MT. STERLING, KY, USA
N19679
CESSNA 172L
THIS WAS THE THIRD OF THREE FLIGHTS TO GIVE EACH OF THE PASSENGERS AN OPPORTUNITY TO SIT UP FRONT WHILE IN FLIGHT. APPROXIMATELY 2 MILES FROM THE AIRPORT AT 1800 FEET, THE ENGINE LOST POWER, WENT TO IDLE AND DID NOT RESPOND TO THE THROTTLE, CARBURETOR HEAT, MIXTURE, AND FUEL SELECTOR CHANGES. A FORCED LANDING WAS PERFORMED TO AN OPEN FIELD. AS THE AIRPLANE CROSSED A ROAD PERPENDICULAR TO ITS FLIGHT PATH, THE LANDING GEAR STRUCK AND BROKE THE TOP STRANDS OF BARBED WIRE FENCES ON BOTH SIDES OF THE ROAD. THE AIRPLANE IMPACTED THE GROUND AND NOSED OVER. INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT THE THROTTLE CABLE ROD-END WAS FOUND DISCONNECTED FROM THE THROTTLE ARM, AND THE SHANK BOLT WAS IN PLACE WITH NO DAMAGE TO ITS THREADS. THE AIRPLANE ANNUAL INSPECTION AND TWO AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES WERE 16 MONTHS OVERDUE. THE PILOT'S RECORDS REVEALED THAT IT HAD BEEN 55 MONTHS SINCE HIS LAST MEDICAL CERTIFICATE WAS ISSUED, AND 35 MONTHS SINCE HIS LAST BIENNIAL FLIGHT REVIEW.
On March 6, 1994, about 1700 eastern standard time, a Cessna 172L, N19679, was substantially damaged during a forced landing to an open field, in Mount Sterling, Kentucky. The pilot and two passengers were not injured, a third passenger received minor injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. A flight plan had not been filed for the flight operating under 14 CFR 91. This was the third of three flights to give each of the passengers an opportunity to sit up front while in flight. In the NTSB Form 6120.1/2, the pilot stated that he had made two take offs and landings without incident. During the third flight, approximately 2 miles from the airport at 1800 feet, the engine lost power. The pilot further stated, "...The engine remained running at idle, no response from throttle, carburetor heat, mixture, fuel selector and magneto switch was checked and found to be okay." The pilot performed a forced landing to an open field. While crossing a road perpendicular to his flight path, the main landing gear struck and broke the top strand of a barbed wire fence on the near side of the road. The airplane continued forward and struck and broke the top strand of barbed wire on the landing field side of the road. The airplane decelerated in a nose down condition, impacted the ground, and nosed over. In the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Principal Maintenance Inspector's (PMI) report he states: "...The damage to the propeller is conducive with low power rotation...The engine cowling was removed. The lower engine area was packed with mud. When the mud was removed from the right side of the carburetor, the throttle cable rod end was found disconnected from the throttle arm. The drilled shank bolt was found in place with no damage to the threads. A review of the aircraft maintenance records shows that the annual inspection was 16 months overdue, [and two airworthiness directives were] 16 months overdue." A review of the pilot's records revealed that it had been 55 months since his last medical certificate was issued, and 35 months since his last biennial flight review.
INADEQUATE MAINTENANCE WHICH RESULTED IN THE DISCONNECTION OF THE THROTTLE CABLE FROM THE CARBURETOR AND THE SUBSEQUENT LOSS OF ENGINE POWER. FACTORS WERE THE ANNUAL INSPECTION NOT PERFORMED, AND COMPLACENCY.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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