Barnstable Municipal Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Hyannis, Massachusetts 02601
Friday, August 24, 2001 1:00 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot performed a preflight inspection of the airplane and drained fuel samples from both wing sump drains, and the fuselage sump drain. The pilot observed about 1/4-inch of water, in a 4-inch sample of fuel taken from the right wing fuel sump drain. The pilot stated that he did not drain the fuel again to determine if the water was out of the tank. The pilot then performed a run-up inspection and initiated a takeoff. The airplane obtained an altitude of 300 feet, when the engine "stopped completely." The pilot then performed a forced landing into trees. Examination of the airplane revealed corrosion on the right wing fuel cap, and inside the right fuel tank. The carburetor was disassembled and the carburetor bowl was "about 1/3 full of water," and contaminated by a "brownish substance." Thumb compression and valve train continuity was confirmed to all cylinders by manual rotation of the propeller. The airplane was last fueled about 1 month prior to the accident with 16.7 gallons, and "a significant amount of rain" had fallen in the area since then.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's inadequate preflight inspection, which resulted in a total loss of engine power due to fuel contamination.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 8/24/2001
Event Day of the Week Friday
Time of Event 100
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City Hyannis
Event State MASSACHUSETTS
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 02601
Event Date Year 2001
Event Date Month 8
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 414009N
Event Location Longitude 0701649W
Event Location Airport Barnstable Municipal Airport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID HYA
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation 55
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 56 Eastern Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) --
Weather Observation Facility ID HYA
Elevation of weather observation facility 55
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) --
Time Zone of the weather observation EDT
Lighting Conditions Night/Dark
Lowest Ceiling Height 12000
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 9500
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Scattered
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Broken
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 5
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 22
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 21
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 270
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 11
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29.93
Density Altitude (feet) 885
Intensity of Precipitation Light
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 2
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 12249
NTSB Notification Source FAA Great Lakes Comm Ctr
NTSB Notification Date Aug 24 2001 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 800
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information DMS
Date of most recent change to record Sep 10 2002 8:12AM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\MONR
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office Bedford FSDO

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N5591G
NTSB Number IAD01LA099
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? No
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Cessna
Aircraft Model 150J
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 15071091
Certified Max Gross Weight 1600
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 2
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Sep 5 2000 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours 5560
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name Bozena Niechwiadowicz
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City Marstons Mills
Aircraft Owner State MA
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 02648
Operator is an individual? No
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? --
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation --
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) Personal
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code HYA
Departure City Hyannis
Departure State MA
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 50
Departure Time Zone EDT
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 Takeoff - initial climb
Report sent to ICAO? No
Evacuation occurred No
Date of most recent change to record Mar 22 2002 2:19PM
User who most recently changed record PEAR
Since inspection or accident Time of Accident
Event Location Runway Number and Location 15
Runway Length 5252
Runway Width 150
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --