# NTSB ERA17LA071: Cessna 150, N150EC, Palm Bay, FL, December 19, 2016

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: December 19, 2016, 14:00 local (19:00 UTC)
- Place: Palm Bay, FL
- Coordinates: 27.87, -80.557777 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=27.8700&lon=-80.5578&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Enroute-cruise: Fire/smoke (non-impact)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/150)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 2 minor
- Status: Completed, report April 4, 2019
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation
- Parties: FAA/FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 94517
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA17LA071
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/94517/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=94517
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA17LA071

## Probable cause

Unknown maintenance personnel’s improper routing of electrical wires in the engine compartment, which resulted in chafing and a subsequent in-flight fire.

## Findings

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

- [Electrical power system: electrical pwr sys wiring](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022497): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Damaged/degraded (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 150, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022497/cases.md?model=2071802), [All aircraft, 44 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022497/cases.md)
- [Runway/land/takeoff/taxi surface: soft surface](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023020): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome; cases with it: [Cessna 150, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023020/cases.md?model=2071802), [All aircraft, 264 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023020/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

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

- [Enroute-cruise: Fire/smoke (non-impact)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/150) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 150, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/150/sequence.md?model=2071802), [All aircraft, 504 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/150/sequence.md)
- [Landing: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440); cases with it: [Cessna 150, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=2071802), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md)
- [Landing: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096); cases with it: [Cessna 150, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md?model=2071802), [All aircraft, 2,287 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md)

## Analysis

During recovery from a simulated engine failure during an instructional flight, the flight instructor and student pilot smelled and then saw smoke in the cockpit. The instructor took the flight controls, chose a forced landing site, and maneuvered the airplane for landing. Upon touchdown, the nose landing gear settled into low brush and soft terrain where the airplane stopped, nosed over, and came to rest inverted. Examination of the airplane at the accident site revealed that wires connected to the battery solenoid exhibited thermal damage. When the damaged wires were moved, the navigational gyros energized, the airplane lights illuminated, and the flaps deployed. Detailed examination revealed that the wire that connected the battery solenoid to the starter solenoid exhibited chafing and thermal damage to the insulation along a 3-inch-long section. The wire was placed in its approximate preaccident location, and the burned area corresponded to the round shape of the right rear muffler. A review of maintenance records revealed no entries related to wiring. It is likely that unknown maintenance personnel improperly routed the wires, which led to chafing and the subsequent in-flight fire.

## Factual narrative

On December 19, 2016, about 1400 eastern standard time, a Cessna 150M, N150EC, was substantially damaged during a forced landing following an in-flight smoke/fire event while maneuvering near Palm Bay, Florida. The flight instructor and student pilot received minor injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed for the instructional flight, which was conducted under the provisions of Title14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. The airplane departed Melbourne International Airport (MLB), Melbourne, Florida, about 1300.Both the instructor and the student provided written statements, and their descriptions of the events were consistent throughout. During recovery from a simulated engine failure, both pilots first smelled and then observed smoke in the cockpit. The instructor took the flight controls, selected a forced landing site, and maneuvered the airplane for landing. Upon touchdown, the nose landing gear settled into low brush and soft terrain, where the airplane stopped, nosed-over, and came to rest inverted. The instructor held a commercial pilot certificate with ratings for airplane single engine land, multiengine land, and instrument airplane. He also held a flight instructor certificate with ratings for airplane single engine and instrument airplane. His Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) first-class medical certificate was issued on July 25, 2013. The instructor reported 309 total hours of flight experience, of which 3 hours were in the accident airplane make and model. The student pilot was issued a student pilot certificate and an FAA third class medical certificate on May 19, 2014. She reported 75 total hours of flight experience, of which 3 hours were in the accident airplane make and model. The two-seat, single-engine, high-wing, fixed-gear airplane was manufactured in 1976, and equipped with a Continental O-200-A series, 100-horsepower reciprocating engine. According to the airplane's maintenance records, the most recent annual inspection was completed on October 31, 2016, at 5,139 total aircraft hours. At 1615, the weather reported at MLB; located 18 miles south of the accident site, included clear skies and wind from 090 degrees at 5 knots. The temperature was 27 degrees C, the dew point was 23 degrees C, and the altimeter setting was 30.27 inches of mercury. An FAA inspector examined the wreckage at the site, and all major components were accounted for at the scene. Examination of the engine compartment revealed wires connected to the battery solenoid exhibited thermal damage. When the damaged wires were moved, the navigational gyros energized, the lights illuminated, and the flaps deployed. The examination of the airplane was then suspended. Detailed examination by the NTSB revealed the wire (part number: PA5, 4 gauge) that connected the battery solenoid to the starter solenoid displayed chafing and thermal damage to the insulation along a 3-inch section of its length. The wire was placedin its approximate normally-installed location, and the burned area corresponded to the round shape of the right rear muffler. Multiple 18-gauge wires in the area also exhibited melted insulation. The back plate of the right muffler was no longer attached to the muffler and exhibited evidence of corrosion. It could not be determined if the back plate of the muffler had separated due to corrosion or impact forces.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N150EC](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N150EC-2018-07-12), registration cancelled 2018-07-12, S/N 15078832 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 150 (M)
- Registry model: [Cessna 150](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-150) (registry code 2071802) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 15078832
- Airframe hours: 5139
- Engines: Continental O-200-A 100 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Fire: In-Flight
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Operator: Florida Institute of Technology
- Registered owner: Rosser Timothy G
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, October 13, 2016, 13 hours before
- Departed: MLB, MELBOURNE, FL
- Destination: MLB, MELBOURNE, FL
- Equipment: Unknown

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Flight instructor; age 20; injuries: minor; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; last flight review July 13, 2016; seat: right; restraint: lap only; flight hours: 309 total, 3 in this make and model, 241 as pilot in command, 40 in the last 90 days, 10 in the last 30 days
- Student pilot; age 36; injuries: minor; student; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 75 total, 3 in this make and model, 10 as pilot in command, 9 in the last 90 days, 3 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 90° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 81 °F, dew point 73 °F
- Altimeter: 30.27 inHg
- Observed at: MLB, 18 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 20161219022059A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20161219022059A), Dec 19, 2016: Cessna 150, Palm Bay, FL, Substantial damage. Pilots encountered smoke in the cockpit, loss of all electrical power, conducted emergency landing in open field.

## Docket (3 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on December 11, 2018, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=94517. 1.7 MB in all.

- Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 1.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40469239&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF
- FAA Inspector's Statement (Wreckage Exam) (item 2, .PDF, 121 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40469240&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=FAA%20Inspector%27s%20Statement%20(Wreckage%20Exam)-Master.PDF
- Photos (item 3, .PDF, 4 photos, 359 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40469241&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photos-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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