Cessna 152 N25414

Summary

On 5 May 1996 at about 14:17 local time, a Cessna 152 registered N25414, operated by Atlantic Air, was involved in an accident near Harwinton, Connecticut, 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

5 May 1996 at 14:17

Classification

Accident

Location

Harwinton, Connecticut, United States

Nearest airport

Mountain Meadows (22B)

Coordinates

Not recorded

Aircraft

Cessna 152

Registration

N25414

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Atlantic Air

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Instructional

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

NYC96LA096

2 people had minor injuries.

the operator's failure to eliminate water-contaminated fuel from the airplane, which resulted in the loss of engine power and collision with an obstacle during the forced landing. Also causal was an improperly maintained fuel storage facility.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

Water was found in the fuel tanks during preflight, and additional draining was accomplished until no more water appeared. The pilots boarded the airplane and initiated a takeoff, at which time, the engine sputtered, and the takeoff was aborted. After the airplane cleared the runway, the engine lost total power; attempts to restart it were unsuccessful. The airplane was pushed to the operator's hangar where the operator inspected the airplane. Additional water was found in the tanks, which was drained, then the engine was run. The operator said the airplane was, '...OK to fly...', and the pilots boarded the airplane for departure. Once they were airborne, about 200 feet high, the engine lost power. During the forced landing, the airplane struck a power line and descended to the ground where it nosed over. When the airplane was placed upright, additional water was found in the tanks. Examination of the fuel farm, where the airplane was refueled, revealed the filter was collapsed, and the fuel was contaminated with water. The FAA reported the operator did not have a fuel management program in place or the appropriate equipment to maintain a fuel farm. According to the airplane manufacturer, '...If excessive sampling is required, the recommended procedure is to completely defuel, drain and clean the airplane fuel system, and attempt to discover where and how the contamination originated before the airplane flys again....'

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.