# Accident 20150822018709A: Cessna 150M, Dorado, PR, August 22, 2015

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: August 22, 2015, 16:58 local time
- Place: Dorado, PR
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Cruise/Level Flight
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 18.4367° N, 66.2781° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=18.4367&lon=-66.2781&mi=10
- Aircraft: N4057V, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4057V-2018-04-18) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Cessna 150M (registry code 2071830, https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-150m) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Continental 0-200 series (registry code 17020, https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-0-200-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 150M
- Reported engine: CONT MOTOR 0-200 SERIES
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 1
- Pilot certificates: Private pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 150 total, 150 in this make and model, 30 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ERA15LA323](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA15LA323) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20150822018709A

## Narrative

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

ACCORDING TO THE INFORMATION PROVIDED BY THE PILOT, HE WAS TRAVELING EAST TO WEST WHEN HE SENSED A BURN SMELL BUT HE COULD NOT IDENTIFY THE SOURCE. ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ REPORTED THAT TO THE ATC IN PREPARATION FOR A POSSIBLE RETURN TO ISLA GRANDE AIRPORT (SIG). SOON AFTER FINISHING THE DIALOGUE WITH THE ATC, A THICK SMOKE WAS IN THE CABIN. ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ TURNED OFF THE MASTER SWITCH, SHUT OFF THE ENGINE, IDENTIFIED A LANDING SPOT AND CONTINUES DOWNWIND BUT COULDN?T MAKE TO THE LANDING SPOT. ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ HIT SOME PLANTS AND A SOLID LAND SLOPE, CRASHING THE AIRCRAFT FACING EAST.

THE AIRCRAFT WAS FOUND APPROXIMATELY 6 MILES WEST OF ISLA GRANDE AIRPORT (SIG). MOST OF THE WREKAGE WAS CONFINED TO THE IMPACT AREA, EXCEPT THE NOSE LANDING GEAR WAS SEPARATED UPON IMPACT AND ENDED ABOUT 10 FEET FROM THE AIRCRAFT. THE TAIL OF THE AIRCRAFT WAS SEPARATED FROM THE CABIN AND UNDER THE MAIN LANDING GEAR FACING WEST. THE WING FUEL TANKS HAVE APPROXIMATELY 8 GALLONS OF FUEL. THE ENGINE WAS PARTIALLY SEPARATED FROM THE FIREWALL. THE ENGINE HIT THE GROUND ABOUT 45 DEGREES ANGLE, THE PROPELLER BENT AND NO SIGN OF ROTATION.  ENGINES COWLINGS WERE SEPARATED FROM THE FUSELAGE. ON SEPTEMBER 24 2015, WITH THE ASSISTANCE OF INSPECTOR ERIC R VALLEJO AND RAFAEL GONZALEZ INSPECTED AIRCRAFT N4057V, DURING THE INSPECTION WE FOUND SEVERAL WIRES AND COMPONENTS BURNED OUT; THE BATTERY, BATTERY GROUND WIRE INSULATION AND SEVERAL WIRES IN A WIRE BUNDLE IN FRONT OF THE FIRE WALL AND ENDING UNDER THE COCKPIT. THE BATTERY NEGATIVE TERMINAL WIRE WAS GROUNDED TO THE ENGINE NEAR THE ENGINE EXHAUST. THE ENGINE EXHAUST ROOT HAD A HOLE AND APPEARED THAT HOT GASES WERE ESCAPING THRU AROUND AND HEATING UP THE NEGATIVE WIRE.

## 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 ERA15LA323](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA15LA323), Aug 22, 2015: Cessna 150 (N4057V), Dorado, PR, substantial damage. Probable cause: A short circuit of unknown origin, which resulted in electrical arcing in the engine compartment and smoke in the cockpit, which necessitated a precautionary landing to a field.

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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