# NTSB CHI96LA072: Cessna 150M, N8375U, Mount Pleasant, MI, January 15, 1996 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: January 15, 1996, 10:10 local (15:10 UTC) - Place: Mount Pleasant, MI - Coordinates: 43.590858, -84.770271 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=43.5909&lon=-84.7703&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report May 9, 1996 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 10183 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI96LA072 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/10183/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI96LA072 ## Probable cause the student pilot's inadequate preflight and the loose oil filler cap, which resulted in oil starvation and failure of the #1 cylinder connecting rod. A factor relating to this accident was the snow covered terrain. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(partial) - mech failure/malf, cruise - lubricating system,oil filler cap - loose (cause) - aircraft preflight - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - fluid,oil - starvation (cause) - engine assembly,connecting rod - failure,total (cause) - Forced landing, emergency landing - Nose over, emergency landing - terrain condition - snow covered (contributing factor) ## Analysis The pilot was 4 miles from the airport when the airplane started to shake violently and the engine rpm dropped to 1500. He moved the mixture control to the rich position, turned on the carburetor heat and performed his checks, but couldn't find anything wrong. He then reported to approach control that the airplane was having engine trouble and was losing altitude, but that he had the airport in sight, and that he could make the field. As the pilot turned toward the airport, the engine rpm dropped to 1000, and the airplane began to lose altitude rapidly. The pilot made a forced landing on the airport 400 feet short of the runway, and the airplane nosed over in snow. Examination of the wreckage at the site revealed that the #1 cylinder connecting rod had failed due to oil starvation. The oil cap to the crankcase was found loose. ## Factual narrative On January 15, 1996, at 1010 eastern standard time (est), a Cessna 150M, N8375U, operated by a student pilot, sustained substantial damage during an attempted forced landing when it impacted the terrain. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The flight was being conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. No flight plan was on file. The student pilot reported no injuries. The flight originated at Grand Ledge, Michigan, at 0925 est, and was en route to Mount Pleasant, Michigan. In his written statement, the pilot reported being approximately four miles from Mount Pleasant Municipal Airport, Michigan, when the airplane "started to shake violently and the engine rpm dropped to 1500." The pilot moved the mixture control to rich, turned on the carburetor heat and performed his checks, but "couldn't find anything wrong." He contacted Saginaw approach control and informed them that the airplane "was having engine trouble and was losing altitude." The pilot also informed Saginaw approach control that he thought he "could make the field," and that he "had the airport in sight." The pilot changed radio frequencies to Mount Pleasant unicom and informed the airport traffic that he would be making an emergency landing on runway 9. As the pilot turned toward the airport, the airplane's engine rpm dropped to 1000, and the airplane began to lose altitude rapidly. The pilot performed a forced landing on the airport grounds, 400 feet short of the runway 9 threshold. The ground was snow covered. When the nosewheel touched down in the snow, the airplane "stopped suddenly and pitched forward on its nose." The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector who examined the wreckage at the site, found the airplane's left wing had separated at the wing root and the left wing spar was bent rearward. The left horizontal stabilizer spar was also bent rearward. The front nose gear was bent back, and the propeller was bent slightly. Flight control continuity was confirmed. Engine controls were examined and revealed no anomalies. Fuel was observed in the fuel tanks, fuel lines and carburetor. Oil was observed covering the engine cowling. Further examination of the engine revealed that the connecting rod to the number one cylinder had failed due to oil starvation. The oil cap to the crankcase was checked and found loose. Oil was observed covering the left side engine components in the area of the oil filler neck. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N8375U](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8375U-2007-05-25), registration cancelled 2007-05-25, S/N 15077928, built 1976 (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: 15077928 - Airframe hours: 6608 - Engines: CONTINENTAL O-200-A 100 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Grand Air Aviation, Inc. - Registered owner: Larry J. Ingalls - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, November 29, 1995, 30 hours before - Departed: 4D0, GRAND LEDGE, MI - Destination: MOP - Airport: MOP, Mount Pleasant Municipal, runway 9, 5,000 × 100 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 34; student; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 34 total, 32 in this make and model, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 50° at 7 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 10 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: MBS, 30 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 19960115000619A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19960115000619A), Jan 15, 1996: Cessna 150M, Mount Pleasant, MI, Substantial damage. Off airport landing due to NR1 cylinder connecting rod failuer. (-23) aircraft lost power due to #1 cylinder connecting rod failure - aircraft received… ## Other investigations on N8375U (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 DEN82DA200](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN82DA200), Sep 19, 1982: Cessna 150M (N8375U), Missoula, MT, 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.