# NTSB CEN14LA094: Cessna 150L, N6905G, Gladewater, TX, December 28, 2013 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: December 28, 2013, 12:15 local (18:15 UTC) - Place: Gladewater, TX - Coordinates: 32.526111, -94.968612 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.5261&lon=-94.9686&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Approach: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 2 minor - Status: Completed, report September 24, 2014 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA FSDO - SAIBs cited in the narratives: [SAIB CE-09-35](https://openairdocs.org/saib/CE-09-35) (OpenAirDocs) - NTSB case key (mKey): 88600 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN14LA094 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/88600/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=88600 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN14LA094 ## Probable cause The loss of engine power due to carburetor icing. ## 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 150L, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03031030/cases.md?model=2071826), [All aircraft, 435 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03031030/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Approach: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 150L, 19 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=2071826), [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md) - [Approach: Fuel related](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/190); cases with it: [Cessna 150L, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/190/sequence.md?model=2071826), [All aircraft, 361 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/190/sequence.md) - [Emergency descent: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440); cases with it: [Cessna 150L, 18 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=2071826), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that he was returning to the airport after a short practice flight and that, as the airplane neared the airport, the engine started to lose power, and the rpm decreased. The pilot performed the restart checklist, but the engine did not respond. The pilot then chose to conduct a forced landing in a nearby clearing. Examination of the airplane revealed that fuel was available and that the fuel was clear of debris and contaminants. A test run of the engine was performed, and no abnormalities were noted. Atmospheric conditions at the time of the accident were conducive to the serious risk of carburetor ice accumulation at a glide power setting. It is likely that the engine lost power due to carburetor icing because it was operating at a reduced power setting for the approach to the airport. ## Factual narrative On December 28, 2013, about 1215 central standard time, a Cessna 150L airplane, N6905G, impacted terrain following a loss of engine power near Gladewater, Texas. The commercial rated pilot and passenger were not injured and the airplane was substantially damaged. The airplane was registered to and operated by a private individual under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the flight, which operated without a flight plan. The pilot reported that he departed for a practice flight which included slow flight, stalls, and steep turns. As he returned to the airport, the engine rpm started to decrease. He reported that he performed the restart checklist, but was unable to restore power. The pilot added that he was too low to make it to the airport, and selected a clearing for the forced landing. A Federal Aviation Administration inspector reported that the airplane impacted trees and terrain, near a pipeline right-of-way. The impact resulted in substantial damage to the airplane's left and right wings. A visual inspection of the engine did not reveal a reason for the loss of power. Additionally, a fuel smell was present on site and an estimated 20 gallons of fuel was available in the airplane's fuel tanks. The airplane was retrieved by the owner, who examined the airplane's engine. The owner reported that all the connections; fuel line, throttle, mixture, and carburetor heat all were in place. The air filter was free from obstructions, the gascolator and screen were clear of any debris or contaminates. The owner was able to start and run the engine; the owner also added that the airplane ran on automobile gas (mogas). The carburetor icing probability chart included in Federal Aviation Administration Special Airworthiness Information Bulletin No. CE-09-35, Carburetor Icing Prevention, indicated that the airplane was operating in an area that was associated with a serious risk of carburetor ice accumulation at glide power settings. In December 2013, the NTSB issued Safety Alert (SA-029) "Engine power loss due to Carburetor Icing". The Safety Alert states that "engines that run on automobile gas may be more susceptible to carburetor icing than engines that run on Avgas". ## Aircraft - Registration: [N6905G](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N6905G-2018-03-16), registration cancelled 2018-03-16, S/N 15072405, built 1970 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 150L - Registry model: [Cessna 150L](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-150l) (registry code 2071826) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental 0-200 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-0-200-series) (registry code 17020, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 15072405 - Year built: 1970 - Airframe hours: 9111 - Engines: CONT MOTOR 0-200 SERIES 100 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Mcclendon Jon L - Registered owner: Mcclendon Jon L - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, June 13, 2013 - Departed: 07F, Gladewater, TX - Destination: 07F, Gladewater, TX - Airport: 07F, Gladewater Municipal ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 23; injuries: minor; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; seat: left; restraint: lap only; flight hours: 452 total, 5 in this make and model, 376 as pilot in command ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 55 °F, dew point 34 °F - Altimeter: 30.19 inHg - Observed at: KJXI, 10 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 20131228025729A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20131228025729A), Dec 28, 2013: Cessna 150L, Gladewater, TX, Substantial damage. The pilot stated that he was in the pattern to land runway 14 at Gladewater when the RPM began to decrease. He turned toward the airport, following his restart… ## Other investigations on N6905G (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 IAD75DKW18](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/IAD75DKW18), May 26, 1975: Cessna 150 (N6905G), Murfreesboro, TN, substantial damage ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on March 28, 2014, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=88600. 545 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 382 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40410790&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Weather Report (item 2, .PDF, 16 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40410791&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Weather%20Report-Master.PDF - Carburetor Ice Chart (item 3, .PDF, 67 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40410792&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Carburetor%20Ice%20Chart-Master.PDF - Record of Telephone Conversation (item 4, .PDF, 80 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40410793&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Telephone%20Conversation-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.