# NTSB ERA10LA084: Cessna 150L, N19318, Hillsboro Beach, FL, November 29, 2009 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: November 29, 2009, 07:50 local (12:50 UTC) - Place: Hillsboro Beach, FL - Coordinates: 26.291944, -80.05194 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=26.2919&lon=-80.0519&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Enroute-climb to cruise: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report June 17, 2010 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 75110 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA10LA084 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/75110/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=75110 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA10LA084 ## Probable cause A total 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 150L, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md?model=2071826), [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. - [Enroute-climb to cruise: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 150L, 19 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=2071826), [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md) - [Emergency descent: Ditching](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/441); cases with it: [Cessna 150L, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/441/sequence.md?model=2071826), [All aircraft, 186 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/441/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that the engine began to run rough during climb on the local flight. The pilot applied carburetor heat, but no improvement in engine performance was observed. The engine stopped running, and the pilot ditched the airplane in the ocean. The pilot exited the airplane and it sank after about three to five minutes. The wreckage was estimated to be in approximately 327 feet of water, and would not be recovered, according to the FAA and the owner’s insurance company representative. The FAA reported that all airworthiness directives had been complied with and the airplane had a current annual inspection. ## Factual narrative On November 29, 2009, about 0750 eastern standard time, a Cessna 150J, N19318, was substantially damaged following a loss of engine power and ditching near Hillsboro Beach, Florida. The airplane was registered to Malin Aircraft Sales, Inc., Pompano Beach, Florida. The airline transport-rated pilot sustained minor injuries. Day, visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time, and no flight plan was filed for the personal flight conducted in accordance with 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. The flight originated at Pompano Beach Airpark (PMP), Pompano Beach, Florida at 0745. The pilot reported that he was in a climb, passing 1,500 feet mean sea level, when the engine began to run rough. There was no loud noise from the engine, "indicative of an internal failure." He applied carburetor heat; however, this did not remedy the situation. The engine eventually quit, and the pilot set up to ditch in the Atlantic Ocean, about 1.5 miles east of Hillsboro Beach. Following the ditching, the pilot was forced to wait until the cabin was about three-quarters full of water before he was able to open the cockpit door. He exited the airplane and was rescued by local fishermen. He stated that the airplane floated for about three to five minutes before sinking. As of this writing, the wreckage has not been recovered. Hillsboro County Police Department personnel reported that the wreckage was located in about 327 feet or water. An inspector from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) reported that the maintenance records indicated the airplane had a current annual inspection and all airworthiness directives had been complied with. The FAA and the owner’s insurance company representative reported that the wreckage would not be recovered from the ocean. The 0753 weather observation for PMP, located approximately 4 nautical miles southwest of the accident site, included the following: surface winds from 340 degrees at 5 knots, visibility 10 statute miles, few clouds at 3,500 feet, broken clouds at 6,000 feet, temperature 17 degrees Celsius (C), dew point 12 degrees C, altimeter setting 30.10 inches of mercury. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N19318](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N19318-2017-03-10), registration cancelled 2017-03-10, S/N 15074333, built 1973 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 150L - Registry model: [Cessna 150L](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-150l) (registry code 2071826) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental 0-200 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-0-200-series) (registry code 17020, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 15074333 - Airframe hours: 5091 - Engines: CONT MOTOR O-200 SERIES 100 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility - Last inspection: Annual, June 1, 2009, 10 hours before - Departed: PMP, Pompano Beach, FL - Destination: PMP, Pompano Beach, FL ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 57; injuries: minor; airline transport, flight instructor; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine sea, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review May 24, 2008; seat: left; flight hours: 7,000 total, 1,000 in this make and model, 6,000 as pilot in command, 20 in the last 90 days, 5 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 340° at 5 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 6,000 ft broken - Temperature: 63 °F, dew point 54 °F - Altimeter: 30.10 inHg - Observed at: PMP, 4 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 20091129051699A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20091129051699A), Nov 29, 2009: Cessna 150L, Pompano Beach, FL, Destroyed. Aircraft departed Pompano air park climbing to 1500 ft at a heading of 080. The engine started to run rough, pilot thought it might be carburetor ice. Pilot… ## Other investigations on N19318 (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 CHI76FEA30](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI76FEA30), Apr 27, 1976: Cessna 150L (N19318), Bloomington, IN, substantial damage ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on April 26, 2010, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=75110. 1.4 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 874 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40323357&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Memo of Record - Steve Malin (item 2, .PDF, 19 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40323365&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Memo%20of%20Record%20-%20Steve%20Malin-Master.PDF - Hillsboro Beach Police Report (item 3, .PDF, 485 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40323359&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Hillsboro%20Beach%20Police%20Report-Redacted.PDF - Memo of Record - Renee Bertolina (item 4, .PDF, 19 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40323363&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Memo%20of%20Record%20-%20Renee%20Bertolina-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.