# NTSB CEN23LA036: Cessna 152, N222UM, Manchester, MI, November 13, 2022 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report - Date: November 13, 2022, 09:50, time zone not recorded - Place: Manchester, MI - Coordinates: 42.14772, -84.10216 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.1477&lon=-84.1022&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Enroute-cruise: Fuel related](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/190) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 3 - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA - SAIBs cited in the narratives: [SAIB CE-09-35](https://openairdocs.org/saib/CE-09-35) (OpenAirDocs) - NTSB case key (mKey): 106282 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN23LA036 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/106282/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN23LA036 ## Probable cause A partial loss of engine power as a result of carburetor ice. ## 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) - [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 152, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023020/cases.md?model=2071835), [All aircraft, 108 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023020/cases.md) - [Action: delayed action](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 152, 15 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025/cases.md?model=2071835), [All aircraft, 894 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025/cases.md) - [Info processing/decision: identification/recognition](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041510): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 152, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041510/cases.md?model=2071835), [All aircraft, 559 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041510/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Enroute-cruise: Fuel related](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/190) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 152, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/190/sequence.md?model=2071835), [All aircraft, 361 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/190/sequence.md) - [Enroute-cruise: Loss of engine power (partial)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342); 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) ## Analysis According to the flight instructor, the airplane was in cruise flight when the engine rpm dropped from about 2,400 to about 1,300. He took the flight controls from the student pilot, turned on carburetor heat, and used the checklist in an attempt to restore power. According to the flight instructor, while trying different throttle and mixture settings, the rpm increased to about 1,500 for about 10 seconds before reducing back to 1,300. According to the student pilot, after the engine rpm reduced to 1,300, the flight instructor applied carburetor heat, and the engine rpm reduced and then increased briefly. The instructor notified air traffic control of the power loss and diverted to the nearest airport. When he realized they would not be able to reach the airport, he selected a field for a forced landing. During the landing, the nosewheel dug into the soft soil, and the airplane flipped over, which resulted in substantial damage to the vertical stabilizer and rudder. A postaccident examination of the engine and airframe revealed no mechanical malfunctions or anomalies that would have precluded normal operation. Based on the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) carburetor icing probability chart, the atmospheric conditions at the time of the accident were conducive to the development of serious carburetor icing at glide and cruise power. Therefore, it is likely that the loss of engine power was due to the formation of carburetor ice. Although the engine power increased briefly when the flight instructor applied carburetor heat, it is likely the amount of ice was too much for the carburetor heat to overcome. ## Factual narrative On November 13, 2022, about 0950 central standard time, a Cessna 152 airplane, N222UM, sustained substantial damage when it was involved in an accident near Manchester, Michigan. The flight instructor and the student pilot were uninjured. The flight was being operated as a 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 instructional flight. The flight instructor stated that they had been in cruise flight with the engine operating about 2,400 rpm when he “felt the power drop.” He then noticed the tachometer showed about 1,300 rpm. He stated that he took the flight controls from the student pilot, applied carburetor heat, and used the checklist to attempt to restore power. At one point, while trying different throttle and mixture settings, the rpm appeared to increase to about 1,500 for about 10 seconds before reducing back to 1,300. The instructor notified air traffic control of the power loss and diverted to the nearest airport. When it became evident they would not be able to reach the airport, he selected a field for a forced landing. During the landing, the nose wheel dug into the soft soil, and the airplane nosed over, which resulted in substantial damage to the vertical stabilizer and rudder. The student pilot stated that after the engine rpm reduced to 1,300, the flight instructor applied carburetor heat, and the engine rpm reduced and then “came back up” but only for a short time. Both pilots stated that the fuel tanks had been topped off the night before, and the airplane was placed in a hangar overnight. Before the flight, they conducted a preflight inspection, which included sumping the fuel tanks, with no anomalies noted. After engine start and taxi, a run-up was accomplished with no anomalies noted. During a postaccident examination, control continuity was established from the cockpit to all flight and engine controls. Fuel was drained from the carburetor and the left and right fuel tanks, and no contaminants were present. The carburetor venturi was inspected with no anomalies noted. The spark plugs were removed and found to be unremarkable. Following removal of the top spark plugs, thumb compression was noted on all cylinders when the propeller was rotated by hand. The magnetos were tested on the airframe and sparking was observed on all leads in firing order. The 0953 weather observation at Ann Arbor, Michigan located 17 from the accident site recorded a temperature of 32° F and a dewpoint of 25°F. Based on the FAA carburetor icing probability chart (Figure 1), the atmospheric conditions at the time of the accident were conducive to the development of serious carburetor icing at glide and cruise power. Figure 1: Carburetor Icing Probability Chart (Source: FAA SAIB CE-09-35) ## Aircraft - Registration: [N222UM](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N222UM-2023-05-29), registration cancelled 2023-05-29, S/N 15281063, built 1977 (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: 15281063 - Year built: 1977 - Airframe hours: 26494 - Engines: Lycoming O-235-L2C 110 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: University Of Michigan Flyers Inc - Registered owner: University Of Michigan Flyers Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility - Last inspection: 100 hour, October 10, 2022, 73.6 hours before - Departed: KARB, Ann Arbor, MI - Equipment: Electronic flight bag or handheld device, ADS-B ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Flight instructor; age 19; injuries: none; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; last flight review June 10, 2022; seat: right; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 1,017 total, 463 in this make and model, 895 as pilot in command, 150 in the last 90 days, 34 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours - Student pilot; age 17; injuries: none; student; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 95 total, 94 in this make and model, 11 as pilot in command, 21 in the last 90 days, 7 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 300° at 8 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 6,500 ft overcast - Temperature: 32 °F, dew point 25 °F - Altimeter: 30.15 inHg - Observed at: KARB, 17 nm away - METAR: KARB 131353Z 30008KT 10SM OVC065 00/M04 A3015 ## 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 20221113019669A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20221113019669A), Nov 13, 2022: Cessna 152, Manchester, MI, Substantial damage. Instructional VFR cross country flight departed ann arbor, MI (arb) at 9:31AM local time and climbed to 3,000' southwest bound. The student pilot was flying on… ## Other investigations on N222UM (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 CEN11LA368](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN11LA368), May 25, 2011: Cessna 152 (N222UM), Ann Arbor, MI, no damage. Probable cause: The flight instructor’s failure to maintain clearance from the propeller when exiting the airplane. Contributing to the accident were the instructor’s decision not to shut down the engine before… 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.