# NTSB ATL95LA030: Cessna 150G, N3221J, Rhine, GA, December 23, 1994 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: December 23, 1994, 14:00 local (19:00 UTC) - Place: Rhine, GA - Coordinates: 31.979625, -83.200378 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=31.9796&lon=-83.2004&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report July 31, 1995 - Report: Approved by Office Director - ADs cited in the narratives: [AD 94-05-05 R1](https://openairdocs.org/ad/94-05-05-R1) (OpenAirDocs) - NTSB case key (mKey): 3508 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL95LA030 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/3508/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL95LA030 ## Probable cause THE FAILURE OF THE NUMBER TWO CYLINDER ROCKER SHAFT BOSSES, WHICH RESULTED IN A LOSS OF ENGINE POWER, AND AN EVENTUAL EMERGENCY LANDING. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(partial) - mech failure/malf, cruise - normal - engine assembly,other - failure,total (cause) - Forced landing, descent - emergency - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - roll - terrain condition - ditch ## Analysis THE PILOT REPORTED THAT THE ENGINE BEGAN TO VIBRATE ABOUT 90 MINUTES INTO THE FLIGHT, ACCOMPANIED BY AN RPM DROP. THREE MINUTES LATER, THE RPM DROPPED AGAIN, AND THE PILOT ELECTED TO PERFORM AN EMERGENCY LANDING. HE LANDED THE AIRPLANE ON A SMALL AG STRIP, BUT WAS UNABLE TO AVOID COLLIDING WITH A DITCH. EXAMINATION OF THE ENGINE REVEALED THAT THE NUMBER TWO CYLINDER ROCKER SHAFT BOSSES HAD FAILED. AD 94-05-05, WHICH REQUIRES INSPECTION OF THE BOSSES, HAD BEEN COMPLIED WITH. NO EVIDENCE OF FATIGUE WAS FOUND ON THE FRACTURE SURFACES. THE REASON FOR THE ROCKER SHAFT BOSS FAILURE WAS NOT DETERMINED. ## Factual narrative On December 23, 1994, at 1400 eastern standard time, a Cessna 150G, N3221J, collided with a ditch during a forced landing at Rhine, Georgia. The commercial pilot and his passenger were not injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The aircraft was operated under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91 by the pilot. Visual meteorological conditions existed at the time, and no flight plan was filed for the personal flight to Columbia, South Carolina. The flight originated in Tallahassee, Florida, at 1230. The pilot reported that 90 minutes into the flight, the engine began to vibrate, and the engine rpm dropped to 2,100. He checked the magnetos, carburetor heat, and mixture; everything appeared stable. About three minutes later, the rpm dropped to 1,700, and he prepared for an emergency landing. He landed the airplane on a small agricultural landing strip. He was unable to stop the aircraft in the remaining runway, and the aircraft collided with a ditch. After the accident, the engine was examined by an inspector from the Federal Aviation Administration. He reported that both rocker shaft bosses of the number two cylinder had failed, and were broken away from the cylinder head. He observed no evidence of fatigue on the fracture surfaces. An examination of the maintenance records revealed that Airworthiness Directive 94-05-05, which requires inspection of the rocker shaft bosses, had been complied with. The reason for the rocker shaft boss failures was not determined. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N3221J](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N3221J-2013-06-05), registration cancelled 2013-06-05, S/N 15065921, built 1966 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 150G - Registry model: [Cessna 150G](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-150g) (registry code 2071816) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental 0-200 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-0-200-series) (registry code 17020, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 15065921 - Airframe hours: 4398 - Engines: CONTINENTAL O-200-A 100 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Maclauchlin, Reid C. - Registered owner: Majors, Joel L. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility - Last inspection: Annual, January 1, 1993, 182 hours before - Departed: TLH, TALLAHASSEE, FL - Destination: CUB, COLUMBIA, SC ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 36; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 3,940 total, 277 in this make and model, 3,770 as pilot in command, 74 in the last 90 days, 27 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 330° at 13 knots, gusting 26 - Visibility: 15 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 63 °F, dew point 39 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: ABY, 73 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 (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 19941223042179A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19941223042179A), Dec 23, 1994: Cessna 150G, Rhine, GA, Substantial damage. Vibration and partial power loss. Overshot small ag strip landing. NR2 cylinder rocker shaft bosses had failed. ## Other investigations on N3221J (1) 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. - [NTSB MKC76DCQ64](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MKC76DCQ64), Jul 5, 1976: Cessna 150G (N3221J), Oxford, KS, substantial damage 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.