# NTSB ERA11LA203: Cessna 150H, N6555S, Maury City, TN, March 20, 2011 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: March 20, 2011, 14:00 local (19:00 UTC) - Place: Maury City, TN - Coordinates: 35.901943, -89.39167 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.9019&lon=-89.3917&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing: Landing area overshoot](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/380) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report February 6, 2012 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 78636 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA11LA203 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/78636/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=78636 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA11LA203 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to attain the proper glidepath during on off-airport landing. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Performance/control parameters: descent/approach/glide path](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062040): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 150H, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062040/cases.md?model=2071818), [All aircraft, 809 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062040/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [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 area overshoot](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/380) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 150H, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/380/sequence.md?model=2071818), [All aircraft, 400 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/380/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) - [Landing-landing roll: Landing gear collapse](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094); cases with it: [Cessna 150H, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md?model=2071818), [All aircraft, 1,787 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md) ## Analysis During a local flight at 500 feet above ground level and about 10 miles from the departure airport, the pilot reported hearing a "pop" sound from the rear of the airplane. Concerned about whether further flight was safe, the pilot elected to perform an off-airport precautionary landing. After reducing engine power, the pilot attempted to "slip" the airplane and noted that the left rudder pedal would not move and that he could not slip the airplane to the left. The airplane subsequently approached the field higher and faster than the pilot intended and overran the intended landing area. Before coming to rest, the nose landing gear collapsed forward, resulting in substantial damage to the firewall. Postaccident examination of the airplane revealed that the nose landing gear steering linkage was pulled taut, which restricted movement of the left rudder pedal. The taut nose landing gear steering linkage was likely the result of the accident sequence. After disconnecting the steering linkage, the rudder operated normally in both directions with no other flight control anomalies noted. ## Factual narrative On March 20, 2011, at 1400 central daylight time, a Cessna 150H, N6555S, was substantially damaged during an off-airport landing near Maury City, Tennessee. The certificated commercial pilot and passenger were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed for the local flight, which originated at Arnold Field (M31), Halls, Tennessee. The personal flight was conducted under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. According to the pilot/owner, he and his passenger departed M31 about 1300 for a flight in the local area. While flying at an altitude of about 500 feet agl, the pilot heard a "pop" from the rear of the airplane. Not knowing the exact origin of the sound, or if continued flight was safe, the pilot chose an area ahead to perform a precautionary landing. The pilot reduced engine power and attempted to "slip" the airplane using opposite aileron and rudder control inputs in order to descend. The pilot noted that the left rudder pedal would not move, and that he could not slip the airplane to the left. The airplane approached the field higher and faster than the pilot intended, then departed the opposite end of the field and crossed a highway before coming to rest in the front yard of a residence. During the landing roll, the nose landing gear collapsed, resulting in substantial damage to the engine firewall. A Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector examined the airplane at the scene, which was located about 10 nautical miles southeast of M31. According to the inspector, the nose landing gear had collapsed forward, the right side nose landing gear steering linkage was pulled taut, and movement of the left rudder pedal was restricted. After disconnecting the right side steering linkage, the rudder operated normally in both directions, and no other flight control anomalies were noted. According to maintenance logs, the airplane's most recent annual inspection was completed on April 25, 2010. Between the previous annual inspection, which was completed on April 20, 2009 and the 2010 annual inspection, the airplane had accumulated about 5 flight hours. The pilot held a commercial pilot certificate with ratings for airplane single and multiengine land, and instrument airplane. He also held a flight instructor certificate with ratings for airplane single-engine and instrument airplane, which had expired in 2002. The pilot reported 400 total hours of flight experience, 300 of which were in the accident airplane make and model. Review of the pilot's logbook indicated that he had completed a flight review in the accident airplane on September 5, 2009. No subsequent flight experience was documented after that date with the exception of the accident flight. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N6555S](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N6555S-2013-04-30), registration cancelled 2013-04-30, S/N 15067355, 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: 15067355 - Airframe hours: 4763 - Engines: Continental O-200 100 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, April 20, 2010 - Departed: M31, Halls, TN - Destination: M31, Halls, TN ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 30; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; last flight review September 5, 2009; seat: left; flight hours: 400 total, 300 in this make and model, 251 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: 240° at 9 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 81 °F, dew point 57 °F - Altimeter: 30.17 inHg - Observed at: DYR, 6 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 20110320004529A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20110320004529A), Mar 20, 2011: Cessna 150H, Maury City, TN, Substantial damage. The pilot stated was flying at 500 feet AGL, heard a loud pop sound, and decided to land the airplane in a feild. He stated that as he tried to side slip with… ## Other investigations on N6555S (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 ATL07CA071](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL07CA071), Apr 8, 2007: Cessna C-150H (N6555S), Dyersburg, TN, substantial damage. Probable cause: The student's pilot's misjudged distance/altitude that led to an undershoot and a failure to attain the proper touchdown point. ## Docket (7 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on December 14, 2011, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=78636. 2.5 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 467 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40359876&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Memorandum for Record - Correspondence with FAA Inspector (item 2, .PDF, 89 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40359877&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Memorandum%20for%20Record%20-%20Correspondence%20with%20FAA%20Inspector-Master.PDF - Photo 1 - View of Airplane from Right Aft (Photo Courtesy of FAA) (item 3, .PDF, 662 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40359882&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201%20-%20View%20of%20Airplane%20from%20Right%20Aft%20(Photo%20Courtesy%20of%20FAA)-Master.PDF - Photo 2 - Nose Landing Gear (Photo Courtesy of FAA) (item 4, .PDF, 321 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40359883&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%202%20-%20Nose%20Landing%20Gear%20(Photo%20Courtesy%20of%20FAA)-Master.PDF - Photo 3 - Damage to Firewall (Photo Courtesy of FAA) (item 5, .PDF, 388 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40359884&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%203%20-%20Damage%20to%20Firewall%20(Photo%20Courtesy%20of%20FAA)-Master.PDF - Photo 3 - Damage to Aft Portion of Left Wing (Photo Courtesy of FAA) (item 6, .PDF, 225 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40359885&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%203%20-%20Damage%20to%20Aft%20Portion%20of%20Left%20Wing%20(Photo%20Courtesy%20of%20FAA)-Master.PDF - Airframe Maintenance Log (excerpt) (item 7, .PDF, 394 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40359886&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Airframe%20Maintenance%20Log%20(excerpt)-Redacted.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.