# NTSB CHI08CA025: Cessna 152, N48862, O'Neill, NE, October 19, 2007 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: October 19, 2007, 15:00 local (20:00 UTC) - Place: O'Neill, NE - Coordinates: 42.469722, -98.688056 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.4697&lon=-98.6881&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 December 20, 2007 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Lincoln, NE FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 67165 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI08CA025 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/67165/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI08CA025 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to assure the oil filter was installed on the airplane which resulted in oil starvation. Factors associated with the accident were the mechanic not installing the oil filter, the low altitude at which the loss of engine power occurred, and the fence which the airplane contacted. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, takeoff - initial climb - lubricating system,oil filter/screen - not installed (cause) - maintenance,installation - not performed, other maintenance personnel (contributing factor) - aircraft preflight - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - fluid,oil - exhaustion (cause) - Forced landing, descent - emergency - altitude - low (contributing factor) - In flight collision with object, descent - emergency - object - fence (contributing factor) - Nose over, landing ## Analysis The airplane contacted a fence and nosed over following a loss of engine power shortly after takeoff. The airplane was taken to a mechanic to have repairs and an annual inspection. Prior to the annual inspection being done the pilot decided to pick up the airplane. The mechanic had not reinstalled the oil filter, nor did he have a chance to run-up the engine prior to the pilot picking up the airplane. The mechanic was not present when he returned to pick up the airplane. Shortly after takeoff at an altitude of about 1,000 feet, the engine began to lose power. The pilot was attempting to land in a pasture when the airplane contacted a fence and nosed over. Post accident inspection revealed the engine suffered from oil starvation and that the oil filter was not installed on the engine. A trail of oil was present from where the airplane was parked all the way to the runway. The mechanic had not signed the airplane off as being returned to service. The last annual inspection performed on the airplane was in June 2004. ## Factual narrative On October 19, 2007, at 1500 central daylight time, a Cessna 152, N48862, contacted a fence and nosed over following a loss of engine power shortly after takeoff. The airplane was departing from the Baker Airport, O'Neill, Nebraska, when the accident occurred. The pilot was not injured and the airplane was substantially damaged. The 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight was operating in visual meteorological conditions without a flight plan. The planned destination was the pilot's private airstrip in Royal, Nebraska. The pilot reported he took the airplane to the O'Neill airport to have wiring repaired, and to have the oil and oil filter changed. He reported the mechanic told him that there was other work that needed to be done on the airplane. The mechanic provided him with an estimated cost of the work and he decided to take the airplane elsewhere to have the work done. The pilot reported he and his son went to the airport to pick up the airplane and they were told by the mechanic that the work was not done, but that they could put the inspection plates back on the airplane. The pilot stated his son replaced the cowling. The weather had deteriorated so they decided not to take the airplane, but to come back and pick it up at another time. The mechanic was not present when he returned to pick up the airplane. Shortly after takeoff at an altitude of about 1,000 feet, the engine began to lose power. The pilot was attempting to land in a pasture when the airplane contacted a fence and nosed over. Post accident inspection revealed the engine suffered from oil starvation and that the oil filter was not installed on the engine. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector who examined the airplane stated there was a trail of oil from where the airplane was parked all the way to the runway. The mechanic stated the pilot brought the airplane to him for repairs and for an annual inspection. He stated he made some wiring repairs and changed the oil, but the airplane needed a lot of work in order to pass an annual inspection. The mechanic stated the pilot came to pick up the airplane without having the annual inspection performed, but did not fly it out that day due to the weather. The mechanic stated he had not had a chance to perform an engine run-up and that when he went back to do so, he discovered that the pilot had taken the keys. The mechanic stated the pilot returned while he was not there on the 19th and took the airplane. During a telephone interview the mechanic stated he thought he had replaced the oil filter. The mechanic had not signed the airplane off as being returned to service. The last annual inspection performed on the airplane was in June 2004. The pilot had been denied a FAA medical certificate on July 5, 2007. ## Aircraft - Registration: N48862 (not matched to a registry record) - Reported make and model: Cessna 152 - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 15281011 - Engines: Lycoming O-235 reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Claus C. Knuth - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: ONL, O'Neill, NE - Destination: Royal, NE ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 77; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; flight hours: 650 total, 650 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 260° at 15 knots, gusting 19 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 63 °F, dew point 32 °F - Altimeter: 29.63 inHg - Observed at: ONL ## 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 20071019022449A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20071019022449A), Oct 19, 2007: Cessna 152, O'Neill, NE, Substantial damage. (-23) On October 19, 2007 at approximately 14:00 CST, a Cessna 152, N48862 departed runway 13 at john l. baker field located in O'Neill, Nebraska. The pilot… 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.