# NTSB ERA10LA184: Cessna 150L, N6589G, Lake Alfred, FL, March 22, 2010 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: March 22, 2010, 11:00 local (15:00 UTC) - Place: Lake Alfred, FL - Coordinates: 28.063055, -81.753051 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=28.0631&lon=-81.7531&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Approach-VFR pattern final: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report April 12, 2011 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 75558 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA10LA184 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/75558/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=75558 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA10LA184 ## Probable cause A loss of engine power during the landing approach 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. - [Approach-VFR pattern final: 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: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440); cases with it: [Cessna 150L, 18 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=2071826), [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 150L, 11 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md?model=2071826), [All aircraft, 2,287 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md) ## Analysis While turning from the base leg to the final leg of the traffic pattern, the airplane's engine lost partial power. The student pilot increased the throttle setting and the engine maintained that power setting for about 20 seconds before losing power completely. The certificated flight instructor assumed authority over the airplane's controls and performed a forced landing to a field near the airport. During the landing roll, the nosewheel encountered rough terrain and the airplane nosed over, coming to rest inverted. A Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector drained approximately four gallons of fuel from the left wing tank and gascolator at the accident site. A detailed examination of the engine by two FAA inspectors revealed no evidence of any preexisting anomalies or malfunctions. While a review of the carburetor icing probability chart showed that the aircraft was operating in conditions conducive to serious carburetor icing at glide power, the pilots reported using carburetor heat for the approach to land. ## Factual narrative On March 22, 2010, at about 1100 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 150L, N6589G, was substantially damaged during a forced landing following a loss of engine power while attempting to land at Winter Haven’s Gilbert Airport (GIF), Winter Haven, Florida. The certificated flight instructor (CFI) and student pilot were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed for the local instructional flight conducted under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. In written statements, and during separate telephone interviews, the pilots reported that they were turning from the base leg of the traffic pattern to the final leg, to land on runway 23. They completed the before landing checklist, before the student pilot reduced the throttle to 2,000 rpm. Shortly thereafter, the engine power dropped to 1,500 rpm without any input from the student pilot. The student pilot increased to the throttle until the engine reached 1,800 rpm. The engine maintained that power setting for about 20 seconds, before losing power completely. When the engine lost power, the airplane was about 500 feet above ground level, and during the descent neither pilot attempted to restart the engine. The CFI took control of the airplane and performed a forced landing to a field near the airport. During the landing roll, the nose wheel encountered rough terrain, and the airplane nosed over and came to rest inverted. The airplane was examined at the accident scene by a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector. According to the inspector, the airplane's firewall and empennage were substantially damaged. The airplane came to rest in an inverted, left wing low attitude. About four gallons of fuel were drained from the left wing fuel tank and gascolator. The right wing fuel tank was absent of fuel. On April 1, 2010, a detailed examination of the engine was performed by two FAA inspectors. The magnetos were tested and found to operate normally. The carburetor was disassembled and inspected, and no evidence of any leakage or contamination was noted. A compression check was performed and all cylinders displayed acceptable results. All spark plugs were removed and had indication of normal function, except for the lower spark plug on cylinder four, which was oil soaked. No evidence of any mechanical malfunction was noted by either inspector during the examination. According to FAA records, the CFI held a commercial pilot certificate with ratings for airplane single engine land, multi-engine land, and instrument airplane, and a flight instructor certificate with ratings for airplane single engine, airplane multi-engine, and instrument airplane. His most recent second class medical certificate was issued on November 20, 2009. The pilot reported approximately 2,800 hours of flight experience, of which 1,000 were in the accident airplane make and model. According to FAA records, the student pilot was issued a third class medical certificate onJuly 25, 2008. FAA records indicated that the airplane was manufactured in 1970, and was registered to an individual in September 2009. It was equipped with a 100-horsepower, Teledyne-Continental Motors O-200 engine. It was a two-place, all-metal, high-wing, single-engine, cantilever monoplane with fixed tricycle landing gear. Review of the engine logbooks revealed that the last engine overhaul was performed on June 1, 1995, at an engine total time of 1,687.7 hours. The last engine inspection was performed on May 16, 2009, at an engine total time of 2,329.9 hours. At the time of the accident, the engine tachometer indicated approximately 2,472 hours total time. At 1050, the weather reported at GIF included winds from 250 degrees at 6 knots; visibility 10 statute miles; scattered clouds at 15,000 feet; temperature 16 degrees Celsius (C); dew point 11 degrees C; and the altimeter setting was 30.00 inches of mercury. Review of an FAA Carburetor Icing Chart revealed "Serious icing - glide power" for a temperature of 16 degrees Celsius and a dew point of 11 degrees Celsius. The pilots reported using carburetor heat as they reduced the engine power, once they had entered the airport traffic pattern. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N6589G](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N6589G-2013-08-22), registration cancelled 2013-08-22, S/N 15072089, built 1970 (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: 15072089 - Engines: CONT MOTOR O-200 SERIES 100 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, May 16, 2009, 87 hours before - Departed: GIF, Lake Alfred, FL - Destination: GIF, Lake Alfred, FL - Airport: GIF, Winter Haven's Gilbert Airport ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Flight instructor; age 52; injuries: none; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review February 16, 2010; seat: right; flight hours: 2,800 total, 1,000 in this make and model, 1,500 as pilot in command, 150 in the last 90 days, 60 in the last 30 days, 6 in the last 24 hours - Student pilot; age 26; injuries: none; student; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; seat: left; flight hours: 45 total, 20 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 260° at 7 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 63 °F, dew point 50 °F - Altimeter: 30.03 inHg - Observed at: GIF ## 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 20100322030549A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20100322030549A), Mar 22, 2010: Cessna 150L, Lake Alfred, FL, Substantial damage. CFI and student were on board N6589G in the traffic pattern at gilbert field (gif) in winter haven, FL preparing for a landing on runway 23. While on downwind… ## Docket (9 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on November 17, 2010, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=75558. 4.4 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 489 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40329330&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - FAA inspector statement (item 2, .PDF, 43 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40329334&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=FAA%20inspector%20statement-Redacted.PDF - Interview Summary (item 3, .PDF, 24 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40332177&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Interview%20Summary-Master.PDF - Engine exam statement #1 (item 4, .PDF, 47 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40329335&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Engine%20exam%20statement%20%231-Redacted.PDF - Engine exam statement #2 (item 5, .PDF, 37 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40329336&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Engine%20exam%20statement%20%232-Redacted.PDF - Weather Report (item 6, .PDF, 32 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40332176&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Weather%20Report-Master.PDF - Engine Logbook Entries (item 7, .PDF, 2.8 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40330088&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Engine%20Logbook%20Entries-Redacted.PDF - Carburetor Icing Chart (item 8, .PDF, 60 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40331954&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Carburetor%20Icing%20Chart-Master.PDF - Photo 1: Digital picture provided by FAA showing aircraft damage/accident site (item 9, .PDF, 860 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40329337&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201%3A%20Digital%20picture%20provided%20by%20FAA%20showing%20aircraft%20damage%2Faccident%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. --- 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.