# Incident 20160204009519I: Cessna 152, Merced, CA, February 4, 2016

- Type: FAA incident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: February 4, 2016, 16:00 local time
- Place: Merced, CA
- Damage: No damage
- Phase of flight: Cruise/Level Flight
- Operating rules: Pilot school (Part 141)
- Operator: SRJS
- Location: 37.3114° N, 120.4704° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Merced, CA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.3114&lon=-120.4704&mi=10
- Aircraft: N48637, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N48637) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Cessna 152 (registry code 2071835, https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-152) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming 0-235 series (registry code 41505, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-235-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 152
- Reported engine: LYCOMING 0-235 SERIES
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20160204009519I

## Narrative

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

ON FEBRUARY 4, 2016, N48637 A CESSNA 152 (TACH TIME 7121.5, 36.2 HOURS AFTER THE LAST 100 HR INSPECTION) WAS INVOLVED IN AN OFF AIRPORT LANDING DUE TO AN ENGINE FAILURE IN FLIGHT, AND THE FLIGHT INSTRUCTORS SUBSEQUENT INABILITY TO RESTART THE ENGINE IN FLIGHT. NO DAMAGES TO THE AIRCRAFT OR ANY CREW INJURIES WERE SUSTAINED IN THE EMERGENCY LANDING. THE FUEL SYSTEM CONTAINED AN ADEQUATE SUPPLY OF FUEL, AND ALL AIRFRAME SUMPS, DRAINS AND THE STRAINER WERE FOUND FREE OF CONTAMINATES. THE CARBURETOR BOWL WAS FOUND TO BE FREE OF CONTAMINATES AS WELL. FURTHER ON SITE INVESTIGATION REVEALED MULTIPLE ENGINE MAINTENANCE ISSUES. THE ENGINE WOULD NOT START OR EVEN FIRE AT ALL, AFTER MULTIPLE STARTING ATTEMPTS AT THE SCENE. ALL FUEL PRIMER LINES WERE LOOSE AT THE NOZZLE CONNECTIONS AND AT THE DISTRIBUTION TEE, CAUSING FUEL TO BE SPRAYED AND DRIP WITHIN THE COWLING, (A FIRE HAZARD). ALL 4 LOWER SPARK PLUGS ELECTRODES WERE FOUND TO BE COMPLETELY COVERED AND FOULED WITH LEAD CLINKER DEPOSITS. THE UPPER 4 SPARK PLUGS ELECTRODES WERE LEAD FOULED AS WELL, AND EXTERNALLY WERE COMPLETELY RUST COVERED. MECHANIC REPLACED ALL 8 SPARK PLUGS WITH NEW, AND THE ENGINE STARTED AN RAN UP TO FULL POWER SATISFACTORILY. THE OIL COOLER MOUNTING HARDWARE WAS FOUND LOOSE AT ALL 4 MOUNTING POINTS.

## Other reports on N48637 (1)

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

- [Incident 19911123055789I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19911123055789I), Nov 23, 1991: Cessna 152 (N48637), Santa Ana, CA. Engine lost power on climb. Able to return to airport. Spark plugs on one cylinder fouled.

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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