ATL03LA048

NTSB accident investigation · Cessna 150F · Rome, GA · February 22, 2003

Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal report
Date
February 22, 2003, 13:20 local (18:20 UTC)
Place
Rome, GA
Injuries
2 uninjured
Damage
Substantial damage
Phase of flight
Maneuvering
Aircraft
N8115FCessna 150F
Weather
Visual (VMC) · Day
Status
Completed · report September 1, 2004
Report
Approved by Office Director
Parties
Atlanta FSDO
Case key
56528

From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.

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Probable cause

The maintenance personnel failure to secure the throttle linkage during the installation of the carburetor that resulted in the loss of engine power.

Sequence of events

NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.

Loss of engine powerManeuvering
Throttle/power lever,linkage - not securedCause
Maintenance,installationOther maintenance personnelCause
Forced landingEmergency descent/landing
In flight collision with objectEmergency descent/landing
Object - pole

Analysis

According to the certified flight instructor (CFI), the student pilot was practicing emergency procedures and had been instructed to configure the airplane for slow flight. The CFI instructed the student increase engine power, but the engine only developed about 1900 rpm. The CFI took control of the airplane and applied carburetor heat. The engine rpm decreased to 1000 rpm, and the carburetor heat was turned off. Unable to maintain altitude, the CFI selected the fairway on a nearby golf course and established an approach for a forced landing. According to the CFI, as he maneuvered for the approach, the airplane collided with a light pole and spun horizontally into trees during the forced landing attempt. Examination of the airplane revealed that the right wing assembly was separated from the airframe. The examination of the engine compartment revealed that the throttle cable was completely disconnected from the carburetor throttle arm. The throttle arm was found in the idle position. The connecting hardware was not located or recovered from the accident site. A review of the aircraft records revealed that the carburetor was installed about 9 hours before the accident.

Factual narrative

On February 22, 2003, at 1320 eastern standard time, a Cessna 150F, N8115F, registered to and operated by a private owner collided with an object two miles west of the Russell Airport in Rome, Georgia. The instructional flight was operated under the provisions of Title 14 CFR Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed for the local training flight. The CFI and student pilot were not injured and the airplane was substantially damage. The training flight originated from the Russell Airport in Rome, Georgia, at 1300 on February 22, 2003.

According to the CFI, the student pilot was practicing emergency procedures and had been instructed to configure the airplane for slow flight. A short time later, the CFI instructed the student increase engine power, but the engine only developed about 1900 RPM. The CFI took control of the airplane and applied carburetor heat. The engine rpm decreased to 1000 rpm, and the carburetor heat was turned off. Unable to maintain altitude, the CFI made a forced landing to a golf course. According to the CFI, the airplane collided with a light pole and spun horizontally into trees during the forced landing attempt.

Examination of the airplane revealed that the right wing assembly was separated from the airframe. The examination of the engine compartment revealed that the throttle cable was completely disconnected from the carburetor throttle arm. The throttle arm was found in the idle position. The connecting hardware was not located or recovered from the accident site. A review of the aircraft records revealed that the carburetor was installed about 9 hours before the accident.

Aircraft

Registration
N8115F
Reported as
Cessna 150F
Category
Airplane
Serial number
15064215
Engine
Continental 200, 100 horsepower, reciprocating
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Instructional · Part 91
Registered owner
Bob Cordele
Airworthiness certificate
Standard, Normal
Departed
RMG · Rome
Destination
RMG
Airport
RMG · Russell Airport

Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

Role
Flight instructor
Age
27
Injuries
None
Certificate
Commercial
Airplane ratings
Single-engine land, Multi-engine land
Instrument ratings
Airplane
Medical
Class 2, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
Seat
Right
Flight hours
490 total

Weather

Conditions
Visual (VMC) · Day
Wind
200° at 14 knots, gusting 22
Visibility
10 statute miles
Temperature
75 °F, dew point 59 °F
Altimeter
29.23 inHg
Observed at
RMG, 3 nm away