Cessna 172A N7249T

Summary

On 2 January 2000 at about 22:30 local time, a Cessna 172A registered N7249T was involved in an accident near Dos Palos, California, United States. One person was on board and one 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

2 January 2000 at 22:30

Classification

Accident

Location

Dos Palos, California, United States

Coordinates

37.0703, -120.6308

Aircraft

Cessna 172A

Registration

N7249T

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Instructional

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Merced → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

LAX00LA062

1 person had minor injuries.

A partial loss of engine power due to the failure of maintenance personnel to properly install and safety the throttle arm to the carburetor throttle shaft.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

While en route to the practice area, the student pilot performed several practice turns. She noted a loss of altitude, added throttle to regain altitude, but did not receive corresponding power indication. She checked the fuel selector to make sure it was in the on position, and then checked the engine gages. No discrepancies were noted. Carburetor heat was applied with no response and the rpm's continued to drop. She crosschecked the engine instruments, and reapplied carburetor heat with no change. With the rpm's continuing to drop, she made an emergency landing in a plowed dirt field. The engine was inspected, and it was noted that the retaining nut that attaches the serrated throttle lever to the serrated throttle shaft of the carburetor was loose, and the cotter pin was missing. The serrated portion of the throttle lever was unable to properly engage with the serrated stop of the throttle shaft. The carburetor had been replaced during the annual inspection on June 6, 1999, to comply with Airworthiness Directives. No further discrepancies were noted.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.