Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Dos Palos, California 93620
Sunday, January 2, 2000 14:30 PST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

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.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

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.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 1/2/2000
Event Day of the Week Sunday
Time of Event 1430
Event Time Zone Pacific Standard Time
Event City DOS PALOS
Event State CALIFORNIA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 93620
Event Date Year 2000
Event Date Month 1
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 --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1453 Pacific Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 360
Weather Observation Facility ID MCE
Elevation of weather observation facility 156
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 21
Time Zone of the weather observation PST
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) 55
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 30
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 320
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 11
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Minor
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor 1
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 11169
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Jan 2 2000 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1629
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 14 2001 9:59AM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\MONR
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N7249T
NTSB Number LAX00LA062
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 172A
Aircraft Series Identifier 172A
Aircraft Serial Number 46849
Certified Max Gross Weight 2350
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 Jun 9 1999 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 10
Airframe Hours 3177
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name LANA L. BALATTI
Aircraft Owner Street Address
Aircraft Owner City LOS BANOS
Aircraft Owner State CA
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 93635
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address
Operator City
Operator State
Operator Country
Operator Zip code
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 No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code MCE
Departure City MERCED
Departure State CA
Departure Country
Departure Time 1400
Departure Time Zone PST
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 Cruise
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Dec 1 2001 4:45AM
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 --