Accident Overview
On January 29, 2024, at about 2250 central standard time, a Cessna 172H airplane, registration N8805Z, sustained substantial damage during a forced landing near Terrell, Texas. The pilot and a passenger received minor injuries. The flight was operated under Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight to build flight time.
Flight History
The pilot departed Arlington Municipal Airport (GKY) around 1950 after adding 12.75 gallons of fuel, reporting both wing tanks topped off. After landing at East Texas Regional Airport (GGG) and back-taxiing, the airplane departed for Terrell Municipal Airport (TRL) about 2120. The airplane landed at TRL at about 2230 and came to a full stop. The pilot attempted to refuel but found the fuel pumps out of order. Using a fuel measurement stick, he observed about 4 gallons in the right tank and 12 gallons in the left tank. He decided to fly to Mesquite Metro Airport (HQZ) to refuel.
During engine start, the pilot noted a rough or weak idle at the idle cutoff position, but the engine sounded stronger when advanced. He performed a pretakeoff engine run-up using the checklist. Shortly after takeoff from runway 18, at about 400 to 450 feet above ground level, the engine experienced a total loss of power. The pilot successfully restarted the engine, but it immediately lost power again. He executed a forced landing to a flat field with trees. The airplane came to rest upright with substantial damage to both wings and fuselage; the engine separated from the firewall. After landing, the pilot observed a steady stream of fuel leaking from the left side.
Postaccident Examination
During wreckage recovery, about 2 gallons of fuel were found in the left tank and about 0.25 gallon in the right tank. Both fuel tank caps were installed, and the fuel selector handle was in the "both" position. No visible fuel leakage was noted on the airframe or ground. Postaccident examination revealed that the wing tanks were not breached and the fuel system was intact from the tanks to the fuel strainer inlet line at the firewall. Testing of the fuel tank quantity transmitters with a multimeter showed resistance values outside manufacturer specifications. The engine exhibited no mechanical anomaly that would have precluded normal operation.
Testing of the fuel selector valve revealed that it moved when the handle was manipulated, but the detents were weak. Compressed air testing at the fuel strainer inlet line with the selector in each position showed that the valve was installed 180° from the correct orientation: when the handle was in the "left" position, the valve opened to the right tank; in "right" position, to the left tank; in "both" position, the valve was off; and in "off" position, the valve was open to both tanks. A review of airframe maintenance records did not determine when the valve was installed incorrectly, and no recent work on the valve was recorded.
Additional Information
The pilot reported that during the flight from GGG to TRL, the fuel selector was positioned to the left tank for about 50 minutes, then moved to the both position before landing and the accident takeoff.
Cessna Single Engine Service Bulletin SEB99-18 Revision 1, issued April 30, 2001, mandates inspection of the fuel quantity indicating system every 12 months. Compliance is not required for Part 91 operations. The maintenance records showed no annotation of work related to this bulletin in the 12 months before the most recent annual inspection on January 25, 2024.
Airport personnel reported that all fueling operations at TRL were conducted with a fuel truck and technician; self-service pumps were not available. An out-of-order sign was present on an unused underground fuel farm. No after-hours fueling request was received for the accident evening.
The airplane's total fuel capacity per the Owner's Manual was 39 gallons (19.5 gallons per wing tank) with 0.5 gallon unusable per tank.