The National Transportation Safety Board did not travel to the scene of this accident.
Additional Participating Entity:
Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office; Sacramento, California
Aviation Accident Factual Report - National Transportation Safety Board: https://app.ntsb.gov/pdf
Investigation Docket - National Transportation Safety Board: https://dms.ntsb.gov/pubdms
https://registry.faa.gov/N7532V
Location: Vacaville, CA
Accident Number: WPR17LA142
Date & Time: 07/07/2017, 0830 PDT
Registration: N7532V
Aircraft: Cessna 177RG
Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Defining Event: Loss of engine power (total)
Injuries: 1 Minor
Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General Aviation - Personal
On July 7, 2017, about 0830 Pacific daylight time, a Cessna 177RG airplane, N7532V, was substantially damaged during a forced landing shortly after takeoff from the Nut Tree Airport (VCB), Vacaville, California. The private pilot was not injured. The airplane was registered to and operated by the pilot under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan was filed. The flight was originating at the time and was destined for Rio Vista Municipal Airport (O88), Rio Vista, California.
In a statement provided to the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigator-in-charge (IIC), the pilot reported that prior to departing all indications on the engine runup checks were good. After taking off and at about 200 ft above ground level during the initial climb, the engine "wheezed" and then provided minimum power. The pilot added that after [about] 30 seconds the engine stopped providing power/thrust, which resulted in a forced landing straight ahead to an open field; during the landing the left wing and fuselage were substantially damaged. The pilot reported that the airplane had 30 gallons of fuel on board at the time of takeoff. During the recovery of the airplane, recovery personnel reported that between 18 gallons to 20 gallons of fuel was drained, with about an equal amount from the left and right fuel tanks.
The airplane was equipped with a Lycoming IO-360-A1B6D, fuel injected, reciprocating engine. A postaccident examination of the engine and airframe by representatives from the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), revealed the following: all accessories, including the fuel/oil lines, remained secured and attached to the engine. Mixture and propeller control continuity was established from the cockpit to the engine controls, however, the throttle control handle was observed bent downward about 70 ° during impact. Despite attempts to bend the throttle back to its near original position, full travel could not be attained; estimated movement was about 2 inches. The upper spark plugs were removed and exhibited normal wear signatures. Thumb compression was obtained on all 4 cylinders when the crankshaft was rotated by hand. Additionally, spark was obtained on all ignition leads when the crankshaft was rotated. When air pressure was applied to both the left and right wing fuel vent lines, air passed through the lines unobstructed.
Prior to an attempt to facilitate the engine run, an external fuel source was attached to the left wing fuel inlet port. Additionally, due to propeller damage, the propeller was replaced with a serviceable propeller.The airframe fuel pump was actuated to prime the engine. Subsequent to the engine starting, it was run at various power settings for about 5 minutes before securing the engine with the mixture control. During the engine run, when the magneto switch was placed to the right magneto position, the engine lost power. The reason for this anomaly was not determined during the examination. The magneto and ignition switch were retained for further examination.
In a subsequent examination of the ignition switch by an NTSB investigator, an OHM meter was used to establish continuity at the various switch settings. No evidence of a malfunction was noted.
On July 28, 2017, at a FAA certified repair station, and under the supervision of an FAA airworthiness inspector, a certified magneto technician inspected and tested the airplane's Dual Magneto D4LA-2000, part number 10-382555-11, serial number 8016457. As a result, the technician reported that the magneto achieved a coming in speed of 70 rpm at 5mm gap, with 150 rpm maximum allowable. The technician further reported that when the speed was increased to 3,000 rpm and spark gap was opened to 10mm, no missing was observed in either the right or left position. The technician concluded that the magneto was clean and functioned normally.
Pilot Information
Certificate: Private
Age: 65, Male
Airplane Rating(s): Single-engine Land
Seat Occupied: Left
Other Aircraft Rating(s): None
Restraint Used: 3-point
Instrument Rating(s): None
Second Pilot Present: No
Instructor Rating(s): None
Toxicology Performed: No
Medical Certification: Class 3 With Waivers/Limitations
Last FAA Medical Exam: 12/06/2016
Occupational Pilot: No
Last Flight Review or Equivalent: 09/25/2016
Flight Time: 842 hours (Total, all aircraft), 581 hours (Total, this make and model), 754 hours (Pilot In Command, all aircraft), 87 hours (Last 90 days, all aircraft), 39 hours (Last 30 days, all aircraft)
Aircraft and Owner/Operator Information
Aircraft Make: Cessna
Registration: N7532V
Model/Series: 177RG No Series
Aircraft Category: Airplane
Year of Manufacture: 1976
Amateur Built: No
Airworthiness Certificate: Normal
Serial Number: 177RG0829
Landing Gear Type: Retractable - Tricycle
Seats: 4
Date/Type of Last Inspection: 12/02/2016, Annual
Certified Max Gross Wt.: 2800 lbs
Time Since Last Inspection: 165 Hours
Engines: 1 Reciprocating
Airframe Total Time: 3880 Hours at time of accident
Engine Manufacturer: Lycoming
ELT: Installed, not activated
Engine Model/Series: IO-360-A1B6D
Registered Owner: On file
Rated Power: 200 hp
Operator: On file
Operating Certificate(s) Held: None
Meteorological Information and Flight Plan
Conditions at Accident Site: Visual Conditions
Condition of Light: Day
Observation Facility, Elevation: VCB, 117 ft msl
Distance from Accident Site: 2 Nautical Miles
Observation Time: 0853 PDT
Direction from Accident Site: 20°
Lowest Cloud Condition: Clear
Visibility: 10 Miles
Lowest Ceiling: None
Visibility (RVR):
Wind Speed/Gusts: Calm /
Turbulence Type Forecast/Actual: None / None
Wind Direction:
Turbulence Severity Forecast/Actual: N/A / N/A
Altimeter Setting: 30 inches Hg
Temperature/Dew Point: 28°C / 11°C
Precipitation and Obscuration: No Obscuration; No Precipitation
Departure Point: Vacaville, CA (VCB)
Type of Flight Plan Filed: None
Destination: Rio Vista, CA (O88)
Type of Clearance: None
Departure Time: 0830 PDT
Type of Airspace: Class G
Airport Information
Airport: Nut Tree (VCB)
Runway Surface Type: Asphalt
Airport Elevation: 117 ft
Runway Surface Condition: Dry; Rough
Runway Used: 02
IFR Approach: None
Runway Length/Width: 4700 ft / 75 ft
VFR Approach/Landing: Forced Landing
Wreckage and Impact Information
Crew Injuries: 1 Minor
Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Passenger Injuries: N/A
Aircraft Fire: None
Ground Injuries: N/A
Aircraft Explosion: None
Total Injuries: 1 Minor
Latitude, Longitude: 38.400000, -121.941944
such a sad end for such a beautiful plane.
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