HOUSTON, TX, USA
N73849
CESSNA 172N
INITIALLY, AFTER A TOP OVERHAUL, THE ENG WOULD NOT RUN. THE MECHANIC REMOVED THE CARBURETOR & FOUND A PIECE OF SILICON. AFTER REINSTALLING THE CARBURETOR, THE ENG OPERATED NORMALLY. THE PLT THEN TOOK OFF ON A MAINTENANCE TEST FLT. AS HE BEGAN A DESCENT BACK TOWARD THE ARPT, THE ENG STOPPED RUNNING & WOULD NOT RESTART, EXCEPT IT RESTARTED MOMENTARILY WHEN HE OPERATED THE PRIMER. DURING AN EMERGENCY LANDING, THE ACFT HIT A RICE FIELD LEVEE & NOSED OVER. AN EXAM REVEALED THAT THE FUEL LINE HAD BECOME DISCONNECTED FROM THE CARBURETOR AT A THREADED FITTING. A LABORATORY EXAM OF THE THREADED FITTING REVEALED A LACK OF SMEARING OR SCRATCHING THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN PRESENT IF THE FITTING HAD BEEN PROPERLY TORQUED.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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