# NTSB CEN09CA232: Cessna 150D, N5920T, Madison, IN, March 22, 2009

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: March 22, 2009, 16:10 local (20:10 UTC)
- Place: Madison, IN
- Coordinates: 38.759998, -85.464721
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.7600&lon=-85.4647&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Enroute-cruise: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report June 22, 2009
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Central Region
- Parties: Indianapolis FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 73580
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN09CA232
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/73580/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN09CA232

## Probable cause

The loss of engine power due to the failure of the engine's muffler which melted and grounded the ignition P-lead wire.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Engine exhaust](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057800): Aircraft › Aircraft power plant · Failure (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 150D, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057800/cases.md?model=2071810), [All aircraft, 56 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057800/cases.md)
- [Engine (reciprocating): recip eng wiring](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058597): Aircraft › Aircraft power plant · Failure (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 150D, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058597/cases.md?model=2071810), [All aircraft, 8 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058597/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Enroute-cruise: Powerplant sys/comp malf/fail](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/340); cases with it: [Cessna 150D, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/340/sequence.md?model=2071810), [All aircraft, 820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/340/sequence.md)
- [Enroute-cruise: Sys/Comp malf/fail (non-power)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/330); cases with it: [Cessna 150D, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/330/sequence.md?model=2071810), [All aircraft, 994 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/330/sequence.md)
- [Enroute-cruise: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 150D, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=2071810), [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md)
- [Landing: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092); cases with it: [Cessna 150D, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md?model=2071810), [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md)

## Analysis

During a local pleasure flight the pilot noticed that the engine oil temperature indication was rising. He reduced the throttle, and then smelled something and saw smoke coming from under the instrument panel. He opened the window to alleviate the smoke. About 3 to 4 minutes from the airport, the engine lost power and the pilot performed a forced landing to a golf course. The nose landing gear collapsed during the forced landing, resulting in substantial damage to the airplane's firewall. Examination of the airplane subsequent to the accident revealed that the aft portion of the muffler was separated from the assembly allowing hot exhaust gasses to enter the engine compartment. The magneto P-lead wire was melted and shorted to the airplane structure.

## Factual narrative

During a local pleasure flight the pilot noticed the engine oil temperature indication was rising. He reduced the throttle and then smelled something and saw smoke coming from under the instrument panel. He opened the window to alleviate the smoke. About 3 to 4 minutes from the airport, the engine lost power and the pilot performed a forced landing to a golf course. The nose landing gear collapsed during the forced landing resulting in substantial damage to the airplane's firewall. Examination of the airplane subsequent to the accident revealed that the aft portion of the muffler was separated from the assembly allowing hot exhaust gasses to enter the engine compartment. The magneto P-lead wire was melted and shorted to the airplane structure.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N5920T](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N5920T), registered now, S/N 15060620, built 1964 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 150D
- Registry model: [Cessna 150D](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-150d) (registry code 2071810) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental 0-200 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-0-200-series) (registry code 17020, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 15060620
- Airframe hours: 6762
- Engines: CONT MOTOR O-200 SERIES 100 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, March 12, 2009
- Departed: IMS, Madison, IN
- Destination: IMS, Madison, IN
- Flight plan: Unknown
- Airport: IMS, Madison Municipal Airport

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 46; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; last flight review January 15, 2008; seat: left; flight hours: 55 total, 10 in this make and model, 30 as pilot in command, 1 in the last 90 days, 1 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), 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 20090322009849A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20090322009849A), Mar 22, 2009: Cessna 150D, Madison, IN, Substantial damage. (-23) On March 22, 2009 at approximately 1610 EST, a Cessna 150, N5920T, registered to [privacy data omitted], piloted by david pennybaker was in bound to the…

## Other investigations on N5920T (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 IAD79FLQ05](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/IAD79FLQ05), Dec 9, 1978: Cessna 150 (N5920T), Bardstown, KY, 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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