# NTSB ATL89LA129: Cessna 152, N757HJ, Gratis, OH, April 15, 1989

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: April 15, 1989, 17:00 local (21:00 UTC)
- Place: Gratis, OH
- Coordinates: 39.649589, -84.530403 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.6496&lon=-84.5304&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report February 15, 1991
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 8016
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL89LA129
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/8016/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL89LA129

## Probable cause

THE FOREIGN MATERIAL (BIRD NEST) IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT, AND FAILURE OF THE DUAL STUDENT OR INSTRUCTOR PILOT (CFI) TO IDENTIFY AND REMOVE IT DURING THEIR PREFLIGHT INSPECTION OF THE AIRCRAFT.  SOFT TERRAIN IN THE EMERGENCY LANDING AREA AND SMOKE FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT WERE FACTORS.

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Nose over, landing
  - engine compartment - foreign object (cause)
  - aircraft preflight - inadequate, dual student (cause)
  - aircraft preflight - inadequate, pilot in command(cfi) (cause)
  - engine compartment - smoke (contributing factor)
  - precautionary landing - performed
  - terrain condition - soft (contributing factor)

## Analysis

THE INSTRUCTOR PLT (CFI) RPRTD HE ELECTED TO MAKE A PRECAUTIONARY LANDING AFTER HE SMELLED SMOKE IN THE COCKPIT. DRG THE LANDING, THE ACFT ENCOUNTERED SOFT DIRT & NOSED OVER, DAMAGING THE VERTICAL STABILIZER. AN EXAM OF THE ENG REVEALED THERE WAS A BIRD'S NEST IN THE VICINITY OF THE #2 & #3 CYLINDERS. NO EVIDENCE OF ANY OTHER POSSIBLE SOURCE OF SMOKE OR FIRE WAS FOUND. ACCORDING TO AN FAA INSPECTOR, WHO EXAMINED THE ACFT, THE NEST WAS PARTIALLY HIDDEN, BUT IT COULD HAVE BEEN SEEN DRG A PREFLIGHT INSPECTION WITH ADEQUATE LIGHTING. BOTH THE CFI & STUDENT HAD PREFLIGHTED THE ACFT, BUT NEITHER SAW THE BIRD'S NEST.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N757HJ](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N757HJ-2013-05-08), registration cancelled 2013-05-08, S/N 15279750, built 1977 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 152
- Registry model: [Cessna 152](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-152) (registry code 2071835) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-235 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-235-series) (registry code 41505, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 15279750
- Airframe hours: 2793
- Engines: LYCOMING O-235-L2C 110 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Operator: Mullins Aviation, Inc.
- Registered owner: Howard, Ernie F.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility
- Last inspection: Annual, June 24, 1988, 51 hours before
- Departed: I44, DAYTON, OH

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 34; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; flight hours: 2,280 total

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 4,000 ft broken
- Temperature: 61 °F, dew point 41 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: DAY

## FAA reports on this event (1)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 19890415008079A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19890415008079A), Apr 15, 1989: Cessna 152, Gratis, OH, Substantial damage. Smelled smoke in cabin. Made precautionary landing in a solt field and nosed over. Found bird nest in cylinders.

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.

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