Big Bear City Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Big Bear City, California 92314
Monday, September 20, 1999 11:39 PDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The aircraft was parked outside on the ramp for several months, with the fuel drains removed and the tanks drained. An A&P mechanic replaced the fuel drain in the right tank and added fuel for a maintenance ferry flight. The pilot performed a preflight and before takeoff checks. The engine stalled once during taxi, then began to miss and run roughly after takeoff. After returning, the pilot drained the fuel sumps and found a 'small amount of water' in the gascolator. He then drained an additional gallon of fuel from the tank without finding any additional water or sediment. After takeoff on the second flight, the engine began surging and then quit. When attempts to restart the engine failed, he turned back toward the airport but could not reach the runway and ditched the airplane in the water. The mechanic did not perform or offer to perform any additional troubleshooting procedures between the first and second flight. The inside of the gascolator was coated with an insoluble greenish-brown film. The left wing fuel quantity transmitter was coated with material that was similar in appearance to a non-silicon sealant. The material was decomposing and readily flaked off when touched. About 10cc of liquid was recovered from the fuel reservoir; about half was water, with a heavier sediment that was similar in color and consistency as to the material coating the fuel quantity transmitter. The above noted discrepancies were located in areas that would not be accessible or serviceable by a pilot performing a preflight inspection.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

A loss of engine power due to fuel system contamination, which resulted from the mechanic's failure to fully inspect and verify the serviceability of the fuel system before returning the aircraft to service for a maintenance ferry flight. The pilot's decision to attempt flight with unresolved discrepancies in the reliability of the engine to produce power was a factor in the accident.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 9/20/1999
Event Day of the Week Monday
Time of Event 1139
Event Time Zone Pacific Daylight Time
Event City BIG BEAR CITY
Event State CALIFORNIA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 92314
Event Date Year 1999
Event Date Month 9
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude --
Event Location Longitude --
Event Location Airport BIG BEAR CITY
Event Location Nearest Airport ID L35
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport 260
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness Not pertinent
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1140 Pacific Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 80
Weather Observation Facility ID L35
Elevation of weather observation facility 6748
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation PDT
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) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 23
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) -18
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 220
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 9
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 16
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30
Density Altitude (feet) 8800
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 1
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 1823
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Sep 20 1999 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1209
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Apr 27 2001 4:05AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N39AE
NTSB Number LAX99LA314
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 177A
Aircraft Series Identifier 177A
Aircraft Serial Number 177-01179
Certified Max Gross Weight 2500
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 Annual
Date of Last Inspection Dec 17 1998 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 20
Airframe Hours 3381
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name ZAVALA BAUDELIO
Aircraft Owner Street Address 13537 LOUVRE STREET
Aircraft Owner City PACOIMA
Aircraft Owner State CA
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 91331
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name MICHAEL SMITH
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address P.O. BOX 1711
Operator City BIG BEAR
Operator State CA
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 92314
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) Unknown
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code L35
Departure City
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 1130
Departure Time Zone PDT
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code
Destination City
Destination State
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Apr 27 2001 4:05AM
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 --