# NTSB CEN10LA573: Cessna 152, N5364H, Tea, SD, September 24, 2010 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: September 24, 2010, 17:00 local (22:00 UTC) - Place: Tea, SD - Coordinates: 43.454723, -96.801109 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=43.4547&lon=-96.8011&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Initial climb: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report March 16, 2011 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 77429 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN10LA573 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/77429/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=77429 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN10LA573 ## Probable cause The loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion as a result of the pilot’s inadequate fuel planning. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Planning/preparation: fuel planning](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 152, 13 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030/cases.md?model=2071835), [All aircraft, 719 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030/cases.md) - [Fluids: fuel](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010): Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware · Fluid level (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 152, 26 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md?model=2071835), [All aircraft, 1,695 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Initial climb: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 152, 30 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=2071835), [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md) - [Emergency descent: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Cessna 152, 84 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=2071835), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis Approximately 200 feet above ground level after takeoff, the airplane's engine lost total power. The pilot elected to perform a forced landing in a corn field. During the forced landing, the airplane impacted corn stalks and muddy terrain and nosed over. A postaccident examination of the airplane revealed no evidence of fuel in the fuel tanks and the tanks were not compromised. Fuel was added to the fuel tanks and the engine was test run. The engine operated at various power settings with no anomalies found. ## Factual narrative On September 24, 2010, approximately 1700 central daylight time, a Cessna 152 single-engine airplane, N5364H, sustained substantial damage during a forced landing to a muddy corn field near Tea, South Dakota. The private pilot, who was the sole occupant, was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and a flight plan was not filed for the 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The flight was originating at the time of the accident and was destined for Yankton, South Dakota. According to the pilot, approximately 200 feet above ground level after takeoff, the engine lost total power. The pilot reported the engine did not hesitate or misfire prior to the power loss. The pilot elected to perform a forced landing to a corn field. During the forced landing, the airplane impacted corn stalks and muddy terrain. The airplane nosed over and came to rest inverted. The pilot reported the airplane contained 13 gallons of fuel at the time of the accident. Examination of the airplane showed the vertical stabilizer was bent. The airplane was recovered for further examination. On October 7, 2010, under the supervision of a Federal Aviation Administration inspector, the airplane was inspected. Examination of the airplane showed that the fuel line inlet fitting to the carburetor was found broken as a result of the accident sequence. No evidence of fuel was noted in the fuel tanks and the tanks were not compromised. Prior to an engine test, a local mechanic who was assisting the inspector, needed to put fuel in the fuel tanks. Subsequently, the Lycoming O-235-L2C (serial number L-20540-15) engine was test run on the airframe using the primer due to the broken fuel line, and the engine operated without any problems at various power settings. The carburetor was disassembled and no anomalies were noted other than the broken fuel inlet fitting. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N5364H](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5364H-2016-10-13), registration cancelled 2016-10-13, S/N 15284093, built 1979 (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: 15284093 - Airframe hours: 9436 - Engines: LYCOMING O-235-L2C 110 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, September 1, 2010 - Departed: Y14, Tea, SD - Destination: YKN, Yankton, SD ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 51; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; last flight review March 14, 2009; seat: left; flight hours: 337 total, 6 in this make and model, 21 in the last 90 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 310° at 10 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 64 °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 20100924047199A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20100924047199A), Sep 24, 2010: Cessna 152, Tea, SD, Substantial damage. The pilot stated at approximately 1700 he departed the Tea airport (Y14) destined to yankton, SD (ykn). The pilot reported a normal take-off, climbed out to… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on November 4, 2010, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=77429. 318 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 311 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40338734&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Record of Conversation - FSDO Inspector (item 2, .PDF, 7 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40338735&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation%20-%20FSDO%20Inspector-Master.PDF 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.