# NTSB ERA21LA169: Cessna 150L, N6544G, Hardwick Township, NJ, March 30, 2021 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: March 30, 2021, 14:32 local (18:32 UTC) - Place: Hardwick Township, NJ - Coordinates: 40.990412, -74.946555 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.9904&lon=-74.9466&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Enroute: Fuel contamination](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/193) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 102849 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA21LA169 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/102849/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=102849 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA21LA169 ## Probable cause The pilot’s inadequate prefight inspection, during which he failed to detect water contamination in the fuel system, which resulted in a total loss of engine power. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Fluids: fuel](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010): Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware · Fluid condition (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 150L, 16 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md?model=2071826), [All aircraft, 1,695 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md) - [Inspection: preflight inspection](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061510): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 150L, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061510/cases.md?model=2071826), [All aircraft, 551 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061510/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing: Collision during takeoff/land](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490); cases with it: [Cessna 150L, 8 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490/sequence.md?model=2071826), [All aircraft, 1,309 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490/sequence.md) - [Prior to flight: Aircraft inspection event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/050); cases with it: [Cessna 150L, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/050/sequence.md?model=2071826), [All aircraft, 229 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/050/sequence.md) - [Enroute: Fuel contamination](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/193) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 150L, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/193/sequence.md?model=2071826), [All aircraft, 225 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/193/sequence.md) - [Landing: 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) ## Analysis According to the pilot, he had recently purchased the airplane and noted that the fuel tanks were contaminated with water when it was purchased. He purchased and a mechanic installed new fuel tank sumps, fuel cap gaskets, and several other parts. Three days prior to the accident, he inspected the airplane, that was tied down outside, and sumped the fuel tanks, which initially revealed about 1 tablespoon of water. He continued to sump the fuel tanks until only fuel came out, and then performed an engine run-up without any anomalies. On the day of the accident, he performed a preflight inspection of the airplane and observed about 1 tablespoon of water in the strainer from the left tank. He continued sumping the left tank until only fuel was visible in the strainer. He started the engine, taxied, and performed an engine run-up for several minutes with no anomalies noted. He performed a normal take-off and while turning the airplane on course to the destination airport the engine experienced a total loss of power. The pilot elected to perform a forced landing to a field, and during the landing, the airplane struck a tree resulting in substantial damage to the fuselage, wings, and empennage. Postaccident examination of the wreckage revealed that the gascolator and carburetor contained water. The carburetor was drained, reinstalled, and an engine run was performed without any anomalies. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N6544G](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N6544G-2022-08-15), registration cancelled 2022-08-15, S/N 15072044, built 1970 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 150L (NO SERIES) - 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: 15072044 - Year built: 1970 - Airframe hours: 8303.12 - Engines: Continental Motors O-200A 100 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, March 1, 2021, 1 hours before - Departed: 1N7, Blairstown, NJ - Destination: FWN, Sussex, NJ - Equipment: Handheld GPS, Electronic flight bag or handheld device ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 59; injuries: none; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, multi-engine land, multi-engine sea; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review April 23, 2020; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 6,518 total, 11 in this make and model, 35 in the last 90 days, 27 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 170° at 7 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 63 °F, dew point 32 °F - Altimeter: 30.30 inHg - Observed at: FWN, 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 20210330021939A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20210330021939A), Mar 30, 2021: Cessna 150L, Hardwick Twp., NJ, Substantial damage. Large quantity of water was in fuel tanks. Water was not detected in gascolator or when sumps were drained prior to flight. Engine was started and run at… ## Other investigations on N6544G (2) 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 NYC92LA069](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC92LA069), Feb 15, 1992: Cessna 150 (N6544G), Sanford, ME, substantial damage. Probable cause: THE FAILURE OF THE PILOT OF N64147 TO MAINTAIN ADEQUATE SPACING AND VISUAL LOOKOUT FROM N6544G WHILE TAXIING, RESULTING IN A GROUND COLLISION. - [NTSB NYC92LA015](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC92LA015), Oct 18, 1991: Cessna 150L (N6544G), Sanford, ME, substantial damage. Probable cause: THE FAILURE OF THE NOSE WHEEL THROUGH BOLT AS A RESULT OF FATIGUE CRACKING. ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 3, 2021, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=102849. 13.4 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 12 pages, 11.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12294357&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=LA169%206120_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Pilot interview summary (item 2, PDF, 2 pages, 236 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12294367&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Memorandum%20Of%20Record%20Color%20Pilot%20LA169-Rel.pdf - Memorandum of record - FAA inspector (item 3, PDF, 1 page, 226 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12294733&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Memorandum%20Of%20Record%20Color%20FAA%20Insp%20LA169-Rel.pdf - Investigative photographs (item 4, PDF, 3 pages, 3 photos, 1.9 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12296873&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%20Array%20LA169-Rel.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.