# NTSB CEN11CA516: Cessna 150F, N3050X, Harbor Beach, MI, July 26, 2011 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: July 26, 2011, 16:00 local (20:00 UTC) - Place: Harbor Beach, MI - Location: 43.8448° N, 82.6546° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Harbor Beach, MI, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs) - NTSB coordinates: 43.849445, -82.306663 (estimated), outside the stated state - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=43.8448&lon=-82.6546&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Enroute-cruise: Loss of engine power (partial)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious - Status: Completed, report October 20, 2011 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA-DTW-FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 81248 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN11CA516 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/81248/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=81248 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN11CA516 ## Probable cause The pilot's delay in using carburetor heat while operating in carburetor icing conditions, resulting in carburetor ice and subsequent partial loss of engine power. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Temp/humidity/pressure: conducive to carburetor icing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03031030): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on equipment (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 150F, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03031030/cases.md?model=2071814), [All aircraft, 435 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03031030/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: use of equip/system](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 150F, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015/cases.md?model=2071814), [All aircraft, 1,391 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Enroute-cruise: Loss of engine power (partial)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 150F, 8 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342/sequence.md?model=2071814), [All aircraft, 1,858 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Ditching](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/441); cases with it: [Cessna 150F, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/441/sequence.md?model=2071814), [All aircraft, 186 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/441/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot stated that he was flying over water at an altitude of 3,000 feet mean sea level when the engine began to lose power. He contacted flight watch and informed them of the situation. His efforts to restart the engine by applying carburetor heat and full mixture were unsuccessul. He said that engine power was regained just prior to ditching the airplane. He exited the airplane which sank soon after contacting the water. The pilot was rescued 18 hours later. A review of the Federal Aviation Administration Carburetor Icing chart revealed the conditions were conducive to serious carburetor icing at glide power. The pilot reported he did not recognize the symptoms of carburetor ice and that he should have applied the carburetor heat sooner. ## Factual narrative The pilot stated that while crossing Lake Huron at an altitude of 3,000 feet, the engine began to lose power. The pilot contacted flight watch and informed them of the situation. He moved the fuel selector handle and enriched the fuel mixture to no avail. The pilot stated he applied carburetor heat, moved the throttle, and fuel selector switch again, but by this time he was about 100 feet above the water and 15 to 17 miles off shore. He contacted flight watch again to provide a position update and to tell them he was ditching in the lake. The pilot stated that engine power was regained just prior to the airplane contacting the water; however, by that time he was unable to avoid the ditching. The pilot exited the airplane which sank soon after contacting the water. The pilot was able to tread water for approximately 18 hours prior to be picked up by a pleasure boat. The pilot was hospitalized for several days following the accident. The airplane remains at the bottom of Lake Huron in about 210 feet of water. The outside air temperature was 73 degrees Fahrenheit and the dew point was 57 degrees Fahrenheit. According to the FAA Icing Probability Chart, these conditions were conducive for serious icing at glide power. The pilot reported he did not recognize the symptoms of carburetor ice and that he should have applied the carburetor heat sooner. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N3050X](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N3050X-2014-11-25), registration cancelled 2014-11-25, S/N 15064450, built 1966 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 150F - Registry model: [Cessna 150F](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-150f) (registry code 2071814) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental 0-200 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-0-200-series) (registry code 17020, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 15064450 - Airframe hours: 3801 - Engines: CONT MOTOR O-200 100 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Trapp Michael W - Registered owner: Trapp Michael W - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, May 9, 2011 - Departed: K16, Gouverneur, NY - Destination: BAX, Bad Axe, MI ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 42; injuries: serious; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; last flight review February 20, 2011; seat: left; flight hours: 140 total, 100 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 100° at 7 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 5,000 ft broken - Temperature: 73 °F, dew point 57 °F - Altimeter: 29.87 inHg - Observed at: BAX, 17 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 20110726019769A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20110726019769A), Jul 26, 2011: Cessna 150F, Harbor Beach, MI, Destroyed. A Cessna 150F, N3050X, departed gouverneur, NY – NY16 (private grass airport) at approximately 16:40Z (12:40 pm local) for bad axe, MI (kbax) for a planned… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on September 7, 2011, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=81248. 834 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 527 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40353017&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Record of Conversations - Michael Trapp (item 2, .PDF, 60 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40353018&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversations%20-%20Michael%20Trapp-Master.PDF - Icing Probablility Chart (item 3, .PDF, 247 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40353019&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Icing%20Probablility%20Chart-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.