# NTSB WPR21LA015: Cessna 152, N6585L, South Hill, WA, October 15, 2020 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report - Date: October 15, 2020, 16:15 local (23:15 UTC) - Place: South Hill, WA - Coordinates: 47.113129, -122.29148 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=47.1131&lon=-122.2915&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Initial climb: Fuel contamination](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/193) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 3 - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 102153 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR21LA015 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/102153/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=102153 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR21LA015 ## Probable cause The pilot’s failure to ensure that the fuel supply had been completely drained of water, which resulted in a partial loss of engine power during takeoff due to water contamination. ## 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 · Incorrect service/maintenance (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 · 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. - [Initial climb: 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) ## Analysis The pilot purchased the airplane 8 days before the accident via an online auction. The airplane was parked outside, partially covered, for several years before the purchase. The pilot said that he worked on the airplane to facilitate an engine run, which included draining the fuel from wing fuel tanks and the airframe fuel filter, during which he observed water in the fuel. The pilot continued to sump the fuel tanks and airframe fuel filter until no more water was present and conducted multiple engine runs with no issues noted. The day of the accident, he decided to relocate the airplane. Following an uneventful engine run-up, as the airplane climbed through about 250 ft above ground level during takeoff, the engine lost partial power. The pilot initiated a forced landing to a nearby parking lot, during which the airplane impacted an unoccupied parked vehicle, resulting in substantial damage to the fuselage and wings. Postaccident examination revealed that the right-wing fuel tank contained water. The left-wing fuel tank was empty; however, there was evidence of a fuel leak due to impact damage. Examination of the engine revealed that the No. 2 cylinder bottom spark plug exhibited foreign object debris within the electrode area. Based on the available information, it is most likely that the pilot failed to completely drain the tanks of water, which resulted in a partial loss of engine power during takeoff. ## Factual narrative On October 15, 2020, about 1615 Pacific daylight time, a Cessna 152, N6585L, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near South Hill, Washington. The pilot sustained minor injuries. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The pilot reported that he had purchased the airplane 8 days before the accident via an online auction. The airplane was parked outside and partially covered for several years before the purchase. The pilot said that he worked on the airplane to facilitate an engine run, which included draining the fuel from wing fuel tanks and the airframe fuel filter, during which he observed water in the fuel. The pilot continued to sump the fuel tanks and airframe fuel filter until no more water was present, and conducted multiple engine runs, with no issues noted. The day of the accident, he decided to relocate the airplane to Auburn, Washington. Following an uneventful engine run-up, he initiated takeoff on runway 35. As the airplane climbed through about 250 ft above ground level, the engine lost partial power. The pilot initiated a forced landing to a nearby parking lot, during which the airplane impacted an unoccupied parked vehicle, resulting in substantial damage to the fuselage and wings. Evidence of fuel was observed at the accident site. The airplane was recovered to a secure facility for further examination. The left-wing fuel tank was absent of fuel; however, a fuel line leak was identified consistent with impact damage. The right-wing tank contained about 1.5 gallons of fuel and water. Visual inspection of the tank revealed clear liquid droplets along the bottom of the tank, consistent with water. The bottom edges of the tank exhibited rust discoloration. Engine valve and drivetrain continuity was established when the crankshaft was rotated by hand. Cylinder No. 2 was impact damaged. The top spark plugs displayed wear; the No. 1 cylinder plug was severely worn. The No. 1 cylinder bottom plug exhibited lead deposits; the No. 2 bottom plug displayed foreign debris within the electrode area, and the No. 4 bottom plug was oil-soaked. The magnetos remained attached to the engine and produced spark at all terminal leads when the engine was rotated. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N6585L](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N6585L-2021-12-04), registration cancelled 2021-12-04, S/N 15284449 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 152 - 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: 15284449 - Year built: 1980 - Airframe hours: 9644 - Engines: Lycoming O-325 L2C 108 hp reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, April 21, 2008 - Departed: PUL, Puyallup, WA - Destination: S50, Auburn, WA - Airport: PLU, Pierce County Airport - Thun Field - Equipment: Stall warning system ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 53; injuries: minor; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; last flight review May 11, 2019; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 1,194 total, 500 in this make and model, 1,119 as pilot in command, 69 in the last 90 days, 29 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 270° at 4 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 63 °F, dew point 46 °F - Altimeter: 30.52 inHg - Observed at: KPLU, 1 nm away - METAR: KPLU 152315Z AUTO 27004KT 10SM CLR 17/08 A3052 RMK AO2,M ## 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 20201015020859A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20201015020859A), Oct 15, 2020: Cessna 152, South Hill, WA, Substantial damage. The pilot was ferrying the aircraft from pierce county airport, (plu) to auburn airport, (S50). Just after take off the pilot noticed that the engine RPM began… ## Docket (5 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on July 8, 2022, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=102153. 8.3 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 6.5 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13309176&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Roc pilot (item 2, PDF, 2 pages, 155 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13309523&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=ROC%20phone(pilot)-Rel.pdf - Icing chart with C-152 (item 3, JPG, 78 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13309766&FileExtension=jpg&FileName=Icing%20chart%20with%20my%20airplane-Rel.jpg - Airframe and engine exam (item 4, PDF, 7 pages, 1.4 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14146075&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=WPR21LA015%20Air%20Frame%20and%20Engine%20Exam%20V2-Rel.pdf - Mfr wreckage release (item 5, PDF, 1 page, 145 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13309631&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Memo%20for%20record%20-%20wreckage%20release-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.