# NTSB WPR18LA042: Cessna 152, N714TD, Everett, WA, December 3, 2017 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report - Date: December 3, 2017, 13:25 local (21:25 UTC) - Place: Everett, WA - Coordinates: 47.9076, -122.2809 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=47.9076&lon=-122.2809&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Approach-VFR go-around: Fuel contamination](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/193) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 2 minor - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 3 - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: Textron Aviation, Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 96416 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR18LA042 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/96416/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=96416 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR18LA042 ## Probable cause The flight instructor’s inadequate preflight inspection, during which he failed to ensure that water was sufficiently drained from the fuel system, which resulted in total loss of engine power and a subsequent forced landing and impact with objects. ## 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 152, 26 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md?model=2071835), [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 · Instructor/check pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 152, 14 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061510/cases.md?model=2071835), [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. - [Approach-VFR go-around: Fuel contamination](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/193) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 152, 11 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/193/sequence.md?model=2071835), [All aircraft, 225 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/193/sequence.md) - [Emergency descent: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Cessna 152, 84 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=2071835), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis According to the flight instructor, after conducting a local, instructional flight, he and the student pilot returned to the airport to practice touch-and-go landings. After successfully completing one touch-and-go landing, they switched to another runway. During the approach, the airplane was high on the glidepath, and the student subsequently initiated a go-around. The instructor reported that, during the go-around, when the airplane was about 150 ft above ground level, the engine “sputtered” and then lost all power. Realizing that the airplane would not be able to reach the runway, the flight instructor chose to conduct a forced landing in a nearby field, during which the left wing stuck a utility pole, and the right wing struck a tree, which resulted in substantial damage to both wings. During postaccident examination of the airplane, the fuel tank sumps and strainer were drained, and a large amount of water was observed in the fuel. During a test run, the engine had difficulty starting. The carburetor was removed, and the examination revealed no evidence of any preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation, and no debris or other contaminants were found. After the carburetor was replaced, the engine started with some hesitation but then ran smoothly at various power settings. Given the evidence, it is likely that the fuel lines and carburetor were contaminated with water because the instructor failed to ensure that water was sufficiently drained from the fuel system during the preflight inspection, which resulted in a total loss of engine power. ## Factual narrative On December 3, 2017, about 1325 Pacific standard time, a Cessna 152 airplane, N714TD, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Everett, Washington. The flight instructor and student pilot sustained minor injuries. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 instructional flight. According to the flight instructor, after conducting a local, instructional flight, he and the student pilot returned to the airport to practice touch-and-go landings. After successfully completing one touch-and-go landing, they switched to another runway. During the approach, the airplane was high on the glidepath, and the student subsequently initiated a go-around. The instructor stated that, during the go-around, when the airplane was about 150 ft above ground level, the engine “sputtered” and then lost all power. Realizing the airplane would not be able to reach the runway, they chose to conduct a forced landing in a nearby field, during which the left wing stuck a utility pole, and the right wing struck a tree. Postaccident examination of the airplane revealed that the wings had sustained substantial damage. When the fuel tank sumps and strainer were drained, a large amount of water was observed in the fuel. During an engine test run, the engine had difficulty starting. After the carburetor was replaced, the engine started with some hesitation but then ran smoothly at various power settings. Examination of the carburetor revealed no evidence of any preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation, and no debris or contaminants were found. The Pilot’s Operating Handbook, Section 4, “Normal Procedures,” “Preflight Inspection,” stated, in part, the following: Before the first flight of the day and after each refueling drain a small quantity of fuel from the fuel tank sump quick-drain valve to check for water…pull out [the] strainer drain knob for about four seconds to clear fuel strainer of possible water and sediment. Check strainer drain closed. If water is observed, the fuel system may contain additional water, and further draining of the system at the strainer, fuel tank sumps, and fuel line drain plug will be necessary. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N714TD](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N714TD-2020-07-17), registration cancelled 2020-07-17, S/N 15279413, built 1977 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 152 (NO SERIES) - Registry model: [Cessna 152](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-152) (registry code 2071835) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-235 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-235-series) (registry code 41505, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 15279413 - Year built: 1977 - Airframe hours: 17247 - Engines: LYCOMING O-235 L2C 110 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, November 3, 2017 - Departed: PAE, EVERETT, WA - Destination: PAE, EVERETT, WA - Airport: PAE, Snohomish County (Paine Fld), runway 16L, 3,004 × 75 ft, asphalt - Equipment: ADS-B, Stall warning system ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Flight instructor; age 22; injuries: minor; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; last flight review June 1, 2016; seat: right; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 733 as pilot in command, 134 in the last 90 days - Student pilot; age 25; injuries: minor; student; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; seat: left; restraint: 3-point ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: variable at 4 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 1,600 ft broken - Temperature: 43 °F, dew point 37 °F - Altimeter: 30.20 inHg - Observed at: PAE ## 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 20171203024129A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20171203024129A), Dec 3, 2017: Cessna 152, Everett, WA, Destroyed. On Sunday, December 3, 2017 at approximately 1320 local time, N714TD, a Cessna C-152 departed Snohomish country airport (paine field (kpae)) in Everett… ## Docket (9 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on February 18, 2021, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=96416. 9.1 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 9 pages, 4.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=11837672&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=NTSB%206120%20Form_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Record of conversation (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 122 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=11944849&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation%202%20WPR18LA042-Rel.pdf - Record of email (item 3, PDF, 1 page, 211 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=11945113&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Record%20of%20Email%20WPR18LA042-Rel.pdf - FAA AC-20-125 excerpt (item 4, PDF, 1 page, 767 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=11802218&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=AC20-125%20Excerpt-Rel.pdf - POH excerpt (item 5, PDF, 1 page, 1.7 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=11832438&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=POH%20Excerpt-Rel.pdf - Engine examination report (item 6, PDF, 2 pages, 164 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=11945103&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=WPR18LA042%20%20Engine%20Examination-Rel.pdf - Component examination (item 7, PDF, 4 pages, 1.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=11835615&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Component%20Examination%20Summary-Rel.pdf - Statement of party representatives to NTSB investigation (item 8, PDF, 1 page, 235 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=11801729&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=WPR18LA042%20Textron%20Aviation%20Party%20form%201_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Release of aircraft wreckage, NTSB form 6120.15 (item 9, PDF, 1 page, 523 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=11801587&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=2018%20Wreckage%20Release%20Form_Redacted-Rel.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.