BFO94LA051

NTSB accident investigation · Cessna 152 · Bath, OH · February 28, 1994

Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal report
Date
February 28, 1994, 12:25 local (17:25 UTC)
Place
Bath, OH
Injuries
1 uninjured
Damage
Substantial damage
Phase of flight
Maneuvering
Aircraft
N47316Cessna 152
Weather
Visual (VMC) · Day
Status
Completed · report November 14, 1994
Report
Approved by Office Director
FAA report
19940228005729A
Case key
8899

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

loss of engine power for undetermined reasons. A factor in the accident was the frozen, snow covered terrain.

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 power(partial) - nonmechanicalManeuvering
Reason for occurrence undeterminedCause
Forced landingDescent - emergency
Terrain condition - frozenFactor
Terrain condition - snow coveredFactor
On ground/water collision with objectLanding - roll
Object - tree(s)

Analysis

During recovery from a simulated engine out forced landing, engine power could not be restored. The pilot stated that he accomplished the engine out emergency procedures numerous times to no avail. He stated that he made a forced landing in a field and during the landing roll the airplane's wings impacted trees and were substantially damaged. Post accident examinations of the airframe and engine did not reveal any anomalies.

Factual narrative

On Monday, February 28, 1994, at 1225 eastern standard time, a Cessna 152, N47316, operated by Chinn Aviation in Ravenna, Ohio, did not regain engine power after a simulated engine out emergency. The pilot made a forced landing in a field and during the landing roll the airplane's wings struck trees and were substantially damaged. The pilot was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The local personal flight was conducted under 14 CFR Part 91.

The pilot reported that he was simulating a engine power loss down to an altitude of 1,800 feet mean sea level (MSL). The pilot stated that carburetor heat was applied during the simulated engine power loss and when he pushed the throttle to the full position, the engine did not respond. The pilot stated that he accomplished the engine out procedures numerous times but the engine did not regain power. He stated, "At this point I had to commit on landing at the chosen field. I touched down on the field and found the brakes practically useless on the frozen snow covered field...." The airplane's wings impacted small trees and brought the airplane to a stop.

Post accident examination of the accident site revealed three tracks in the snow, about 200 feet in length, which led up to the airplane. (See attached State Highway Patrol Aircraft Crash Record for accident site diagram.) The airframe and engine were examined at the accident site with no anomalies noted. Fuel was present in both fuel tanks. The airplane was removed from the accident site and stored in a hangar. The engine was restarted in the hangar and ran without any anomalies noted.

Aircraft

Registration
N47316
Reported as
Cessna 152
Category
Airplane
Serial number
15283213
Airframe hours
4,935
Engine
Lycoming O-235-L2C, 115 horsepower, reciprocating
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Personal · Part 91
Operator
Chinn Aviation
Registered owner
Robert Chinn
Airworthiness certificate
Standard, Normal
Last inspection
100 hour · February 19, 1994 · 10 hours before
Departed
29G · Ravenna, OH

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
22
Certificate
Private
Airplane ratings
Single-engine land
Medical
Class 3, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
Seat
Left
Flight hours
68 total · 67 in this make and model · 1 in the last 24 hours

Weather

Conditions
Visual (VMC) · Day
Wind
Calm
Visibility
10 statute miles
Lowest ceiling
25,000 ft overcast
Temperature
30 °F, dew point 7 °F
Altimeter
30.00 inHg
Observed at
CLE, 20 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 N47316 · 3

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