# NTSB CEN17LA014: Cessna 150M, N704LE, Beasley, TX, October 8, 2016 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: October 8, 2016, 18:40 local (23:40 UTC) - Place: Beasley, TX - Coordinates: 29.445278, -95.964447 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.4453&lon=-95.9644&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 September 6, 2017 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA Flight Standards, Continental Motors Inc. - NTSB case key (mKey): 94188 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN17LA014 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/94188/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=94188 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN17LA014 ## Probable cause The No. 2 cylinder exhaust valve being stuck in the “full open” position due to carbon deposits, which resulted in a total loss of engine power. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Engine (reciprocating): recip eng cyl section](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058530): Aircraft › Aircraft power plant · Not specified (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 150M, 8 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058530/cases.md?model=2071830), [All aircraft, 373 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058530/cases.md) - [Runway/land/takeoff/taxi surface: soft surface](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023020): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome; cases with it: [Cessna 150M, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023020/cases.md?model=2071830), [All aircraft, 264 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023020/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 (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 150M, 20 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=2071830), [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md) - [Emergency descent: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440); cases with it: [Cessna 150M, 17 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=2071830), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md) - [Landing: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096); cases with it: [Cessna 150M, 8 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md?model=2071830), [All aircraft, 2,287 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md) ## Analysis The student pilot reported that he was returning from a solo flight when the engine "started failing." The engine speed decreased to about 1,500 rpm with a "significant" vibration. The pilot's efforts to restore engine power were unsuccessful, and the engine ultimately lost total power. He subsequently conducted a forced landing to a plowed field, during which the airplane nosed over. A postaccident examination of the engine revealed that the No. 2 cylinder exhaust valve was stuck in the "full open" position. Disassembly of the cylinder revealed that the exhaust valve stem exhibited carbon deposits consistent with the stuck valve condition. No other engine anomalies were noted. ## Factual narrative On October 8, 2016, about 1840 central daylight time, a Cessna 150M airplane, N704LE, was substantially damaged during a forced landing following a loss of engine power near Beasley, Texas. The student pilot was not injured. The airplane was registered to and operated by private individuals under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a solo instructional flight. Day visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the flight, which was not operated on a flight plan. The flight originated from the Wharton Regional Airport (ARM), Wharton, Texas, about 1610. The intended destination was the Sugar Land Regional Airport (SGR), Sugar Land, Texas.The pilot stated that he departed SGR about 1530 and flew to Eagle Lake Airport (ELA) where he conducted some practice takeoffs and landings. He then flew to ARM, conducted some additional takeoffs and landings, and refueled the airplane. He reported conducting a preflight inspection at that time and observed no anomalies. After takeoff, he conducted practice maneuvers in the local area for about 30 minutes before deciding to return to SGR. The pilot stated that while cruising at 2,500 ft mean sea level en route to SGR, the engine "started failing." The engine speed decreased to about 1,500 rpm, with a "significant" vibration. His efforts to restore engine power were unsuccessful and the engine ultimately lost power completely. He executed a forced landing to a plowed agricultural field. During the landing, the airplane nosed over, resulting in damage to the vertical stabilizer, rudder, and left wing. A postaccident examination of the engine revealed that the no. 2 cylinder exhaust valve was stuck in the full open position. Disassembly of the cylinder determined that the exhaust valve stem exhibited carbon deposits consistent with the stuck valve condition. No other anomalies with respect to the no. 2 cylinder or the remainder of the engine were observed. Maintenance records indicated that the engine was overhauled in April 2002. At that time, the engine had accumulated 3,492 hours total time. The overhauled engine was installed on the accident airplane in May 2002, at a recording tachometer time of 3291.9 hours. According to the records, the most recent annual inspection was completed on December 18, 2015. A maintenance entry, dated February 26, 2016, noted that an exhaust valve leak on cylinder no. 4. The exhaust valve was subsequently replaced. The final entry was dated April 8, 2016, and noted that the no. 2 cylinder spark plugs were cleaned. The maintenance records did not contain any subsequent entries. At the time of the examination, the airplane recording hour (Hobbs) meter and tachometer indicated 2373.4 hours and 4131.60 hours, respectively. The engine manufacturer's recommended overhaul interval was 1,800 hours or 12 years. Although more than 14 years had elapsed since the overhaul, Federal Aviation Administration regulations do not require compliance with an enginemanufacturer's recommended time-between-overhaul (TBO) interval. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N704LE](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N704LE-2018-05-04), registration cancelled 2018-05-04, S/N 15078689, built 1976 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 150M - Registry model: [Cessna 150M](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-150m) (registry code 2071830) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental 0-200 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-0-200-series) (registry code 17020, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 15078689 - Year built: 1976 - Airframe hours: 7652.2 - Engines: CONT MOTOR O-200-A 100 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility - Last inspection: Annual, December 18, 2015, 117 hours before - Departed: ARM, Wharton, TX - Destination: SGR, Sugar Land, TX - Airport: ARM, Wharton Regional - Equipment: Stall warning system ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Student pilot; age 53; injuries: none; student; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review August 27, 2016; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 167 total, 143 in this make and model, 53 as pilot in command, 25 in the last 90 days, 13 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 350° at 4 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 77 °F, dew point 63 °F - Altimeter: 30.10 inHg - Observed at: ARM, 15 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 20161008017609A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20161008017609A), Oct 8, 2016: Cessna 150M, Beasley, TX, Substantial damage. Pilot reported engine started running rough and quit making power. Pilot stated he made an emergency landing in open field. The field was freshly plowed. Upon… ## Docket (8 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 22, 2017, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=94188. 4.1 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 1.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40453629&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Examination Summary (item 2, .PDF, 115 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40453630&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Examination%20Summary-Master.PDF - Report Photos (item 3, .PDF, 5 photos, 1.5 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40453631&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Report%20Photos-Master.PDF - Maintenance Records - Airframe (Excerpt) (item 4, .PDF, 316 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40453632&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Maintenance%20Records%20-%20Airframe%20(Excerpt)-Master.PDF - Maintenance Records - Engine (Excerpt) (item 5, .PDF, 579 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40453633&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Maintenance%20Records%20-%20Engine%20(Excerpt)-Master.PDF - Engine Maintenance Manual - Excerpt (item 6, .PDF, 52 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40453634&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Engine%20Maintenance%20Manual%20-%20Excerpt-Master.PDF - Weather Documentation - Wharton Regional Airport (item 7, .PDF, 44 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40453635&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Weather%20Documentation%20-%20Wharton%20Regional%20Airport-Master.PDF - Statement of Party Representatives to NTSB Investigation (item 8, .PDF, 260 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40453636&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Statement%20of%20Party%20Representatives%20to%20NTSB%20Investigation-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.