Cessna 172H N2561L

Summary

On 15 February 2011 at about 18:30 local time, a Cessna 172H registered N2561L, operated by Sheble Aviation, was involved in an accident near Wikieup, Arizona, 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

15 February 2011 at 18:30

Classification

Accident

Location

Wikieup, Arizona, United States

Coordinates

34.7000, -113.6000

Aircraft

Cessna 172H

Registration

N2561L

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Sheble Aviation

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Instructional

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Bullhead City → Prescott

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

WPR11LA135

Nobody was injured.

A total loss of engine power during cruise flight resulting from the failure of a fuel line. Contributing to the accident was inadequate maintenance inspections that failed to detect the deteriorating fuel line.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The certified flight instructor (CFI) reported that the airplane was in cruise flight when the engine power became intermittent, followed by a total loss of engine power. The CFI established best-glide airspeed for the forced landing. During the landing roll on rough terrain, the airplane contacted a rut, which sheared off the nose landing gear. A postaccident engine run revealed that the engine would operate at idle power briefly but would not accelerate as the throttle was moved forward. While the engine was running, fuel was dripping from the main fuel supply line from the fuel strainer to the carburetor inlet. Examination of the fuel line revealed that approximately 6 inches of the 18-inch hose assembly was visibly deteriorated and cracked, resulting in the leak. A replacement hose assembly was installed, and the engine ran normally under all parameters. The data tag on the deteriorated hose assembly indicated that it had been in service for more than 20 years. No maintenance record documentation was found indicating that any hose assemblies had been replaced or repaired.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.