ATL94LA134

NTSB accident investigation · Cessna 152 · Chamblee, GA · July 9, 1994

Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal report
Date
July 9, 1994, 16:10 local (20:10 UTC)
Place
Chamblee, GA
Injuries
2 uninjured
Damage
Substantial damage
Phase of flight
Approach
Aircraft
N67318Cessna 152
Weather
Visual (VMC) · Day
Status
Completed · report April 27, 1995
Report
Approved by Office Director
FAA report
19940709017969A
Case key
3413

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

Inadequate maintenance by the operator, worn piston rings, and failure to overhaul the engine when due.

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 powerApproach - vfr pattern - base leg/base to final
Maintenance,overhaul,major - overdueCompany/operator managementCause
Engine assembly,cylinder - low compressionCause
Engine assembly,ring - wornCause
Maintenance - inadequateCompany/operator managementCause
Forced landingEmergency descent/landing
On ground/water collision with objectEmergency descent/landing
Object - fence
Object - vehicle

Analysis

The flight was in the airport traffic pattern practicing touch-and-go landings. While turning base to final, the engine lost power, and the instructor executed an emergency landing to a parking lot. During the landing attempt, the aircraft struck a fence and a parked vehicle. Inspection of the engine revealed that compression in three of the four cylinders was below acceptable limits. The records showed that the engine had been flown 2,836 hrs since overhaul. The time limitation before overhaul for the engine is 2,000 hrs.

Factual narrative

On July 9, 1994, at 1610 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 152, N67318, was substantially damaged following a collision with a vehicle during an emergency landing near Chamblee, Georgia. Neither the instructor pilot nor his student were injured in the accident. The aircraft was being operated under the provisions of

14 CFR Part 91 by Aviation Training Consultants of Lawrenceville, Georgia. Visual meteorological conditions existed at the time, and no flight plan had been filed for the local instructional flight. The flight departed Lawrenceville, Georgia at about 1540.

The pilot stated that while in the traffic pattern on base leg, the engine lost power. An emergency landing was executed to a parking lot. During the landing, the aircraft struck a fence and a parked vehicle.

Examination of the engine revealed that there was continuity of the engine drive train. The cylinder compressions, prior to staking the valves, (in pounds per square inch) were #1 38/80, #2 70/80, #3 18/80, and #4 10/80. The cylinder compressions after staking the valves, (in pounds per square inch) were #1 58/80, #2 70/80, #3 38/80, and #4 30/80. The minimum acceptable compression for the cylinders is 60/80 pounds per square inch. There was heavy carbon buildup in the cylinders, and on the pistons. The investigation determined that the engine had 2,836 hours since overhaul. Time between overhauls for the engine is 2,000 hours.

Aircraft

Registration
N67318
Reported as
Cessna 152
Category
Airplane
Serial number
15281749
Airframe hours
5,236
Engine
Lycoming O-235-L2C, 110 horsepower, reciprocating
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Instructional · Part 91
Registered owner
Aviation Training Consultants
Airworthiness certificate
Standard, Utility
Last inspection
100 hour · June 14, 1994 · 41 hours before
Departed
LZU · Lawrenceville, GA
Airport
PDK · Dekalb-Peachtree, runway 20R, 3,744 × 150 ft, asphalt

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
Pilot
Age
24
Certificates
Flight instructor, Airline transport, Commercial
Airplane ratings
Multi-engine land, Single-engine land
Instrument ratings
Airplane
Medical
Class 1, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
Seat
Right
Flight hours
2,340 total · 1,100 in this make and model · 2,260 as pilot in command · 330 in the last 90 days · 108 in the last 30 days · 3 in the last 24 hours

Weather

Conditions
Visual (VMC) · Day
Wind
120° at 2 knots
Visibility
10 statute miles
Lowest ceiling
3,500 ft broken
Temperature
88 °F, dew point 73 °F
Altimeter
30.00 inHg
Observed at
PDK, 2 nm away

FAA reports on this event · 1

The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.

Other investigations on N67318 · 1

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