# NTSB ERA09LA407: Cessna 120, N7227E, Morristown, TN, July 16, 2009

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: July 16, 2009, 13:15 local (17:15 UTC)
- Place: Morristown, TN
- Coordinates: 36.179443, -83.375274 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.1794&lon=-83.3753&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Initial climb: Loss of engine power (partial)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 1 minor, 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report June 17, 2010
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation
- Parties: FAA/FSDO
- SAIBs cited in the narratives: [SAIB CE-09-35](https://openairdocs.org/saib/CE-09-35) (OpenAirDocs)
- NTSB case key (mKey): 74308
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA09LA407
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/74308/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=74308
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA09LA407

## Probable cause

The partial loss of engine power for undetermined reasons.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Not determined](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000): Not determined › Not determined · Unknown/Not determined (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 120, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md?model=2071402), [All aircraft, 2,247 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Initial climb: Loss of engine power (partial)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 120, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342/sequence.md?model=2071402), [All aircraft, 1,858 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342/sequence.md)
- [Emergency descent: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440); cases with it: [Cessna 120, 10 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=2071402), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md)
- [Landing-landing roll: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096); cases with it: [Cessna 120, 20 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md?model=2071402), [All aircraft, 2,287 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md)

## Analysis

An adequate quantity of fuel was on-board at the beginning of the instructional flight. No discrepancies were reported during the preflight inspection or engine run-up. After takeoff, the student pilot performed airwork, then flew to a nearby airport where he performed a low pass over the runway. At the completion of the low pass, he applied power to climb, but the engine "popped" and experienced a loss of power. The flight instructor took the controls and maneuvered the airplane to a golf course and landed on a fairway. During the landing roll, the airplane rolled onto an area of vegetation and nosed over, coming to rest inverted. Postaccident fuel leakage was noted from both fuel tanks and the carburetor was broken off from its attach point to the engine. All engine controls remained attached to the carburetor. Only a cursory examination of the engine was performed and no discrepancies were noted that would have precluded engine operation.

## Factual narrative

On July 16, 2009, about 1315 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 120, N7227E, registered to a private individual, nosed over during a forced landing on a golf course near Moore-Murrell Airport (MOR), Morristown, Tennessee. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan was filed for the 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 91 instructional flight from New Tazewell Municipal Airport (3A2), Tazewell, Tennessee. The airplane was substantially damaged and the certified flight instructor (CFI) sustained minor injuries, while the certificated airline transport pilot (ATP) was not injured. The flight originated from 3A2 about 1150. The ATP/airplane owner stated that the purpose of the flight was for him to get a flight review because his last one was greater than 2 years ago. A total of 8 gallons of 100 low lead fuel were added equally, divided between the two fuel tanks before departure, bringing the total fuel load to 12.5 gallons. No discrepancies were noted during the preflight inspection or engine run-up. The flight departed with the fuel selector positioned to the left tank and the owner performed airwork, then proceeded to MOR, where the CFI asked him to perform a low pass over the runway. At the completion of the low pass, he applied power to climb, but the engine "popped" and experienced a loss of power. The owner told the CFI to take the controls because the CFI was more familiar with the area. The CFI reported that he took the controls and maneuvered the airplane to a golf course and landed on a fairway. During the landing roll, the airplane rolled onto an area of vegetation and nosed over, coming to rest inverted. Examination of the airplane by a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector, before recovery, revealed evidence of fuel leakage from the right wing. During recovery, fuel leakage was noted from the left wing. The airplane was recovered for further examination. Only a cursory external visual inspection of the engine was performed by an FAA. The examination revealed all engine controls remained attached at their respective attach point. Impact damage to the engine precluded an engine run due to impact damage to the carburetor. The pilot provided a copy of FAA Special Airworthiness Information Bulletin (SAIB) CE-09-35, dated June 30, 2009. The subject of the bulletin pertains to carburetor ice prevention. Page 2 of the SAIB contains a chart indicating the temperature and dew point range where carburetor ice can exist. Based on the pilot reported temperature and dew point at the time of the accident (75 and 65 degrees Fahrenheit respectively), the conditions were favorable for serious carburetor icing at glide power.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N7227E](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N7227E-2013-09-24), registration cancelled 2013-09-24, S/N 9454 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 120
- Registry model: [Cessna 120](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-120) (registry code 2071402) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental C90 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-c90-series) (registry code 17009, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 9454
- Airframe hours: 8547
- Engines: CONT MOTOR O-200 100 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Operator: Boeck Lothar S
- Registered owner: Boeck Lothar S
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, August 15, 2008
- Departed: 3A2, Tazewell, TN
- Destination: 3A2, Tazewell, TN

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Flight instructor; age 76; injuries: minor; commercial, flight instructor, airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine sea, single-engine sea, multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review June 1, 2009; seat: right; flight hours: 27,250 total, 25 in this make and model, 14,150 as pilot in command, 25 in the last 90 days, 1 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours
- Pilot; age 69; injuries: none; airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; last flight review August 1, 2004; seat: left; flight hours: 22,000 total, 52 in this make and model, 11,000 as pilot in command, 1 in the last 90 days, 1 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 110° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 84 °F, dew point 66 °F
- Altimeter: 30.01 inHg
- Observed at: 1A6, 31 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 20090716013239A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20090716013239A), Jul 16, 2009: Cessna 120, Morristown, TN, Substantial damage. (-23) Aircraft departed new tazewell municipal airport 3A2 at 1150 with pilot and instructor. Aircraft flew down runway 23 at Morristown moore-murrell airport…

## Docket (6 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on May 3, 2010, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=74308. 3.0 MB in all.

- Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 1.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40325226&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF
- Weather Reports and Records (item 2, .PDF, 77 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40325227&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Weather%20Reports%20and%20Records-Master.PDF
- FAA Inspector Statement (item 3, .PDF, 27 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40317321&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=FAA%20Inspector%20Statement-Redacted.PDF
- Record of NTSB Conversation (item 4, .PDF, 53 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40325233&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20NTSB%20Conversation-Master.PDF
- FAA Special Airworthiness Information Bulletin (SAIB) CE-09-35 Provided by the Pilot. (item 5, .PDF, 839 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40325235&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=FAA%20Special%20Airworthiness%20Information%20Bulletin%20(SAIB)%20CE-09-35%20Provided%20by%20the%20Pilot.-Master.PDF
- Photo 1: Digital Photograph Provided by FAA. View of the Airplane at the Accident Site. (item 6, .PDF, 960 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40325238&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201%3A%20Digital%20Photograph%20Provided%20by%20FAA.%20View%20of%20the%20Airplane%20at%20the%20Accident%20Site.-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.

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