# NTSB ERA09LA347: Cessna 150H, N22075, Lawrenceville, VA, June 13, 2009 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: June 13, 2009, 17:05 local (21:05 UTC) - Place: Lawrenceville, VA - Coordinates: 36.772777, -77.794166 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.7728&lon=-77.7942&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Initial climb: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report June 17, 2010 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 74051 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA09LA347 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/74051/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=74051 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA09LA347 ## Probable cause A loss of engine power due to carburetor icing. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Temp/humidity/pressure: conducive to carburetor icing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03031030): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on equipment (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 150H, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03031030/cases.md?model=2071818), [All aircraft, 435 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03031030/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Initial climb: Fuel related](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/190); cases with it: [Cessna 150H, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/190/sequence.md?model=2071818), [All aircraft, 361 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/190/sequence.md) - [Initial climb: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 150H, 10 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=2071818), [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md) - [Emergency descent: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440); cases with it: [Cessna 150H, 13 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=2071818), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Cessna 150H, 27 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=2071818), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis During the solo student pilot's third takeoff for the day, he climbed to 700 feet mean sea level and experienced a total loss of engine power. The airspeed dropped and he re-established the airspeed by pitching down. He saw a lumber factory ahead and aimed for the driveway. The airplane touched down and while rolling out, hit a light pole on the right side of the wingtip. The airplane went left and was stopped by a tree impact. Examination of the wreckage did not reveal any evidence of a preexisting mechanical failure or malfunction. Additionally, adequate fuel was noted in the fuel system. Subsequent to the examination, a successful test-run of the engine was performed. A review of a carburetor icing probability chart showed that the aircraft was operating in conditions (Temperature 88 degrees F, Dew Point 70 degrees F) were conducive to serious carburetor icing at glide power. It is unknown whether or not the pilot used carburetor heat during the flight. However, since no anomalies were found with the engine and it was successfully operated during a post-accident test run, it is likely that carburetor icing occurred. ## Factual narrative On June 13, 2009, at 1705 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 150H, N22075, impacted terrain while executing a forced landing, following a loss of engine power in Lawrenceville, Virginia. The student pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured and the airplane sustained substantial damage. The flight was operated as an instructional flight under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 91, and no flight plan was filed for the local training flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The flight had originated from the Lawrenceville/Brunswick Municipal Airport (LVL), Lawrenceville, Virginia, at 1700. According to the student pilot, during his third takeoff for the day, he climbed to 700 feet mean sea level and “experienced an engine problem and the prop stopped working. The airspeed dropped and [he] re-established the airspeed by pitching down just a little, [and] all I saw was a lumber factory and aimed for the driveway. I touched down and while I was rolling I hit a light pole on the right side of the wingtip. The airplane went left and [was] stopped by a tree impact.” Examination of the airplane by a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector found both wings substantially damaged by impact with a light pole and trees. Both wing leading edges were crushed aft, bending the spars. Examination of the engine found engine oil present and at the proper level. The spark plugs had no unusual discoloration, the propeller was rotated by hand and cylinder compression and valve continuity was confirmed. The air filter was removed and the air intake box inspected for obstructions, with none noted. Fuel was drained from the airframe fuel bowl and no contaminants were noted. The spark plugs were reinstalled and the engine was started and ran using the aircraft systems. Examination of the wreckage did not reveal any evidence of a preexisting mechanical failure or malfunction. The airplane's most recent annual inspection was performed on September 1, 2008. The airplane had accumulated 70 hours of operation from the time of that inspection, until the time of the accident. A review of the carburetor icing probability chart showed that at the time of the accident the aircraft was operating in conditions conducive to serious carburetor icing at glide power. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N22075](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N22075-2012-02-28), registration cancelled 2012-02-28, S/N 15068046, built 1967 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 150H - Registry model: [Cessna 150H](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-150h) (registry code 2071818) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental 0-200 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-0-200-series) (registry code 17020, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 15068046 - Airframe hours: 7278 - Engines: CONT MOTOR O-200 SERIES 100 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, September 1, 2008, 70 hours before - Departed: LVL, Lawrenceville, VA - Destination: LVL, Lawrenceville, VA - Airport: LVL, Lawrenceville/Brunswick Munici ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Student pilot; age 26; injuries: none; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; seat: left; flight hours: 105 total, 75 in this make and model, 20 as pilot in command ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 320° at 3 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 88 °F, dew point 70 °F - Altimeter: 29.89 inHg - Observed at: AVC, 15 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 20090613009089A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20090613009089A), Jun 13, 2009: Cessna 150H, Lawrenceville, VA, Substantial damage. (-23) The student pilot experienced a power loss and engine shutdown at approximately 400 feet AGL. He elected to glide to a dirt road next to a lumber yard.… ## Docket (6 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on April 19, 2010, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=74051. 515 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 259 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40324571&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Pilot's Statement (item 2, .PDF, 45 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40324572&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%27s%20Statement-Redacted.PDF - Reports from Federal Agencies, Inspectors statement. (item 3, .PDF, 48 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40324570&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Reports%20from%20Federal%20Agencies,%20Inspectors%20statement.-Master.PDF - Witness Statement (item 4, .PDF, 65 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40324573&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Witness%20Statement-Redacted.PDF - FAA Digital Photo 1: Right wing damage. (item 5, .PDF, 47 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40324574&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=FAA%20Digital%20Photo%201%3A%20Right%20wing%20damage.-Master.PDF - FAA Digital Photo 2: Left wing damage. (item 6, .PDF, 52 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40328603&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=FAA%20Digital%20Photo%202%3A%20Left%20wing%20damage.-Master.PDF 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.