the engine. Subsequent to the engine starting, it was run at various power settings for about 5 minutes before securing the engine with the mixture control. During the engine run, when the magnetoswitch was placed to the right magneto position, the engine lost power. The reason for this anomaly was not determined during the examination. The magneto and ignition switch were retained for further examination. In a subsequent examination of the ignition switch by an NTSB investigator, an OHM meter was used to establish continuity at the various switch settings. No evidence of a malfunction was noted. On July 28, 2017, at a FAA certified repair station, and under the supervision of an FAA airworthiness inspector, a certified magneto technician inspected and tested the airplane's Dual Magneto D4LA-2000, part number 10-382555-11, serial number 8016457. As a result, the technician reported that the magneto achieved a coming in speed of 70 rpm at 5mm gap, with 150 rpm maximum allowable. The technician further reported that when the speed was increased to 3,000 rpm and spark gap was opened to 10mm, no missing was observed in either the right or left position. The technician concluded that the magneto was clean and functioned normally. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N7532V](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N7532V-2021-01-30), registration cancelled 2021-01-30, S/N 177RG0829, built 1976 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 177RG (No Series) - 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: 177RG0829 - Year built: 1976 - Airframe hours: 3880 - Engines: Lycoming IO-360-A1B6D 200 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, December 2, 2016, 165 hours before - Departed: VCB, Vacaville, CA - Destination: O88, Rio Vista, CA - Airport: VCB, Nut Tree, runway 02, 4,700 × 75 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Onboard weather, Stall warning system, ADS-B, Auto-pilot, Handheld GPS, Electronic flight bag or handheld device ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 65; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review September 25, 2016; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 842 total, 581 in this make and model, 754 as pilot in command, 87 in the last 90 days, 39 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 82 °F, dew point 52 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: VCB, 2 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 20170707008999A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20170707008999A), Jul 7, 2017: Cessna 177RG, Vacaville, CA, Substantial damage. On July 7, 2017, at 0839 pacific daylight time, a Cessna 177RG, N7532V, was substantially damaged during a forced landing following a loss of engine power… ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 1, 2018, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=95514. 3.5 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 3.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40467051&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Record of Aircraft-Engine Examination (item 2, .PDF, 105 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40467052&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Aircraft-Engine%20Examination-Master.PDF - Evidence Control Form (item 3, .PDF, 61 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40467053&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Evidence%20Control%20Form-Master.PDF - Release of Aircraft Wreckage, NTSB Form 6120.15 (item 4, .PDF, 213 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40467054&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Release%20of%20Aircraft%20Wreckage,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.15-Master.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.