Monday, March 02, 2020

Loss of Engine Power (Total): Cessna 172P Skyhawk, N5448K; accident occurred September 25, 2017 near Guam International Airport (PGUM), Tamuning, Guam









The National Transportation Safety Board did not travel to the scene of this accident.

Additional Participating Entity: 

Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office; Honolulu, Hawaii

Aviation Accident Factual Report - National Transportation Safety Board: https://app.ntsb.gov/pdf

Investigation Docket - National Transportation Safety Board: https://dms.ntsb.gov/pubdms


Location: Tamuning, GU
Accident Number: WPR17LA216
Date & Time: 09/25/2017, 1715 LCL
Registration: N5448K
Aircraft: CESSNA 172P
Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Defining Event: Loss of engine power (total)
Injuries: 3 None
Flight Conducted Under:  Part 91: General Aviation - Personal - Sightseeing 

On September 25, 2017, about 1715 local time, a Cessna 172P airplane, N5448K, sustained substantial damage when it impacted terrain following a loss of engine power near Guam International Airport (PGUM), Tamuning, Guam. The commercial pilot and two passengers were not injured. The airplane was registered to and operated by Sky Guam Aviation, Inc. as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 sightseeing flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed for the local flight that originated from PGUM at 1650.

The pilot reported that the accident flight was scheduled as a 20-minute local sightseeing flight, and that it was his last flight of the day. He conducted a normal preflight and reported no issues during the beginning of the flight. While enroute, the pilot noticed fire sparks with smoke on the left side and smoke started to fill the cabin. The pilot opened the left window to disperse the smoke. He did not observe fire, but the smoke continued to accumulate in the cockpit. Shortly after, the engine lost power and the airplane started to shake violently. The pilot decided to return to the airport and made a mayday call to inform the tower of the engine failure. While enroute to the airport, he attempted to restart the engine, but he was unsuccessful. The pilot realized he did not have sufficient altitude to land on the runway and initiated a forced landing to a nearby field. The airplane landed short of the airport perimeter fence.

Due to the location of the accident, representatives from the National Transportation Safety Board and Federal Aviation Administration were not available for post-accident examination oversight. A local mechanic and an employee from Sky Guam Aviation, Inc. conducted the post-accident examination of the airplane. They stated that they found evidence of oil around the No.4 engine cylinder and observed that the intake pipes were wet and shiny. They found that the oil dipstick/filler cap was not screwed into the filler neck, and the oil quantity indicated zero. The pilot told them that he checked the oil level before the first flight of the day and had flown the airplane ten more times that day but did not check the oil level prior to those flights.

The Pilot's Operating Handbook (POH) required the pilot to check the engine oil quantity and confirm that the oil dipstick/filler cap is secured before each flight.

Pilot Information

Certificate: Commercial
Age: 35, Male
Airplane Rating(s): Multi-engine Land; Single-engine Land
Seat Occupied: Right
Other Aircraft Rating(s): Balloon
Restraint Used:
Instrument Rating(s): Airplane
Second Pilot Present:
Instructor Rating(s): None
Toxicology Performed: No
Medical Certification: Class 2 With Waivers/Limitations
Last FAA Medical Exam: 03/24/2017
Occupational Pilot: Yes
Last Flight Review or Equivalent: 02/22/2016
Flight Time:  1669 hours (Total, all aircraft), 1469 hours (Total, this make and model), 1492 hours (Pilot In Command, all aircraft), 305 hours (Last 90 days, all aircraft), 101 hours (Last 30 days, all aircraft), 6 hours (Last 24 hours, all aircraft)

Aircraft and Owner/Operator Information

Aircraft Make: CESSNA
Registration: N5448K
Model/Series: 172P 
Aircraft Category: Airplane
Year of Manufacture: 1980
Amateur Built: No
Airworthiness Certificate: Normal
Serial Number: 17274115
Landing Gear Type: Tricycle
Seats: 4
Date/Type of Last Inspection: 08/27/2017, 100 Hour
Certified Max Gross Wt.: 2400 lbs
Time Since Last Inspection:
Engines: 1 Reciprocating
Airframe Total Time: 9874.8 Hours at time of accident
Engine Manufacturer: LYCOMING
ELT: C91 installed, not activated
Engine Model/Series: O-320 SERIES
Registered Owner: On file
Rated Power: 160 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: PGUM, 250 ft msl
Distance from Accident Site: 1 Nautical Miles
Observation Time: 0754 UTC
Direction from Accident Site: 77°
Lowest Cloud Condition: Few / 12000 ft agl
Visibility:  10 Miles
Lowest Ceiling: Broken
Visibility (RVR):
Wind Speed/Gusts: 6 knots /
Turbulence Type Forecast/Actual:
Wind Direction: 30°
Turbulence Severity Forecast/Actual:
Altimeter Setting: 29.85 inches Hg
Temperature/Dew Point: 26°C / 25°C
Precipitation and Obscuration: No Obscuration; No Precipitation
Departure Point: Tamuning, GU (GUM)
Type of Flight Plan Filed: None
Destination: Tamuning, GU (GUM)
Type of Clearance: VFR
Departure Time: 1655 LCL
Type of Airspace: Class D

Airport Information

Airport: GUAM INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT (GUM)
Runway Surface Type: Asphalt
Airport Elevation: 305 ft
Runway Surface Condition: Rough
Runway Used: 06R
IFR Approach: None
Runway Length/Width: 10014 ft / 150 ft
VFR Approach/Landing: Straight-in 

Wreckage and Impact Information

Crew Injuries: 1 None
Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Passenger Injuries: 2 None
Aircraft Fire: None
Ground Injuries: N/A
Aircraft Explosion: None
Total Injuries: 3 None
Latitude, Longitude: 13.477778, 144.777500 (est)

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