Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Pacoima, California 91331
Saturday, March 2, 1991 11:48 PST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE CERTIFICATED AIRLINE TRANSPORT PILOT/CERTIFIED FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR AND A CERTIFICATED PRIVATE PILOT/INSTRUMENT STUDENT WERE DEPARTING ON AN INSTRUMENT TRAINING FLIGHT. ABOUT 250 FEET ABOVE THE GROUND, THE ENGINE QUIT AND AN EMERGENCY LANDING WAS MADE BY THE CFI IN A WATER COVERED FLOOD CONTROL BASIN. THE AIRPLANE WAS SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED. THE PILOTS WERE NOT INJURED. EXAMINATION OF THE FUEL SYSTEM REVEALED THE PRESENCE OF WATER IN THE CARBURETOR BOWL. HEAVY RAIN PRECEDED THE ACCIDENT FLIGHT. THE FUEL CAPS WERE FOUND TO HAVE BEEN LEAKING AROUND THE 'O' RING SEALS, AND WRINKLING OF THE FUEL BLADDER BOTTOMS WAS LOCATED. LONG TERM LEAKING OF FUEL FROM THE RIGHT FUEL CAP ON THE UPPER SURFACE OF THE WING WAS ALSO FOUND. AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES PERTAINING TO THE FUEL CAPS AND BLADDER WRINKLES WERE REPORTEDLY COMPLIED WITH AT THE LAST ANNUAL INSPECTION.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

FAILURE OF THE PIC TO ENSURE THAT THE FUEL SYSTEM WAS FREE OF WATER PRIOR TO FLIGHT. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE INADEQUATE COMPLIANCE WITH AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES BY MAINTENANCE PERSONNEL TO PRECLUDE WATER FROM ENTERING THE FUEL SYSTEM.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 3/2/1991
Event Day of the Week Saturday
Time of Event 1148
Event Time Zone Pacific Standard Time
Event City PACOIMA
Event State CALIFORNIA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 91331
Event Date Year 1991
Event Date Month 3
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles 0
Degrees magnetic from airport 0
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness Not pertinent
Investigator's weather source Pilot
Time of the weather observation 0
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID
Elevation of weather observation facility 0
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 15
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 16
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) --
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 120
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 4
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) --
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 2
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 422
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time 0
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 43709
Date of most recent change to record Dec 12 2000 9:32AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N182WS
NTSB Number LAX91LA115
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name CESSNA
Aircraft Model 182P
Aircraft Series Identifier 182P
Aircraft Serial Number 18264263
Certified Max Gross Weight 2950
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 4
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection 100 Hour
Date of Last Inspection Feb 7 1991 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 27
Airframe Hours 1956
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name CHESSMAN, ABRAMSON, MCMONAGLE
Aircraft Owner Street Address 2510 GARDNER PL.,P.O.BOX 11245
Aircraft Owner City GLENDALE
Aircraft Owner State CA
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 91206
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name SUN QUEST AVIATION
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address 12653 OSBORNE
Operator City PACOIMA
Operator State CA
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 91331
Operator Code
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation Unknown
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Instructional
Second Pilot on Board Yes
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code WHP
Departure City PACOIMA
Departure State CA
Departure Country
Departure Time 1148
Departure Time Zone PST
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code WJF
Destination City LANCASTER
Destination State CA
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Takeoff
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:30AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 0
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --