# NTSB CEN23LA040: Cessna 150L, N10612, Cypress, TX, November 20, 2022 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report - Date: November 20, 2022, 13:00 local (19:00 UTC) - Place: Cypress, TX - Coordinates: 29.973335, -95.68733 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.9733&lon=-95.6873&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Enroute-cruise: Powerplant sys/comp malf/fail](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/340) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 2 minor - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 3 - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration; Houston FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 106332 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN23LA040 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/106332/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=106332 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN23LA040 ## Probable cause Failure of the engine exhaust valve during cruise flight, which resulted in a loss of engine power and a forced landing. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Maintenance/inspections: time limits](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01010510): Aircraft › Aircraft handling/service · Incorrect service/maintenance; cases with it: [Cessna 150L, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01010510/cases.md?model=2071826), [All aircraft, 17 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01010510/cases.md) - [Engine (reciprocating): recip eng cyl section](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058530): Aircraft › Aircraft power plant · Failure (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 150L, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058530/cases.md?model=2071826), [All aircraft, 373 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058530/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Enroute-cruise: Powerplant sys/comp malf/fail](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/340) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 150L, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/340/sequence.md?model=2071826), [All aircraft, 820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/340/sequence.md) - [Emergency descent: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341); 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) - [Landing: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Cessna 150L, 37 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=2071826), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot stated that during cruise flight the airplane engine began to run rough and shake violently. The pilot initiated a climb to a higher altitude and diverted to the nearest airport. The engine subsequently lost power and the pilot performed a forced landing on grass field, where the airplane struck a fence and sustained substantial damage. Postaccident examination of the engine revealed that the No. 3 cylinder exhaust valve failed. At the time of the accident, the engine exceeded the engine manufacturer’s time between overhaul period specifications as outlined in the Continental Motors Service Information Letter SIL98-9E, which is not mandatory for Part 91 operations. ## Factual narrative On November 20, 2022, at 1300 central standard time, a Cessna 150L, N10612, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Cypress, Texas. The commercial pilot and a passenger received minor injuries. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The pilot stated that, after flying for about 1.5 hours, the airplane engine began to run rough and shake violently while in cruise flight at 1,600 ft mean sea level (msl). The pilot climbed the airplane to 1,900 ft msl and diverted to the nearest airport, but the engine lost all power, and he performed a forced landing on a grass field. During the landing, the airplane struck a wood fence and sustained substantial damage that included damage to the left wing, right horizontal stabilizer, and fuselage. Postaccident examination of the engine revealed that the No. 3 cylinder exhaust valve had failed and resulted in damage to the No. 3 cylinder. At the time of the accident, the engine exceeded the engine manufacturer’s time between overhaul period specificationsIt would be helpful to note both the recommended TBO and the time since last overhaul at the time of the accident. as outlined in the Continental Motors Service Information Letter SIL98-9E, which is not mandatory for Part 91 operations. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N10612](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N10612-2023-07-13), registration cancelled 2023-07-13, S/N 15074924, built 1973 (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: 15074924 - Year built: 1973 - Engines: Continental O-200-A 100 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, March 12, 2022, 8,238.7 hours before - Departed: 3R3, Cleveland, TX - Destination: 3R3, Cleveland, TX - Equipment: Stall warning system, ADS-B, Handheld GPS ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 30; injuries: minor; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review November 9, 2022; seat: right; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 546 total ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: variable at 3 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 52 °F, dew point 28 °F - Altimeter: 30.40 inHg - Observed at: DWH, 9 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 20221120020859A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20221120020859A), Nov 20, 2022: Cessna 150L, Cypress, TX, Substantial damage. On November 20, 2022, at 1321 this office became aware of this accident when inspector received a call from the FAA south west regional operations center.… ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on March 20, 2024, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=106332. 21.0 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 9 pages, 2.8 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16573528&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120%20Master_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Record of correspondence - FAA (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 63 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16536665&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Record%20of%20Correspondence-Rel.pdf - Photos (item 3, PDF, 6 pages, 1.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16534143&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%20Template-Rel.pdf - Engine logbook excerpts (item 4, PDF, 16 pages, 16.9 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16534576&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Engine%20Records%20Master_Redacted-Rel.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.