# NTSB CEN18LA177: Cessna 150M, N66786, Sinton, TX, March 7, 2018 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: March 7, 2018, 12:30 local (17:30 UTC) - Place: Sinton, TX - Coordinates: 28.03861, -97.542503 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=28.0386&lon=-97.5425&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Initial climb: Loss of engine power (partial)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report June 3, 2020 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA San Antonio FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 97271 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN18LA177 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/97271/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=97271 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN18LA177 ## Probable cause The inadequate service and repair of the airplane's carburetor, which led to a partial loss of engine power during takeoff and resulted in a forced landing. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Engine fuel and control: fuel control/carburetor](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057322): Aircraft › Aircraft power plant · Fatigue/wear/corrosion (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 150M, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057322/cases.md?model=2071830), [All aircraft, 195 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057322/cases.md) - [Engine fuel and control: fuel control/carburetor](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057322): Aircraft › Aircraft power plant · Not serviced/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 150M, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057322/cases.md?model=2071830), [All aircraft, 195 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057322/cases.md) - [Maintenance: repair](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02062015): Personnel issues › Task performance · Maintenance personnel (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 150M, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02062015/cases.md?model=2071830), [All aircraft, 99 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02062015/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 (partial)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 150M, 14 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342/sequence.md?model=2071830), [All aircraft, 1,858 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342/sequence.md) - [Landing: 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: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Cessna 150M, 39 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=2071830), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The commercial pilot reported that after conducting a touch-and-go landing, the airplane's engine experienced a partial loss of power near the end of the runway. The airplane was unable to gain altitude, so he landed in an open field. During the forced landing, the airplane's engine mount was bent. According to the pilot, the airplane's carburetor was full of carbon and that the exhaust pipe was black from carbon buildup. Although it is unlikely that the black material in the carburetor was carbon, the excessive buildup within the carburetor would have adversely affected the engine's performance. The pilot stated that the carburetor was unable to properly regulate the fuel/air mixture due to the excessive buildup, corrosion in and on the main nozzle, and basic wear and tear, which caused the engine to flood and experience a partial loss of engine power. A review of the airplane's maintenance logbook showed that the carburetor had not been rebuilt since it was installed in 1974, about 44 years before the accident. Thus, it is likely that inadequate service and repair of the airplane's carburetor led to partial loss of engine power. ## Factual narrative On March 7, 2018, about 1230 central daylight time, a Cessna 150M airplane, N66786, experienced a partial loss of engine power after takeoff and impacted terrain during a forced landing to a field near the Alfred C 'Bubba' Thomas Airport (T69), Sinton, Texas. The pilot and one passenger were not injured, and the airplane sustained substantial damage to the engine mount. The airplane was owned and operated by the pilot under the provisions of the Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight. Day visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident, which was not operated on a flight plan. The flight departed T69 about 1130 on a local flight. The pilot reported that he conducted a local flight and returned to land at T69 and executed a touch-and-go landing to runway 32. After touching down and taking off again for another touch-and-go, the airplane's engine experienced a partial loss of engine power near the end of the runway. He was unable to gain altitude, so he turned to the right and landed in an open field. During the forced landing the airplane's engine mount was bent; otherwise the airplane appeared to be undamaged. The pilot reported that he examined the airplane's carburetor and found that was full of carbon, and that the exhaust pipe was pitch black from carbon buildup. He stated that the carburetor was unable to properly regulate the fuel/air mixture due to excessive carbon buildup, corrosion in and on the main nozzle, and basic wear and tear, which caused the engine to flood and experience a partial loss of engine power. He stated that a review of the airplane's maintenance logbook showed that the carburetor had not been rebuilt since it was installed in 1974. The pilot stated that a new rebuilt carburetor was installed on the engine and it now runs fine. The airplane recently had an annual maintenance inspection and he reported that "everything that may have caused the engine problem checked out okay." ## Aircraft - Registration: [N66786](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N66786), registered now, S/N 15076279, built 1974 (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: 15076279 - Year built: 1974 - Airframe hours: 3727.6 - Engines: Continental O-200-A 100 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, May 1, 2017 - Departed: T69, Sinton, TX - Destination: T69, Sinton, TX - Airport: T68, Alfred C Thomas Airport, runway 32, 4,323 × 55 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Handheld GPS, ADS-B, Stall warning system ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 57; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; seat: right; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 1,100 total, 250 in this make and model, 1,100 as pilot in command, 98 in the last 90 days, 23 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 50° at 11 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 63 °F, dew point 36 °F - Altimeter: 30.37 inHg - Observed at: CRP, 16 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 20180307001539A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20180307001539A), Mar 7, 2018: Cessna 150M, Sinton, TX, Minor damage. While performing touch and go landings at Alfred C. Thomas Airport Sinton, Texas, aircraft touched down and pilot initiated another takeoff. After lift off and… ## Docket (5 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 9, 2019, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=97271. 5.0 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 3.4 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40475025&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Pilot Statements (item 2, .PDF, 314 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40475026&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%20Statements-Master.PDF - Pilot's Letter to NTSB IIC (item 3, .PDF, 135 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40475027&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%27s%20Letter%20to%20NTSB%20IIC-Master.PDF - Marvel Schebler Service Bulletin (item 4, .PDF, 114 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40475028&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Marvel%20Schebler%20Service%20Bulletin-Master.PDF - Photo Log (item 5, .PDF, 1.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40475029&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%20Log-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.