# NTSB BFO89LA073: Cessna 152, N67803, Selbyville, DE, August 25, 1989

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: August 25, 1989, 11:25 local (15:25 UTC)
- Place: Selbyville, DE
- Coordinates: 38.470436, -75.17041 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.4704&lon=-75.1704&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report December 10, 1990
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 11525
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=BFO89LA073
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/11525/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/BFO89LA073

## Probable cause

EXCESSIVE WEAR OF THE NUMBER FOUR EXHAUST LOBE ON THE CAMSHAFT AND POOR CONDITION (WEAR) OF THE NUMBER FOUR EXHAUST TAPPET.  THE SOYBEAN CROP IN THE EMERGENCY LANDING AREA WAS CONSIDERED TO BE A FACTOR.

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of engine power(total) - mech failure/malf, climb - to cruise
  - engine assembly,rocker arm/tappet - worn (cause)
  - engine assembly,camshaft - worn (cause)
- Forced landing, descent - emergency
- Nose over, landing - flare/touchdown
  - terrain condition - crop (contributing factor)

## Analysis

THE ACFT HAD JUST CLIMBED OUT AFTER A BANNER PICKUP WHEN THE ENG BEGAN TO RUN ROUGH. THE PLT ADJUSTED THE MIXTURE & THE ENG TEMPORARILY SMOOTHED OUT. ABOUT 2 MINUTES LATER, THE ENG RAN ROUGH AGAIN & THE PLT RELEASED THE BANNER. THE ENG BEGAN A SEVERE VIBRATION, BACKFIRED, & QUIT RUNNING. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE ACFT NOSED OVER DRG AN EMERGENCY LANDING IN A SOYBEAN FIELD. AN ENG TEARDOWN REVEALED THE #4 EXHAUST LOBE OF THE CAMSHAFT WAS WORN & THAT THE $4 EXHAUST TAPPET WAS IN POOR CONDITION. ALSO, THERE WAS EVIDENCE THAT THE #4 CONNECTING ROD HAD BEEN SUBJECTED TO HIGH TEMP.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N67803](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N67803-2013-07-08), registration cancelled 2013-07-08, S/N 15282028, built 1978 (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: 15282028
- Engines: LYCOMING O-360-A2F 180 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Part 91
- Registered owner: Thomas Calvanelli
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility
- Departed: 0N7, SELBYVILLE, DE
- Airport: ON7, Warrington

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 21; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 520 total, 450 in this make and model, 480 as pilot in command, 200 in the last 90 days, 75 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 135° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 8 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 82 °F

## 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 19890825031899A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19890825031899A), Aug 25, 1989: Cessna 152, Selbyville, DE, Substantial damage. Engine rough, lost power and seized on banner pickup climb. Dropped banner. Nosed over landing.

## Other investigations on N67803 (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 FTW86LA002](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW86LA002), Oct 3, 1985: Cessna 152 (N67803), Lake Charles, LA, 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.

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