# Accident 19981203045859A: Cessna 150L, Columbia, NC, December 3, 1998

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: December 3, 1998, 14:30 local time
- Place: Columbia, NC
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Fcd/Prec Ldg From Cruise
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 35.9101° N, 76.2492° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.9101&lon=-76.2492&mi=10
- Aircraft: N18022, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N18022-2000-02-29) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Cessna 150L (registry code 2071826, https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-150l) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 150L
- Reported engine: CONT O200A
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 490 total, 244 in this make and model, 75 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ATL99LA027](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL99LA027) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19981203045859A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

APPROXIMATELY ONE HOUR INTO THE FLIGHT, THE FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR REPORTED THAT THE ENGINE DEVELOPED A ROUGH CONDITION AND A REDUCTION IN POWER. SINCE NORMAL FLIGHT COULD NOT BE MAINTAINED, THE FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR SELECTED A FIELD THAT HE BELIEVED WOULD BE SUITABLE FOR A FORCED LANDING. DURING THE LANDING ROLL, THE FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR ATTEMPTED TO AVOID A COLLISION WITH A DRAINAGE DITCH AND TREES. AFTER THE AIRPLANE WENT THROUGH SEVERAL GYRATIONS IT RESTED 180 DEGREES FROM THE INITIAL LANDING DIRECTION. EXAMINATION OF THE ENGINE DESCLOSED THAT THE #2 EXHAUST VALVE HAD FAILED, AND PIECES OF THE VALVE HEAD WERE LODGED IN THE CYLINDER AND THE EXHAUST SYSTEM. THE EXAMINATION OF THE VALVE REVEALED THAT THE VALVE HEAD SEPARATED AT THE VALVE STEM ATTACH POINT. THE VALVE STEM REMAINED IN A NORMALLY INSTALLED POSITON, AND FUNCTIONED NORMALLY WHEN THE ENGINE DRIVE TRAIN WAS ROTATED. A REVIEW OF THE ENGINE MAINTENANCE LOGS DISCLOSED THAT THIS ENGINE HAD A PREVIOUS EXHAUST VALVE FAILURE 931 HOURS AGO. THE EXHAUST VALVE PART NUMBER WAS SA-64612. (-23) PILOT'S STATEMENT: ON DECEMBER 3, 1998, MY STUDENT AND I TOOK OFF FROM DARE COUNTY REGIONAL AIRPORT (MQI) AT APPROXIMATELY 1830Z. THE PREFLIGHT          INSPECTION AND PRE TAKEOFF RUN UP WERE NORMAL AND WE WERE FULL OF FUEL. WE MADE A TOUCH AND GO AT ELIZABETH CITY (ECG) AND EDENTON (EDE) APPROXIMATELY ONE (1) HOUR INTO THE FLIGHT, THE PLANE EXPERIENCED AN ENGINE ROUGHNESS AND A PARTIAL LOSS OF POWER. I SELECTED A FIELD THAT APPEARED MOST SUITABLE FOR THE FORCED OFF FIELD LANDING. DURING THE LANDING, WHILE TRYING TO AVOID TREES, DRAINAGE DITCHES, AND A DIKE FOR A HOG LAGOON, THE AIRCRAFT ROTATED 180 DEGREES AFTER TOUCHDOWN AND SUFFERED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE. NEITHER MY STUDENT NOR I WERE INJURED DURING OR AFTER THE LANDING. THE PRELIMINARY POST ACCIDENT INSPECTION INDICATES A POSSIBLE EXHAUST VALVE FAILURE.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB ATL99LA027](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL99LA027), Dec 3, 1998: Cessna 150 (N18022), Columbia, NC, substantial damage. Probable cause: The failure of the #2 exhaust valve that resulted in the total loss of engine power. A factor is the lack of suitable emergency landing terrain.

## Other reports on N18022 (1)

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.

- [Accident 19740711021399A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19740711021399A), Jul 11, 1974: Cessna 150L (N18022), Onsted, MI, Substantial damage. Short fld tkof,acft settled back to rwy. Plt lost ctl l wing ctctd gnd acft flipped.

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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