# NTSB CHI03LA281: Cessna 150J, N61134, Fennimore, WI, August 23, 2003 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: August 23, 2003, 12:45 local (17:45 UTC) - Place: Fennimore, WI - Coordinates: 42.976665, -90.648056 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.9767&lon=-90.6481&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 2 minor - Status: Completed, report June 2, 2004 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 57789 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI03LA281 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/57789/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI03LA281 ## Probable cause The loss of engine power in cruise flight due to carburetor icing. A factor was the unsuitable terrain the pilot encountered during his forced landing. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power, cruise - reason for occurrence undetermined (cause) - weather condition - carburetor icing conditions - Forced landing, emergency descent/landing - Nose over, emergency landing - unsuitable terrain or takeoff/landing/taxi area - encountered, pilot in command (contributing factor) - terrain condition - ditch ## Analysis The airplane sustained substantial damage about 1245, when the airplane nosed over during a forced landing following an in-flight loss of engine power in cruise flight. The pilot reported that he departed with "16 -18" gallons of fuel on board. The pilot stated, "[I] left Kenosha, Wisconsin, at 10:57 a.m. headed west toward the Mississippi River, Prairie du Chien. Engine quit over wooded/hilly mixed farmland. [I] went through emergency procedures then picked a field to land. [I] did not make it to the desired field." The engine was test run and it produced rated power with its damaged original carburetor. The Cessna 150 manual's cruise performance chart showed a fuel burn of 7.2 gallons per hour at an altitude of 2,500 feet and a 2,750 RPM setting. The local temperature of 29 degrees C and dew point of 12 degrees C were applied to a carburetor icing chart. The intersection of those temperatures was in the "light icing - cruise or descent power" portion of the chart ## Factual narrative On August 23, 2003, about 1245 central daylight time, a Cessna 150J, N61134, piloted by a private pilot, sustained substantial damage when the airplane nosed over during a forced landing following an in-flight loss of engine power near Fennimore, Wisconsin. The personal flight was operating under 14 CFR Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. No flight plan was on file. The pilot and passenger sustained minor injuries. The flight originated about 1057 from the Kenosha Regional Airport (ENW), near Kenosha, Wisconsin, and was destined for the Prairie du Chien Municipal Airport, near Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin, at the time of the accident. The pilot reported that he departed from ENW with "16 -18" gallons of fuel on board. The pilot stated: [I] left Kenosha, Wisconsin, at 10:57 a.m. headed west toward the Mississippi River, Prairie du Chien. Engine quit over wooded/hilly mixed farmland. [I] went through emergency procedures then picked a field to land. [I] did not make it to the desired field. The engine was shipped to Teledyne Continental Motors in Mobile, Alabama, for a test run under the oversight of a Federal Aviation Administration Inspector. The engine's carburetor sustained impact damage and was found to have broken mounting ears. The engine was run with a slave carburetor and produced rated power. The original carburetor mount was repaired with a bonding material. The engine produced rated power with the original carburetor. The results of this test run are appended to the docket material associated with this case. The Cessna 150 manual's cruise performance chart showed a fuel burn of 7.2 gallons per hour at an altitude of 2,500 feet and a 2,750 RPM setting. The cruise performance chart is appended to the docket material associated with this case. At 1153, the Boscobel Airport (OVS) recorded weather was: wind 360 degrees at 03 knots; visibility 10 statute miles; sky condition clear; temperature 29 degrees C; dew point 14 degrees C; altimeter 30.20 inches of mercury. At 1253, the recorded OVS weather was: wind variable at 04 knots; visibility 10 statute miles; sky condition clear; temperature 29 degrees C; dew point 12 degrees C; altimeter 30.18 inches of mercury. A carburetor icing chart, copied from a Transport Canada source, was reviewed. The temperature of 29 degrees C and dew point of 12 degrees C were applied to the chart. The intersection of those temperatures was in the "light icing - cruise or descent power" portion of the chart. The carburetor icing chart is appended to the docket material associated with this case. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N61134](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N61134-2015-05-15), registration cancelled 2015-05-15, S/N 15070827, built 1969 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 150J - Registry model: [Cessna 150J](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-150j) (registry code 2071820) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental 0-200 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-0-200-series) (registry code 17020, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 15070827 - Airframe hours: 5719.6 - Engines: Continental O-200A 100 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Barry J. May Jr - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, August 15, 2003, 8 hours before - Departed: ENW, KENOSHA, WI - Destination: PDC, PRAIRIE DU CHIE, WI ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 44; injuries: minor; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review August 18, 2003; seat: left; flight hours: 400 total, 390 in this make and model, 400 as pilot in command, 8 in the last 90 days, 8 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: variable at 4 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 84 °F, dew point 54 °F - Altimeter: 30.18 inHg - Observed at: OVS, 13 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 20030823023429A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20030823023429A), Aug 23, 2003: Cessna 150J, Fennimore, WI, Substantial damage. (-23) Engine lost power at 4,500' MSL, prop stopped, pilot attempted forced landing. Aircraft stalled short of intended field, flipped over on road. Right fuel… ## Other investigations on N61134 (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 MIA71DKG85](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA71DKG85), May 22, 1971: Cessna 150 (N61134), Covington, GA, substantial damage 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.