# NTSB ERA11LA149: Cessna 150H, N7237S, Jonesborough, TN, February 17, 2011 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: February 17, 2011, 17:15 local (22:15 UTC) - Place: Jonesborough, TN - Coordinates: 36.183334, -82.416664 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.1833&lon=-82.4167&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Takeoff: Loss of engine power (partial)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report October 3, 2011 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 78384 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA11LA149 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/78384/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=78384 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA11LA149 ## Probable cause A partial loss of engine power during initial climb 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 150H, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md?model=2071818), [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. - [Takeoff: Loss of engine power (partial)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 150H, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342/sequence.md?model=2071818), [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 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) - [Emergency descent: 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 The airplane sat for approximately one month prior to the accident flight with its wing fuel tanks about one-quarter full. Prior to the accident flight, the pilot's preflight inspection included sumping the fuel tanks and he thought he had removed all of the water and rust flake contamination from the fuel tanks. During takeoff, about 40 feet above the ground, the engine began to run rough. The pilot attempted a 180-degree turn back to the airport; however, the airplane impacted a field west of the airport and came to rest inverted. A postaccident examination of the wreckage revealed that fuel sumped from the fuel tanks contained a small amount of rust particles and debris consistent with an airplane being in an accident. No contamination of the fuel was noted in the gascolator and the gascolator screen was clean. The fuel line from the gascolator to the carburetor was clear. The finger screen from the carburetor contained a few rust particles, but not enough to affect fuel flow. The carburetor contained a small amount of fuel in the bowl, with no contamination noted. No other anomalies were observed that would have precluded the engine from developing full power. Additionally, the weather conditions at the time of the accident were not conducive to carburetor ice at takeoff power settings. ## Factual narrative On February 17, 2011, about 1715 eastern standard time, a Cessna 150H, N7237S, operated by a private individual, was substantially damaged during a forced landing to a field, following a partial loss of engine power during takeoff from a private airstrip near Jonesborough, Tennessee. The certificated private pilot was not injured. The personal flight was conducted under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed for the planned local flight. The pilot reported that his airplane sat for approximately 1 month prior to the accident flight, with its wing fuel tanks about one-quarter full. Prior to the accident flight, the pilot's preflight inspection included sumping the fuel tanks, and he thought he had removed all water and rust flake contamination from the fuel tanks. The airplane subsequently departed on runway 27, which was approximately 1,400 feet long, 40 feet wide, and consisted of turf. During takeoff, about 40 feet above the ground, the engine began to run rough. The pilot cycled the throttle control several times, and the engine power seemed to oscillate. Since the engine continued to produce partial power, the pilot attempted a 180-degree turn back to the airport; however, the airplane impacted a field west of the airport and came to rest inverted. The pilot stated that although he sumped the fuel tanks during the preflight inspection, some contamination may have remained in the fuel. Examination of the wreckage by a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector revealed damage to both wings, the vertical stabilizer, and the firewall. The inspector planned to further document the fuel once the airplane was recovered from the field and fuel could be drained from it. A subsequent examination was performed the following day by a mechanic, under the direction of the FAA inspector. The mechanic sumped the fuel tanks and noted that the first two samples had a small amount of rust particles and debris, which he stated was consistent with an airplane being in an accident. He then drained the gascolator, found no contamination of the fuel and the gascolator screen was clean. The fuel line from the gascolator to the carburetor was absent of contamination. The finger screen from the carburetor contained a few rust particles, but the mechanic further stated that it was not enough to affect fuel flow. The mechanic then removed the carburetor from the engine, cycled the throttle arm, and fuel sprayed from the accelerator pump. He opened the carburetor and found a small amount fuel in the bowl, which was also absent of contamination. The float, needle and seat were intact and operated properly. The reported weather at airport located about 15 miles northeast of the accident site, about the time of the accident, included clear skies, wind from 270 degrees at 8 knots, temperature 21 degrees Celsius (C), and dew point 4 degrees C. Review of an FAA Carburetor IcingEnvelope chart revealed "Serious Icing - Glide Power" for the given temperature and dew point. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N7237S](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N7237S), registered now, S/N 15067937 (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: 15067937 - Airframe hours: 3636 - Engines: Continental Motors O-200 100 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: William Garst - Registered owner: William Garst - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, November 10, 2010, 3 hours before - Departed: NONE, Jonesborough, TN - Destination: NONE, Jonesborough, TN - Airport: NONE, Private Airstrip, runway 27, 1,400 × 40 ft, grass/turf ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 35; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review November 20, 2010; seat: left; flight hours: 271 total, 132 in this make and model, 239 as pilot in command, 2 in the last 90 days, 1 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 270° at 8 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 70 °F, dew point 39 °F - Altimeter: 30.06 inHg - Observed at: TRI, 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 20110217004359A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20110217004359A), Feb 17, 2011: Cessna 150H, Jonesborough, TN, Destroyed. Aircraft experienced engine failure during climbout. Pilot executed off-airport emergency landing. The aircraft was destroyed, the pilot had minor injuries.… ## Docket (6 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 12, 2011, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=78384. 654 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 218 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40351102&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Interview Summaries (item 2, .PDF, 100 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40351063&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Interview%20Summaries-Master.PDF - Mechanic Statement of Engine Examination (item 3, .PDF, 11 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40351064&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Mechanic%20Statement%20of%20Engine%20Examination-Redacted.PDF - Weather Report (item 4, .PDF, 12 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40351065&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Weather%20Report-Master.PDF - FAA Carburetor Icing Chart (item 5, .PDF, 253 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40351074&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=FAA%20Carburetor%20Icing%20Chart-Master.PDF - Photo: Main Wreckage (Courtesy of FAA) (item 6, .PDF, 60 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40351103&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%3A%20%20Main%20Wreckage%20(Courtesy%20of%20FAA)-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.