20191104019259A

On November 4, 2019, at 1531EASTERN standard time, a Cessna 150, N714LK, was substantially damaged when it impacted a tree and terrain in New Bedford, Massachusetts. The private pilot was fatally injured.

Radar data shows that the aircraft made several circles above impact area eventually climbing to an altitude of about 4300 feet, then the airplane descended at about an 85 degree nose down angle into a large tree before impacting terrain in a cemetery about 3.5 nautical miles south (164°) of the ewb airport.

The wreckage path was oriented on a true heading of 220°. The left wing was located about 10 ft from the tree, followed by the tail and engine at 30 ft, the right wing at 40 ft, the carburetor at 87 ft, the fuel tank at 122 ft, and the main wheels and directional gyro at 240 ft. the nose wheel was located 30 ft at 330° from the tree. The accident site elevation was about 83 ft mean sea level. The left wing, with the strut attached, was the closest piece to the tree. The empennage, engine, right wing (with cabin overhead attached), and cabin floor were near each other but were separate pieces. Both wings exhibited leading edge damage similar to impact with large tree branches

All the flight control cables were connected at the associated cockpit and control surfaces. The observed cable separations exhibited evidence of tension overload. The rudder horn had separated from the rudder. The left rudder horn attach point was pulled into the empennage and was separated aft of the rudder stop block.

The elevator bellcrank to control y tube was bent and fractured aft of the control yoke attach point all the flight control cables were connected at the associated cockpit and control surfaces. The observed cable separations exhibited evidence of tension overload. The rudder horn had separated from the rudder. The left rudder horn attach point was pulled into the empennage and was separated aft of the rudder stop block. The elevator bellcrank to control y tube was bent and fractured aft of the control yoke attach point.

A tree branch, approximately five inches in diameter, exhibited evidence of being cut by a propeller blade. Both propeller blades were bent aft and were wavy with polishing on the cambered side of the blade. Part of the severed tree branch was a growing vertically and was still attached to the tree which was severed cleanly almost perpendicular to the earth.

The throttle was found to be full forward. The mixture was found full rich. Both mags were found to be in the on position . Carb heat was found off. Cabin heat was found to be on. The primer was found locked. The fuel strainer was clean the bowl was not located. Fuel quantity could not be established as the tanks had ruptured. The last fueling was established at 15.5 gallons.

The inspection of this engine did not reveal any pre-impact anomalies that would have prevented its ability to produce rated horsepower.