# NTSB WPR21LA055: Cessna 152, N757PY, San Bernardino, CA, November 14, 2020 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report - Date: November 13, 2020, 20:04 local (Nov 14, 2020, 04:04 UTC) - Place: San Bernardino, CA - Coordinates: 34.07504, -117.27141 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.0750&lon=-117.2714&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Enroute: 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: Federal Aviation Administration, Lycoming Engines, Textron Aviation - NTSB case key (mKey): 102293 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR21LA055 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/102293/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=102293 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR21LA055 ## Probable cause A total loss of engine power due to fuel contamination. Contributing to the accident was an inadequate preflight inspection. ## 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 · Pilot; 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. - [Enroute: 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) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: 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 During the preflight inspection, water was found in a fuel sample taken from the gascolator. Three subsequent samples were taken from the gascolator, which revealed no water. Fuel samples taken from each of the wing tanks revealed no water contamination. The pilot departed on a cross-country flight when, about 10 to 15 minutes after takeoff, the engine lost partial power and the pilot diverted to a nearby airport; he could not recall anything after that. The airplane came to rest about 1 nautical mile southwest of the diversion airport and sustained substantial damage. A postaccident examination of the airplane revealed water in the right fuel tank, gascolator, the carburetor inlet hose, and the carburetor bowl. A maintenance logbook entry made about 8 days before the accident revealed that contaminated fuel had been found in the fuel system. After the fuel had been drained and the airplane refueled, the engine was started and ran normally. Based on the available information, the engine lost total power due to fuel contamination, which resulted in a forced landing and substantial damage to the airplane. ## Factual narrative On November 13, 2020, about 2004 Pacific standard time, a Cessna 152, N757PY, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near San Bernardino, California. The pilot sustained a minor injury. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 91 positioning flight. The pilot reported that the purpose of the accident flight was to reposition the airplane from Chino Airport (CNO), Chino, California, to Ernest A. Love Field (PRC), Prescott, Arizona, for his employer, who had just purchased the airplane. The pilot met with the chief pilot of the organization who previously owned the airplane, who provided him with the airplane’s normal and emergency checklists. They then performed the preflight together, which revealed no water during the fuel sump of each wing; however, water was detected when the fuel was sumped from the gascolator. The pilot stated that the chief pilot then took three additional fuel samples from the gascolator, which revealed no water. The pilot then performed an engine runup with no anomalies noted and subsequently departed. The pilot stated that, about 10 to 15 minutes after departure, the engine rpm suddenly decreased to about 1,600. He performed the emergency checklist, but this did not resolve the loss of engine power. He elected to land at San Bernardino International Airport (SBD), San Bernardino, California, but had no memory of what happened after that. The airplane, which came to rest about 1.14 nautical miles southwest of the departure end on SBD runway 24, sustained structural damage to both wings and fuselage because of the impact sequence. The pilot reported that the airplane had a total of 26 gallons of 100 low-lead aviation fuel on board at the time of departure. Examination of the airframe and engine revealed water in the right fuel tank, the gascolator, the carburetor inlet hose, and the carburetor bowl. There were no other anomalies observed with the airframe or engine. A review of maintenance records revealed that, upon completion of an aircraft inspection on November 5, 2020, which was 8 days before the accident and at a tach time of 8,782.6 hours, the following maintenance logbook entry was made: “Found contaminated fuel in the fuel system. Drained system, refuel[ed] with 100 LL AVGAS. Work is performed with current Cessna 152 maintenance manual. Engine ran ok." ## Aircraft - Registration: [N757PY](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N757PY-2022-08-19), registration cancelled 2022-08-19, S/N 15279907 (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: 15279907 - Airframe hours: 8782.6 - Engines: Lycoming O-235 110 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Positioning, Part 91 - Registered owner: Alpha International Avation - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility - Last inspection: Annual, November 5, 2020, 1 hours before - Departed: CNO, Chino, CA - Destination: PRC, Prescott, AZ - Airport: SBD, San Bernardino International Airport - Equipment: ADS-B, Electronic flight bag or handheld device, Stall warning system ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 30; injuries: minor; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; seat: left; restraint: lap only; flight hours: 424 total, 58 in this make and model, 352 as pilot in command, 58 in the last 90 days, 35 in the last 30 days, 5 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/dark - Wind: calm - Visibility: 6 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 57 °F, dew point 43 °F - Altimeter: 30.12 inHg - Observed at: SBD, 1 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 20201113015169A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20201113015169A), Nov 13, 2020: Cessna 152, San Bernardnio, CA, Substantial damage. Aircraft departed chino airport (cno), then about 20 NM northeast, lost engine RPM, with insufficient RPM to maintain altitude. Pilot performed a 180 degree… ## Other investigations on N757PY (2) 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. - [NTSB NYC88LA028](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC88LA028), Nov 1, 1987: Cessna 152 (N757PY), Chatham, MA, substantial damage - [NTSB MKC80FCJ08](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MKC80FCJ08), Apr 5, 1980: Cessna 152 (N757PY), Imperial, NE, substantial damage ## Docket (6 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on July 19, 2022, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=102293. 35.8 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 9 pages, 9.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12803981&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=NTSB%20accident%20report_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Pilot's statement (item 2, PDF, 2 pages, 106 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12804906&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Pilot%27s%20statement-Rel.pdf - Airframe and engine examination report (item 3, PDF, 23 pages, 2.6 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12802315&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Airframe%20and%20Engine%20Exam-Rel.pdf - Maintenance records (item 4, PDF, 1 page, 2.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12822523&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Maintenance%20records_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Statement of party representatives to NTSB investigation (item 5, PDF, 2 pages, 503 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12822418&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=NTSB%20party%20form_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Release of aircraft wreckage, NTSB form 6120.15 (item 6, PDF, 1 page, 21.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12804345&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=NTSB%20Release%20of%20Wreckage%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.