History of Flight
On December 22, 2014, at approximately 1150 eastern standard time, a Cessna 172M, registration N12182, experienced a total loss of engine power while in cruise flight at 10,500 feet mean sea level over the Atlantic Ocean. The commercial pilot performed emergency procedures, including application of carburetor heat and activation of the emergency locator transmitter. The engine could not be restarted, and the airplane was unable to reach land. It was subsequently ditched in the ocean about 5 miles from the nearest land mass near South Bimini, Bahamas. The airplane had departed from Chub Cay International Airport (MYBC), Chub Cay, Berry Island, Bahamas, at about 1105, with an intended destination of Fort Lauderdale Executive Airport (FXE), Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and a defense visual flight rules (DVFR) flight plan had been filed. The airplane was registered to and operated by Red Barn LLC under 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight.
The accident investigation was delegated by the Bahamian Air Accident Investigation & Prevention Unit to the United States government under Annex 13 provisions. The pilot provided a written statement describing the power loss and emergency actions. According to US Coast Guard video, the airplane was located at 1511 and the pilot at 1518. The video showed the wings, tail, and engine section appeared intact, though specific details could not be observed due to distance. The airplane was later recovered and transported to Ft. Pierce, Florida; however, prior to recovery, the tail, seats, cabin doors, main landing gear tires, and propeller were removed and absent.
Personnel Information
The pilot held a commercial pilot certificate with ratings for airplane single-engine land, multiengine land, and instrument airplane. His most recent FAA second-class medical certificate application was dated December 5, 2014. The pilot reported approximately 850 total flight hours, of which 600 hours were in the accident airplane make and model.
Aircraft Information
The Cessna 172M, serial number 17261866, was a four-seat, high-wing, fixed-landing gear airplane manufactured in 1973. It was powered by a Lycoming O-320-E2D 150-horsepower engine and driven by a McCauley model 1C160/CTM7553 fixed-pitch propeller. The most recent 100-hour inspection was completed on December 11, 2014, at a recorded hobbs time of 6,313.9 hours and tachometer time of 3,077.6 hours. The most recent annual inspection was conducted on September 19, 2014. At the 100-hour inspection, total airframe time was 9,720.6 hours. Post-recovery examination showed hobbs and tachometer readings of 6,337.5 and 3,096.4 hours respectively, correlating to a total airframe time of 9,771.8 hours and 729.9 hours since the engine's most recent overhaul.
Communication
The pilot had filed and activated an International Civil Aviation Organization DVFR flight plan indicating a proposed departure at 1600 UTC (1100 local) from MYBC with one hour en route. Actual departure time was 1612 UTC (1112 local). No recorded communications were found between the flight and any FAA radar facilities. Lockheed Martin Flight Service Station provided departure time information.
Wreckage Examination
NTSB personnel examined the wreckage. The tail section had been severed in a manner similar to being cut; doors and main landing gear tires had been removed prior to recovery. During recovery, a blue fluid similar to aviation gasoline was noted in the fuel tank, but during wing removal the fuel tank began emitting smoke, and an undetermined amount of blue fluid spilled. Recovery personnel reported the fuel tanks were unbreached. Engine examination found no fuel in the fuel strainer or carburetor. No abnormalities or malfunctions were noted that would have precluded normal operation. Detailed examination results are in the public docket.
Survival Aspects
After the airplane did not return to its home base, the owner contacted Lockheed Martin Flight Service Station (LMFSS) personnel to report it overdue. LMFSS contacted Fort Lauderdale Executive Airport (FXE) Air Traffic Control Tower (ATCT) about 1234 and was initially told to call back. Further communications ensued until about 1446 when ATCT reported they had not seen the aircraft. No recorded radio transmissions from the pilot declaring an emergency or ditching were found. No recorded ELT signal was located. US Coast Guard video showed the pilot wearing a life preserver during rescue.
Additional Information
The Cessna 172M fuel system, as per the Owner's Manual, includes two wing tanks with a total capacity of 52 gallons (48 usable). Fuel flows by gravity to a selector valve and then through a strainer and carburetor. A fuel receipt from December 17, 2014, showed 4.2 gallons uploaded to "top all tanks." The Owner's Manual Cruise & Range Performance chart indicates endurance ranges from 4.9 hours at 2,500 feet to 8.0 hours at 10,000 feet using all 48 usable gallons. FAA Order JO 7110.65V specifies information forwarding procedures for missing aircraft. CFR Part 91.509 requires life preservers or flotation means for overwater operations beyond 50 nautical miles from shore.