Cessna 172N N4829E

Summary

On 15 November 1993 at about 19:15 local time, a Cessna 172N registered N4829E was involved in an accident near Fort Collins, Colorado, United States. One person was on board and one was seriously injured. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

15 November 1993 at 19:15

Classification

Accident

Location

Fort Collins, Colorado, United States

Coordinates

40.5497, -105.0595

Aircraft

Cessna 172N

Registration

N4829E

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Instructional

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

FTW94FA034

1 person was seriously injured.

POWER LOSS DUE TO THROTTLE LINKAGE DISCONNECT. FACTORS WERE MISSING COTTER KEY, IMPROPER MAINTENANCE, AND 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

THE STUDENT PILOT MADE A FORCED LANDING AFTER A TOTAL POWER LOSS SHORTLY AFTER TAKEOFF. ENGINE EXAMINATION REVEALED THE COTTER PIN THAT FITTED INTO THE LOCKING NUT ON THE THROTTLE LEVER WAS MISSING. THE THROTTLE LEVER SERRATED SURFACES WERE NOT MESHED AND WERE RIDING ON TOP OF EACH OTHER. THE THROTTLE VALVE WAS CLOSED BECAUSE THE THROTTLE OPENING SPRING, DESIGNED TO FULLY OPEN THE THROTTLE IN CASE OF THROTTLE LEVER OR CABLE SEPARATION, WAS BROKEN. THREE DAYS BEFORE THE ACCIDENT, THE THROTTLE SHAFT WAS REMOVED AND INSPECTED FOR WEAR. THE MECHANIC SAID HE WAS 'ALMOST SURE' HE INSERTED THE COTTER PIN WHEN HE REINSTALLED THE CARBURETOR. THIS WAS THE FIRST FLIGHT AFTER THE MAINTENANCE WAS PERFORMED.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.