Cessna R182 N7392X

Summary

On 6 July 2011 at about 02:00 local time, a Cessna R182 registered N7392X, operated by Chris E Waggener, was involved in an accident near Hesperia, California, United States. 2 people were on board and 2 had minor injuries. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

6 July 2011 at 02:00

Classification

Accident

Location

Hesperia, California, United States

Nearest airport

Hesperia (L26)

Coordinates

34.6667, -117.3000

Aircraft

Cessna R182

Registration

N7392X

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Chris E Waggener

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Hesperia → Adelanto

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

WPR11LA311

2 people had minor injuries.

The separation of the end baffle cone inside the muffler, which blocked airflow through the engine after takeoff and resulted in a loss of engine power and an off-airport landing into obstacles.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The airplane's engine stopped making sufficient power to maintain a climb, so the pilot decided to turn back toward the airport. However, after he flew into a valley, he realized that the airplane would not make it back to the airport. After seeing power lines along the airplane's flightpath, he turned the airplane toward an open field. The airplane subsequently hit the ground hard and then hit a tree, which separated the right wing from the airframe. During the postaccident engine examination, the muffler was disassembled. One internal baffle cone was found separated from the end plate and was blocking the opening of the muffler. Upon shaking the muffler, the baffle cone was free to move around within the muffler assembly. The other baffle cone had a hole eroded in its center. Internal engine failures can cause partial or complete engine power loss by restricting the flow of the exhaust gases. If pieces of the internal baffling break loose and partially or totally block the flow of exhaust gases, an engine failure can occur. It is likely the exhaust gas was partially or totally blocked by the separated baffle cone during the flight, which resulted in a loss of engine power.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.