# NTSB ATL02LA145: Cessna 150H, N6486S, Senoia, GA, July 28, 2002 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: July 28, 2002, 09:06 local (13:06 UTC) - Place: Senoia, GA - Coordinates: 33.293609, -84.6175 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.2936&lon=-84.6175&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report April 15, 2003 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA - Atlanta FSDO - 11 - NTSB case key (mKey): 55331 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL02LA145 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/55331/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=55331 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL02LA145 ## Probable cause The certificated flight instructor's failure to follow published procedures for the application of carburetor heat, which resulted in a loss of engine power due to carburetor ice formation, and subsequent collision with trees during the forced landing. A factor was the lack of suitable terrain for landing. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, maneuvering - fuel system,carburetor - ice - carburetor heat - not used, pilot in command(cfi) (cause) - procedures/directives - not followed, pilot in command(cfi) (cause) - Forced landing, emergency descent/landing - In flight collision with object, emergency landing - terrain condition - none suitable - object - tree(s) (contributing factor) ## Analysis The student pilot and flight instructor performed a simulated engine failure with power at idle. When the throttle was advanced to recover from the descent, the engine did not respond. Attempts to restore engine power were not successful. During the forced landing, the airplane collided with trees. The flight instructor stated carburetor heat was used; the student pilot stated carburetor heat was not used. Examination of the wreckage revealed the tail section was separated, both wingtips displayed crush damage, and fuel was recovered. Examination of the engine revealed no defects that would have prevented normal operation. A review of induction icing probability curves reveals the temperature and dew point reported at the time of the accident fall within the "serious icing, glide power" range. The Owner's Manual for the Cessna 150 states the procedures for descent are as follows: 1. Mixture - rich, 2. Carburetor Heat - apply full heat before closing throttle. ## Factual narrative On July 28, 2002, at 0906 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 150H, N6486S, registered to Griffin Flight School, Inc., and operated by Peachtree Flight Center, collided with trees during a forced landing in Senoia, Georgia. The instructional flight was operated under the provisions of Title 14 CFR Part 91 with no flight plan filed. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The certificated flight instructor and the student pilot reported no injuries, and the airplane sustained substantial damage. The local flight departed Peachtree City Falcon Field in Peachtree City, Georgia, at 0830. The flight instructor stated the student was performing a simulated engine failure with power at idle and had descended from 2,500 feet above mean sea level to 500 feet above the ground. When the throttle was advanced to recover from the descent, the engine did not respond. Attempts by the flight instructor to restore engine power were not successful. The flight instructor maneuvered the airplane for a forced landing, and it collided with a stand of small pine trees. The flight instructor stated carburetor heat was used during the simulated engine failure maneuver. The student pilot stated carburetor heat was not used during the maneuver. The flight instructor reported no abnormalities with the engine prior to the event; he stated the magnetos, carburetor heat, throttle, and mixture controls functioned normally during run-up and cruise. Examination of the wreckage revealed the cowling was separated at the firewall, the lower tubes of the engine mount were broken, the tail section was separated, and both wingtips displayed crush damage. Fuel was observed leaking from the wreckage and was stopped by turning the fuel selector valve to the "off" position. About 12 gallons of fuel was recovered from the tanks. On August 9, 2002, the engine was examined on the airframe at a recovery facility. The severed engine mounts were welded to stabilize engine movement. Repairs were made to the propeller spinner and oil filter adapter, which sustained damage during impact. Provisions were made for fuel supply, and the engine was started from inside the cockpit and controlled using the throttle and mixture controls. The engine ran smoothly at speeds ranging from idle to 2000 rpm. A magneto check was performed at 1500 rpm, and each magneto operated within normal parameters. The operation of the engine was limited to 2000 rpm for the safety of personnel. No defects were observed during the engine run that would have prevented normal operation. A review of icing probability curves for conditions favorable to the formation of induction system icing reveals the temperature and dew point reported at the time of the accident fall within the "serious icing, glide power" range. The Owner's Manual for the Cessna 150 states in the Before Landing on page 1-2 the procedures for descent are as follows: 1. Mixture - rich, 2. Carburetor Heat - apply full heat before closing throttle. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N6486S](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N6486S-2004-06-15), registration cancelled 2004-06-15, S/N 15067286, built 1967 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 150H - Registry model: [Cessna 150H](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-150h) (registry code 2071818) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental 0-200 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-0-200-series) (registry code 17020, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 15067286 - Airframe hours: 4947 - Engines: Continental O-200-A 100 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Peachtree Flight Center - Registered owner: Griffin Flight School, Inc. - Last inspection: Annual, June 11, 2002, 97 hours before - Departed: FFC, Peachtree City, GA - Airport: FFC, Peachtree City - Falcon Field ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Flight instructor; age 24; injuries: none; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; last flight review February 28, 2002; seat: right; flight hours: 1,660 total, 100 in this make and model, 1,575 as pilot in command, 195 in the last 90 days, 4 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 290° at 5 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 75 °F, dew point 73 °F - Altimeter: 30.17 inHg - Observed at: FFC, 5 nm away ## Docket (8 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on January 17, 2003, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=55331. 1.4 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 338 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40464638&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Record of Telephone Conversation (item 2, .PDF, 68 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40464639&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Telephone%20Conversation-Master.PDF - Icing Probability Chart (item 3, .PDF, 281 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40174776&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Icing%20Probability%20Chart-Master.PDF - Weather Info. (item 4, .PDF, 17 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40174777&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Weather%20Info.-Master.PDF - Excerpts Cessna 150 Owner's Manual (item 5, .PDF, 146 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40174778&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Excerpts%20Cessna%20150%20Owner%27s%20Manual-Master.PDF - Continental Motors Engine Exam Notes (item 6, .PDF, 168 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40464640&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Continental%20Motors%20Engine%20Exam%20Notes-Master.PDF - Photo 1 - Nose Damage (item 7, .PDF, 171 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40174780&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201%20-%20Nose%20Damage-Master.PDF - Photo 2 - Top of Wing Looking Aft to Separated Tail Section (item 8, .PDF, 236 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40174781&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%202%20-%20Top%20of%20Wing%20Looking%20Aft%20to%20Separated%20Tail%20Section-Master.PDF 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.