# Accident 19991009028939A: Cessna 150G, El Reno, OK, October 9, 1999

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: October 9, 1999, 15:00 local time
- Place: El Reno, OK
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Fcd/Prec Ldg From Cruise
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 35.5393° N, 97.9594° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.5393&lon=-97.9594&mi=10
- Aircraft: N3603J, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N3603J-2000-07-28) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Cessna 150G (registry code 2071816, https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-150g) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 150G
- Reported engine: CONT O200A
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 1,075 total, 150 in this make and model, 36 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB FTW00LA009](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW00LA009) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19991009028939A

## Narrative

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

(.19) ON OCTOBER 9, 1999, AT 1352 CENTRAL DAYLIGHT TIME, A CESSNA 150G AIRPLANE, N3603J, SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGED DURING THE FORCED LANDING FOLLOWING A LOSS OF ENGINE POWER NEAR EL RENO, OKLAHOMA. THE AIRPLANE, OWNED BY TIMELESS IMAGES, INC., EDMOND, OKLAHOMA, WAS OPERATED BY SUNSHINE AVIATION, GUTHRIE, OKLAHOMA, UNDER 14 CODE OF FEDERAL REGULATIONS PART 91. THE COMMERCIAL PILOT/FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR AND THE STUDENT PILOT RECEIVED MINOR INJURIES. VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED FOR THE CROSS-COUNTRY INSTRUCTIONAL FLIGHT, AND A FLIGHT PLAN WAS NOT FILED. THE FLIGHT DEPARTED GUTHRIE, OKLAHOMA, WITH A PLANNED DESTINATION OF HOBART, OKLAHOMA. LOCAL AUTHORITIES, THE OPERATOR, AND THE FAA INSPECTORS REPORTED THAT DURING THE FLIGHT A TOTAL LOSS OF ENGINE POWER OCCURRED AND THE FLIGHT DIVERTED TO EL RENO, OKLAHOMA. THE AIRPLANE LANDED SHORT OF THE EL RENO MUNICIPAL AIRPORT. DURING THE LANDING ROLL IN THE PLOWED FIELD, THE AIRCRAFT SPUN AROUND. THE WINGS AND EMPENNAGE RECEIVED STRUCTURAL DAMAGE. THE NOSE GEAR AND PROPELLER WERE DAMAGED.                                                                                                                                                 (.4)A TOTAL LOSS OF ENGINE POWER OCCURRED DURING A DUAL CROSS-COUNTY INSTRUCTIONAL FLIGHT. DURING THE ENSUING FORCED LANDING IN SOFT TERRAIN, THE NOSE LANDING GEAR COLLAPSED. EXAMINATION OF THE CONTINENTAL O-200-A ENGINE, REVEALED THAT THE INTAKE ROCKER ARM ON THE #4 CYLINDER WAS SEPARATED. METALLURGICAL EXAMINATION INDICATED THAT A FATIGUE FRACTURE INITIATED ON THE PUSH ROD SIDE OF THE ROCKER ARM. THERE WAS NO EVIDENCE OF MACHINING DEFECTS OR MECHANICAL DEFORMATION ASSOCIATED WITH THE FATIGUE CRACK PROPAGATION. THE #4 CYLINDER HAD ACCUMULATED 76 HOURS OF OPERATION SINCE NEW AT THE TIME OF THE ROCKER ARM FAILURE. NO MAINTENANCE RECORDS WERE FOUND FOR ANY REPAIR, OVERHAUL, OR REPLACEMENT OF THE ROCKER ARM FOR THE #4 CYLINDER. TOTAL TIME ON THE ENGINE WAS 3,198 HOURS. (-23)DURING CRUISE FLIGHT, HEADING SOUTH TO HOBART, OK THE ENGINE STARTED TO RUN ROUGH, AND SELECTING CARB HEAT MADE IT WORSE.  THE CARB HEAT WAS SELECTED CLOSED, AND THE AIRCRAFT WAS TURNED TO THE NORTHEAST TO LAND AT EL RENO MUNICIPAL AIRPORT.  THE ENGINE QUIT AND A FORCED LANDING WAS ATTEMPTED IN A PLOWED FIELD THREE MILES WEST/SOUTHWEST OF THE EL RENO AIRPORT.  WHEN TH                                                E TIRES MADE CONTACT WITH THE SOFT DIRT, THE NOSE GEAR SHEARED OFF THE AIRCRAFT AND THE AIRCRAFT SPUN AROUND TO A STOP WITH THE NOSE OF THE AIRCRAFT HEADING IN A SOUTHERLY DIRECTION.

## 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 FTW00LA009](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW00LA009), Oct 9, 1999: Cessna 150G (N3603J), El Reno, OK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The total loss of engine power resulting from a fatigue failure of the intake rocker arm for the #4 cylinder. A factor was the soft terrain encountered during the forced landing.

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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