BERMUDA DUNES, CA, USA
N7299E
CESSNA 182
WITNESSES REPORTED THAT THE ENGINE BEGAN TO RUN ROUGH SHORTLY AFTER THE AIRPLANE LIFT OFF. AFTER THE AIRPLANE CROSSED THE RUNWAY'S DEPARTURE END THE PILOT BEGAN A 180 TURN TO RETURN TO THE ARPT. THE PILOT FAILED TO MAINTAIN A PROPER AIRSPEED AND THE AIRPLANE STALLED. THE INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT SAND AND OTHER DEBRIS WERE FOUND IN THE FUEL TANK A WEEK BEFORE THE ACCIDENT. THE MECH DRAINED THE FUEL BUT DID NOT REMOVE THE TANK AT THE OWNER'S REQUEST. THE OWNER THEN ADDED AUTO GAS AND RETURNED TO THE AIRPLANE'S HOME BASE. THE WRECKAGE EXAMINATION DSCLSD SAND AND OTHER DEBRIS WERE IN THE FUEL SYSTEM & THE LEFT MAGNETO WAS INOP. BUT THE TACHOMETER INDICATED 2450 PRM AND THE PROPELLER BLADES EXHIBITED EXTENSIVE POWER AT IMPACT SIGNATURES.
THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN AIRSPEED WHILE MANEUVERING TO RETURN TO THE DEPARTURE AIRPORT, RESULTING IN AN IN FLIGHT LOSS OF CONTROL, STALL, AND IN FLIGHT COLLISION WITH TERRAIN. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: PARTIAL LOSS OF ENGINE POWER DUE TO FOULED IGNITION POINTS, CONTAMINATED FUEL, IMPROPER MAINTENANCE AND IMPROPER PREFLIGHT INSPECTION BY THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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