Cessna 170 N4180V

Summary

On 5 October 2001 at about 17:15 local time, a Cessna 170 registered N4180V was involved in an accident near Bennettsville, South Carolina, United States. 2 people were on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

5 October 2001 at 17:15

Classification

Accident

Location

Bennettsville, South Carolina, United States

Coordinates

34.6296, -79.6793

Aircraft

Cessna 170

Registration

N4180V

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Bennettsville → Southern Pines

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

MIA02LA006

Nobody was injured.

The blockage of the fuel vent and also the collapsed fuel supply line resulting in the total loss of engine power due to fuel starvation.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The airplane was flown a total of approximately 2 hours 25 minutes on two separate flights since the fuel tanks were filled. The first flight was approximately 2 hours duration taking place 1 day before the accident. The second flight lasted approximately 25 minutes and took place earlier on the accident date departing with nearly full fuel in the left fuel tank and approximately1 hour of fuel remaining in the right fuel tank. The pilot stated that after takeoff on the accident flight with the fuel selector positioned to the "both" position, the engine quit when the flight was approximately 200 feet above ground level. The pilot maneuvered the airplane for a forced landing in a field and while in a foward slip; the right main landing gear collided with a ditch. The right wing then contacted the ditch and the airplane came to rest. Postaccident examination of the airplane by the pilot/owner who is also an airframe and powerplant mechanic revealed that the vent line which connects to both fuel tanks was blocked near the left wing root area. Additionally, the fuel supply line between the fuel selector valve and the fuel strainer was found to be kinked and foreign matter was found inside the kinked line. The owner/pilot reported that the damage to the line was not the result of the forced landing and subsequent damage to the airplane.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.