CHI94LA224

NTSB accident investigation · Cessna 150 · Andover, MN · July 8, 1994

Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal report
Date
July 8, 1994, 08:15 local (13:15 UTC)
Place
Andover, MN
Injuries
2 uninjured
Damage
Substantial damage
Phase of flight
Maneuvering
Aircraft
N9284UCessna 150
Weather
Visual (VMC) · Day
Status
Completed · report February 24, 1995
Report
Approved by Office Director
FAA report
19940708018069A
Case key
9588

From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.

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Probable cause

the flight instructor's improper procedures and directives by electing to pull the mixture control to the 'off' position during simulated emergency procedures. A factor associated with the accident is the existence of weather conditions conducive to carburetor icing.

Sequence of events

NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.

Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanicalManeuvering
Mixture control - switched off
Procedures/directives - improperPilot in command(cfi)Cause
Weather condition - carburetor icing conditionsFactor
Fuel system,carburetor - ice
Forced landingDescent - emergency
On ground/water collision with objectLanding - roll

Analysis

The flight instructor and private pilot were practicing emergency procedures while on a biennial flight review. The instructor reported that he initially reduced the throttle to simulate a rough engine, and then pulled the mixture out (to the 'off' position)to simulate an engine failure. The private pilot subsequently pulled carburetor heat to 'on' and performed other emergency procedures. The instructor was satisfied with the pilot's response, and told him to restore the engine power. The engine did not regain power when the mixture was pushed in. The instructor made an emergency landing on a nearby lawn/field, striking obstructions during the landing roll. The reported temperature in the area at the time of the accident was 61 degrees and the dew point was 59 degrees. These temperatures fall within the severe icing range on a carburetor probability chart. The airplane's engine was started and run at the accident site without any observed mechanical deficiencies.

Factual narrative

On July 8, 1994, at 0815 central daylight time, a Cessna 150, N9284U, sustained substantial damage following a loss of engine power and subsequent off-airport forced landing near Andover, Minnesota. The certificated flight instructor and private pilot aboard reported no injuries. The 14 CFR Part 91 instructional flight originated in Anoka, Minnesota, at 0800. No flight plan was filed, and visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time.

According to the instructor's statement, he reduced the engine power to simulate a rough running engine, and than pulled the mixture control out to simulate an engine failure. He said the private pilot did an excellent job of remedial emergency procedures, including pulling the carburetor heat "on" promptly. The instructor wrote that he was satisfied with the private pilot's actions, and told him to restore power. When the private pilot pushed the mixture in to full rich, the engine would not restart. The instructor took control of the airplane and made a forced landing on a nearby field. He was unable to stop the airplane prior to colliding with obstructions.

The reported surface temperature in the area at the time of the accident was 61 degrees and the dew point was 59 degrees. The attached Carburetor Icing Probability Chart places this temperature and dewpoint combination in the severe icing category.

Postaccident inspection of the airplane and its systems discovered no preimpact mechanical anomalies. The engine was started and run at the site with no observed mechanical deficiencies.

Aircraft

Registration
N9284U
Reported as
Cessna 150
Category
Airplane
Serial number
15078234
Engine
Continental O-200-A, 100 horsepower, reciprocating
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Instructional · Part 91
Operator
Flywell Flying Club Inc.
Registered owner
Flywell Flying Club Inc.
Airworthiness certificate
Standard, Normal
Last inspection
Annual · November 16, 1993
Departed
ANE · Anoka, MN

Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

Role
Pilot
Age
58
Certificates
Commercial, Flight instructor
Airplane ratings
Single-engine land, Multi-engine land, Single-engine sea
Instrument ratings
Airplane
Medical
Class 1, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
Seat
Right
Flight hours
14,000 total · 400 in this make and model · 13,394 as pilot in command · 150 in the last 90 days · 50 in the last 30 days · 4 in the last 24 hours

Weather

Conditions
Visual (VMC) · Day
Wind
200° at 10 knots
Visibility
12 statute miles
Lowest ceiling
2,300 ft overcast
Temperature
63 °F, dew point 57 °F
Altimeter
29.00 inHg
Observed at
STP, 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.

Other investigations on N9284U · 1

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.