KINNER, LA, USA
N13871
CESSNA 177B
THE PLT STATED HE LOST ENG PWR AFTER DEPARTING THE NEW ORLEANS INT'L ARPT. THE FLT WAS UNABLE TO RETURN TO THE ARPT. THE ACFT CRASHED IN THE WATERS OF LAKE PONTCHARTRAIH ABOUT 1 MILE FROM THE ARPT. THE WRECKAGE WAS LOCATED AND MARKED WITH A BUOY. DUE TO HIGH WINDS AND ROUGH WATER, THE ACFT WRECKAGE COULD NOT BE MOVED FOR SEVERAL DAYS. SUBSEQUENT RECOVERY WAS TO BE ATTEMPTED BUT THE BUOY HAD DISAPPEARED. AFTER APRX 3 TO 4 WEEKS THE WRECKAGE WAS RELOCATED AND RECOVERED. INVESTIGATION REVEALED THE SCREW HOLDING THE CAM ACTIVATING THE IGNITION POINTS HAD SEPARATED. THE CAM THEN WAS ALLOWED TO ROTATE, ELIMINATING THE ACTIVATION OF THE POINTS. THE MAGNETO WAS CLEANED, THE CAM SCREW REINSTALLED AND THE POINTS SET FOR CORRECT OPENING. THE MAGNETO WAS INSTALLED ON THE ENGINE AND THEN STARTED USING AUX FUEL SUPPLY AND BATTERY PWR. THE ENGINE OPERATED AT ABOUT 2500 RPM WITH OIL PRESSURE OF 85 PSI. THE PROPELLER WAS OPERATED FROM LOW TO HIGH PITCH. THE MAGNETO POINTS WERE REPLACED 42 HOURS PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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