# NTSB CEN18TA233: Cessna 150F, N3002X, Ferdinand, IN, June 19, 2018 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Final report - Date: June 18, 2018, 22:45 local (Jun 19, 2018, 02:45 UTC) - Place: Ferdinand, IN - Coordinates: 38.220554, -86.873054 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.2206&lon=-86.8731&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: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious, 1 minor - Status: Completed, report February 5, 2019 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - SAIBs cited in the narratives: [SAIB CE-09-35](https://openairdocs.org/saib/CE-09-35) (OpenAirDocs) - NTSB case key (mKey): 97528 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN18TA233 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/97528/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=97528 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN18TA233 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to apply carburetor heat in conditions conducive to the accumulation of carburetor icing, which resulted in a total loss of engine power. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Action: lack of action](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041030): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 150F, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041030/cases.md?model=2071814), [All aircraft, 792 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041030/cases.md) - [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) - [Ice/rain protection system: intake anti-ice, deice](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023020): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Not used/operated (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 150F, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023020/cases.md?model=2071814), [All aircraft, 108 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023020/cases.md) - [Terrain: sloped/uneven terrain](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021017): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome; cases with it: [Cessna 150F, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021017/cases.md?model=2071814), [All aircraft, 270 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021017/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 150F, 12 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=2071814), [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md) - [Approach: Attempted remediation/recovery](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060); cases with it: [Cessna 150F, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md?model=2071814), [All aircraft, 1,422 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md) - [Landing: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440); cases with it: [Cessna 150F, 14 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=2071814), [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 150F, 19 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md?model=2071814), [All aircraft, 2,287 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md) ## Analysis The private pilot and passenger were on a cross-country personal flight at 2,500 ft mean sea level and were about 15 miles north of their destination airport. They began the descent, and during the descent, the engine sputtered, followed by a total loss of power. The pilot attempted to troubleshoot the loss of power but was unsuccessful; however, he did not apply carburetor heat during the troubleshooting. Subsequently, the pilot made a forced landing to a parking lot. During the landing roll, the airplane impacted an embankment and nosed over. Postaccident examination of the airplane revealed that fuel was present in the fuel tanks and the fuel lines to the carburetor. Examination revealed no evidence of any preimpact mechanical failures or malfunctions that would have precluded normal operation. Weather conditions at the time of the accident were conducive to the accumulation of serious carburetor icing at glide power settings. It is likely that, during the descent, carburetor ice accumulated due to the pilot's failure to apply carburetor heat, which resulted in the loss of engine power. ## Factual narrative On June 18, 2018, about 2245 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 150F airplane, N3002X, made a forced landing in a parking lot then nosed over in an embankment. The private rated pilot sustained serious injuries and the passenger sustained minor injuries. The airplane sustained substantial damage. The airplane was registered to Gas Publishing LLC and operated by the pilot under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight. Night visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident and no flight plan had been filed. The flight departed Central Wisconsin Airport (CWA), Mosinee, Wisconsin, about 1700 central daylight time and was en route to Perry County Municipal Airport (TEL), Tell City, Indiana. After the accident, the pilot reported that before the flight he had filled the long range fuel tanks with 35 gallons of fuel. He stated that about 15 miles north of TEL at 2,500 ft mean seal level, the engine sputtered. The pilot was unable to troubleshoot the engine issue and the engine experienced a total loss of power. He made a forced landing to a paved parking lot between two rows of parked semi-trailers. The airplane landed hard and nosed over when it impacted an embankment (figure 1). The pilot and passenger exited the airplane under their own power. The pilot reported that there were not mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane. Figure 1 – Accident Site (photo courtesy of the Indiana State Police) The pilot stated to the responding Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector that he did not apply carburetor heat during the troubleshoot. The pilot added that he tried to make it to Huntingburg Airport (HNB), Huntingburg, Indiana, but did not have enough altitude so he made an off-field landing. During the final approach to the paved area the pilot saw power lines and a utility pole; he stated that he banked the airplane to avoid the power lines and pole. The FAA inspector examined the engine and did not find any anomalies that would have precluded normal operation. There was a smell of aviation fuel at the accident site. An unmeasured amount of fuel remained in the fuel tanks during the recovery of the airplane. Also, fuel was present in the fuel lines to the carburetor. 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 (figure 2). Figure 2 – Carburetor icing probability chart ## Aircraft - Registration: [N3002X](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N3002X-2018-10-17), registration cancelled 2018-10-17, S/N 15064402, built 1966 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 150F (F) - 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: 15064402 - Year built: 1966 - Engines: Continental Motors O-200A 100 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility - Departed: CWA, Mosinee, WI - Destination: TEL, Tell City, IN - Airport: HNB, Huntingburg ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 52; injuries: serious; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review February 25, 2017; seat: left; flight hours: 1,009 total, 48 in this make and model, 947 as pilot in command, 25 in the last 90 days, 16 in the last 30 days, 5 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night - Wind: 200° at 3 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 79 °F, dew point 73 °F - Altimeter: 30.04 inHg - Observed at: KHNB, 4 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 20180618015579A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20180618015579A), Jun 18, 2018: Cessna 150F, Ferdinand, IN, Substantial damage. On June 18, 2018, about 2245 eastern daylight time (EDT), 0245 (UTC), a Cessna 150F, registration number N2003X, lost power while on descent to perry county… ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 23, 2018, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=97528. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 3.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40465959&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - FAA Inspector's Statement (item 2, .PDF): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40465960&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=FAA%20Inspector%27s%20Statement-Master.PDF - Cessna 150 Owners Manual Excerpt - Performance (item 3, .PDF, 805 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40465961&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Cessna%20150%20Owners%20Manual%20Excerpt%20-%20Performance-Master.PDF - FAA SAIB CE-09-35 - Carburetor Icing Prevention (item 4, .PDF, 111 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40465962&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=FAA%20SAIB%20CE-09-35%20-%20Carburetor%20Icing%20Prevention-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.