# NTSB CHI04LA292: Cessna 150M, N45673, Durand, MI, September 30, 2004 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: September 30, 2004, 19:00 local (23:00 UTC) - Place: Durand, MI - Coordinates: 42.909996, -83.979598 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.9100&lon=-83.9796&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report September 13, 2005 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 60290 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI04LA292 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/60290/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI04LA292 ## Probable cause The elongated exhaust valve leading to the in-flight loss of engine power during initial climb. A factor was the transmission wire the airplane impacted during its emergency landing after takeoff. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power, takeoff - initial climb - engine assembly,valve,exhaust - elongated (cause) - engine assembly,ring - failure - Forced landing, emergency landing after takeoff - In flight collision with object, emergency landing after takeoff - object - wire,transmission (contributing factor) - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - emergency - terrain condition - crop - terrain condition - ground ## Analysis The airplane sustained substantial damage on impact with a power line and terrain following an in-flight loss of engine power during the flight's initial climb. The pilot stated, "The second takeoff North almost [zero] wind, [the engine] cut out, no power [and] was about only 60 [feet] up ... . It struck a Consumers Power cable with the [right] wheel, not really knowing what may be damaged, I put it down in a field [and] got it stopped, and shut it down [and] walked home." The pilot reported that a compression ring was found broken and that an exhaust valve was found elongated. He reported the parts accumulated 3,450 hours and 1,424.2 since overhaul. ## Factual narrative On September 30, 2004, about 1900 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 150M, piloted by a private pilot, sustained substantial damage on impact with a power line and terrain following an in-flight loss of engine power during initial climb from a private airstrip near Durand, Michigan. The personal flight was being operated under 14 CFR Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. No flight plan was on file. The pilot reported no injuries. The pilot reported the flight originated at 1850 from the private airstrip and was destined for the Owosso Community Airport, near Owosso, Michigan. The pilot's accident report stated: I called my mechanic ... to explain my engine 'intermittently' 'missing' [and] RPM falling. On 9-27-04, he asked the details of it. It felt to me like a '[magneto]' cutting in [and] out. He said to fly it to his shop on 9-30-04 to check it out in Owosso, [Michigan]. I decided to take it over [at] 7 PM on the 29th of [September]. I had done (1) one takeoff [and] landing to [check] it out. The second takeoff North almost [zero] wind, [the engine] cut out, no power [and] was about only 60 [feet] up ... . It struck a Consumers Power cable with the [right] wheel, not really knowing what may be damaged, I put it down in a field [and] got it stopped, and shut it down [and] walked home. A Federal Aviation Administration Inspector examined the airplane. A stabilizer spar was found damaged. The engine was found to have malfunctioned during the flight. The pilot reported that his mechanic found a compression ring was broken and that an exhaust valve was elongated. He reported the parts accumulated 3,450 hours and 1,424.2 since overhaul. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N45673](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N45673), registered now, S/N 15077015 (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: 15077015 - Airframe hours: 5912.5 - Engines: Continental O-200A 100 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Robert L. O'Neil - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, June 1, 2004, 37 hours before - Departed: PVT, Durand, MN - Destination: 5D3, OWOSSO, MI - Airport: runway 360, 1,320 × 100 ft ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 73; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 286 total, 286 in this make and model, 286 as pilot in command, 25 in the last 90 days, 13 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 180° at 3 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 63 °F, dew point 45 °F - Altimeter: 30.10 inHg - Observed at: FNT ## 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 20040930030029A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20040930030029A), Sep 30, 2004: Cessna 150M, Durand, MI, Substantial damage. (-23) He was attempting to land on his grass strip. Right at touchdown the engine power surged so he elected to attempt a go-around. On ascent he struck a… 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.