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NTSB Identification: ATL99LA034. The docket is stored in the (offline) NTSB Imaging System. |
Accident occurred Monday, December 14, 1998 at SHELBYVILLE, TN |
Aircraft: Cessna 152, registration: N5144B |
Injuries: 1 Uninjured |
Event: 20001211X11516 Status: Final Report Approved On Friday, March 31, 2000 |
NTSB Preliminary Narrative (6120.19A) |
On December 14, 1998, at 1000 Central Standard Time, a Cessna 152, N5144B, registered to Middle Tennessee State University, collided with |
the ground, according to the student pilot's flight instructor, during an attempted forced landing ten miles south of Shelbyville, Tennessee. The |
instructional flight operated under the provisions of Title 14 CFR part 91. The student pilot had filed a flight plan for the solo cross-country flight. |
An examination of the airplane at the accident site disclosed that the airframe had sustained substantial structural damage. According to the |
flight instructor, the student pilot was not injured. The flight departed Murfreesboro, Tennessee, at 0915. |
The student pilot reported that, approximately forty-five minutes into the flight, the engine rpm dropped. The student pilot pulled the throttle lever to |
the idle position, and applied carburetor heat. The engine rpm continued to drop, and the engine subsequently quit. Attempts by the student pilot |
to restore full engine power, failed (see attached pilot aircraft accident report). The student pilot selected an open field for an emergency |
landing. During the landing attempt, the nose wheel assembly sustained structural damage. |
Examination of the airplane disclosed that the nose gear assembly had sheared off and, that the engine firewall had sustained impact damage. |
The examination also revealed that a fuel line in the vicinity of the chin cowling had also ruptured and an unknown quantity of fuel was spilled. |
Approximately a quart of liquid was recovered from the fuel system; 90% of the liquid was clear water. Water was also discovered in the |
carburetor bowl, and the filter assembly. |
Reportedly the airplane was refueled about two days before the accident, and subsequent to the refueling, the area experienced severe |
thunderstorm activity. Security of the fuel caps after the refueling was not confirmed. The pilot did not report checking and securing the fuel |
caps during the preflight inspection. |
NTSB Final Narrative (6120.4) |
The student pilot reported that approximately forty-five minutes into the flight, the engine rpm dropped and subsequently lost power. Attempts by |
the student pilot to restore full engine power, failed. The student pilot made an emergency landing in an open field. Examination of the airplane |
disclosed that the nose gear assembly had sheared off and, that the engine firewall had sustained impact damage. The examination also |
revealed that a fuel line in the vicinity of the chin cowling had also ruptured and an unknown quantity of fuel was spilled. Approximately a quart |
of liquid was recovered from the fuel system; 90% of the liquid was clear water. Water was also discovered in the carburetor bowl, and the |
filter assembly. Reportedly the airplane was refueled about two days before the accident, and subsequent to the refueling, the area |
experienced severe thunderstorm activity. Security of the fuel caps after the refueling was not confirmed. The pilot did not report checking and |
securing the fuel caps during the preflight inspection. |
NTSB Probable Cause Narrative |
Water contamination of the fuel supply, resulting from the pilot's inadequate preflight inspection. |
Occurrences and Sequence of Events |
Occurrence: 1, LOSS OF ENGINE POWER |
Phase of Operation: CRUISE |
Sequence of Events for Occurrence Number: 1 |
1 ( Cause ) FLUID, FUEL / CONTAMINATION, WATER / (0) |
2 ( Cause ) AIRCRAFT PREFLIGHT / INADEQUATE / PILOT IN COMMAND |
Occurrence: 2, FORCED LANDING |
Phase of Operation: DESCENT - EMERGENCY |
Occurrence: 3, IN FLIGHT COLLISION WITH TERRAIN/WATER |
Phase of Operation: EMERGENCY DESCENT/LANDING |
Sequence of Events for Occurrence Number: 3 |
1 (Finding) TERRAIN CONDITIONS / GROUND / (0) |
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