Cessna 177 N29383

Summary

On 8 June 2000 at about 20:30 local time, a Cessna 177 registered N29383 was involved in an accident near Nacogdoches, Texas, United States. 3 people were on board and 3 were seriously injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

8 June 2000 at 20:30

Classification

Accident

Location

Nacogdoches, Texas, United States

Coordinates

Not recorded

Aircraft

Cessna 177

Registration

N29383

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Instructional

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

FTW00LA175

3 people were seriously injured.

the loss of engine power during a go-around resulting from the failure of the worn carburetor heat control cable. A contributing factor was the lack of suitable terrain for the forced landing.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

During a simulated emergency approach to a landing area, at 75 feet agl, the flight instructor told the student pilot to go-around. The student attempted to add full power; however, he could not fully turn off the carburetor heat. The instructor stated that the engine would not produce full power. The student retracted the flaps to 1/4-flap setting once the airplane's descent was arrested. The instructor noticed that the airplane was not climbing and took control of the airplane. The airplane impacted trees at a speed of approximately 50 mph. A week prior to the accident flight the student experienced a similar situation during a go-around following a simulated loss of engine power. The carburetor heat would not shut off and the airplane would not climb. The stuck carburetor heat control could not be duplicated by maintenance personnel. Post-accident examination of the airplane revealed impact marks indicating that the carburetor heat deflection door was in the on position at the time of the accident. The carburetor heat control cable was fractured in two, approximately 8 inches from the carburetor heat deflection door attach point. Examination of the carburetor heat control cable revealed that u-shaped indentions had been worn into the inner wire by its metal spiral sleeve. Examination of the inner wire revealed that it could not carry its design load due to the wear marks, and had failed as a result of tensile overload. Examination of the aircraft maintenance records revealed that the carburetor cable had not been replaced since the airplane was manufactured in 1968.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.