# NTSB CEN12CA599: Cessna 152, N152BA, Rockford, IL, August 17, 2012

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: August 17, 2012, 16:30 local (21:30 UTC)
- Place: Rockford, IL
- Coordinates: 42.195278, -89.097221 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.1953&lon=-89.0972&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Approach-VFR pattern final: Loss of engine power (partial)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report November 26, 2012
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Central Region
- Parties: Federal Aviation Administration
- NTSB case key (mKey): 84916
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN12CA599
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/84916/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=84916
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN12CA599

## Probable cause

A partial loss of engine power for reasons that could not be determined because postaccident examination of the engine revealed no anomalies.

## 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 152, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03031030/cases.md?model=2071835), [All aircraft, 435 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03031030/cases.md)
- [Action: lack of action](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041030): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 152, 11 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041030/cases.md?model=2071835), [All aircraft, 792 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041030/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

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

- [Approach-VFR pattern final: Loss of engine power (partial)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 152, 21 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342/sequence.md?model=2071835), [All aircraft, 1,858 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342/sequence.md)
- [Emergency descent: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440); cases with it: [Cessna 152, 35 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=2071835), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md)
- [Landing-flare/touchdown: 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

While on a visual approach to the runway during the instructional flight, the engine lost partial power. The flight instructor reported that the engine was operating normally and then the engine rpm abruptly decreased from 2,200 to about 1,300. The carburetor heat was in the OFF position for the approach. The flight instructor's efforts to regain engine power were unsuccessful. Unable to make a landing at the airport, the instructor executed a forced landing to a field. The airplane touched down short of the airport, nosed over, and came to rest inverted. Postaccident examination of the airplane revealed that the vertical stabilizer and rudder were bent; no mechanical anomalies that would have precluded normal operation were identified. The engine was test run at various power settings with no anomalies noted. Although a carburetor icing probability chart revealed that the ambient temperature and dew point at the time of the accident favored serious carburetor icing at glide power, the pilot reported that the engine was not at glide power when the power loss occurred. Accordingly, the investigation was not able to identify the reason for the power loss.

## Factual narrative

While on a visual approach to the runway during the instructional flight, the engine lost partial power. The flight instructor reported that the engine was operating normally and then the engine rpm abruptly decreased from 2,200 to about 1,300. The carburetor heat was in the OFF position for the approach. The flight instructor's efforts to regain engine power were unsuccessful. Unable to make a landing at the airport, the instructor executed a forced landing to a field. The airplane touched down short of the airport, nosed over, and came to rest inverted. Postaccident examination of the airplane revealed that the vertical stabilizer and rudder were bent; no mechanical anomalies that would have precluded normal operation were identified. The engine was test run at various power settings with no anomalies noted. Although a carburetor icing probability chart revealed that the ambient temperature and dew point at the time of the accident favored serious carburetor icing at glide power, the pilot reported that the engine was not at glide power when the power loss occurred. Accordingly, the investigation was not able to identify the reason for the power loss.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N152BA](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N152BA-2014-09-03), registration cancelled 2014-09-03, S/N 15282722, 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: 15282722
- Airframe hours: 9708
- Engines: LYCOMING O-235 SERIES 110 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, July 2, 2012
- Departed: C77, Poplar Grove, IL
- Destination: RFD, Rockford, IL

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Flight instructor; age 25; injuries: none; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; last flight review April 26, 2012; seat: right; flight hours: 1,322 total, 578 in this make and model, 1,262 as pilot in command, 227 in the last 90 days, 59 in the last 30 days, 7 in the last 24 hours
- Student pilot; age 20; injuries: none; student; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; seat: left; flight hours: 27 total, 26 in this make and model, 18 in the last 90 days, 5 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 330° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 75 °F, dew point 46 °F
- Altimeter: 30.01 inHg
- Observed at: RFD, 14 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 20120817019239A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20120817019239A), Aug 17, 2012: Cessna 152, Rockford, IL, Substantial damage. N152BA departed poplar grove airport (C77) for Rockford airport (rfd)for air traffic control instruction with a CFI and student pilot on board. On approach to…

## Other investigations on N152BA (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 CHI92LA077](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI92LA077), Jan 20, 1992: Cessna 152 (N152BA), Rockford, IL, substantial damage. Probable cause: THE PILOT'S DELAYED APPLICATION OF CARBURETOR HEAT.

## Docket (5 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 1, 2012, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=84916. 3.6 MB in all.

- Record of Conversation - FAA Inspector (item 1, .PDF, 52 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40377363&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation%20-%20FAA%20Inspector-Master.PDF
- Carburetor Ice Chart (FAA) (item 2, .PDF, 29 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40377361&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Carburetor%20Ice%20Chart%20(FAA)-Master.PDF
- Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 3, .PDF, 3.4 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40377527&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF
- Memo on Brief and PC Changes (item 4, .PDF, 62 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40431306&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Memo%20on%20Brief%20and%20PC%20Changes-Master.PDF
- Changes to Brief, PC (item 5, .PDF, 41 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40431307&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Changes%20to%20Brief,%20PC-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.

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