# NTSB ERA21LA291: Cessna A150K, N8412M, Brooksville, FL, July 13, 2021 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report - Date: July 13, 2021, 10:56 local (14:56 UTC) - Place: Brooksville, FL - Coordinates: 28.552259, -82.372958 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=28.5523&lon=-82.3730&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Enroute: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 2 minor - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 3 - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - SAIBs cited in the narratives: [SAIB CE-09-35](https://openairdocs.org/saib/CE-09-35) (OpenAirDocs) - NTSB case key (mKey): 103491 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA21LA291 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/103491/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=103491 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA21LA291 ## Probable cause A total loss of engine power as a result of carburetor icing. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Temp/humidity/pressure: conducive to carburetor icing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03031030): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on equipment (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna A150K, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03031030/cases.md?model=2071824), [All aircraft, 435 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03031030/cases.md) - [Engine (reciprocating)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058500): Aircraft › Aircraft power plant · Related operating info (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna A150K, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058500/cases.md?model=2071824), [All aircraft, 497 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058500/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Enroute: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna A150K, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=2071824), [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md) - [Emergency descent: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Cessna A150K, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=2071824), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis About 25 minutes after takeoff, while in cruise flight at 1,600 ft mean sea level, the pilot noted an audible rpm reduction followed by a vibration and a loss of power. During the emergency descent, he “cycled the carb heat,” verified the mixture control was set to rich and that the fuel selector was in the ON position, and attempted to restart the engine. Unable to restart the engine, he performed a forced landing to a heavily wooded area, during which the airplane sustained substantial damage. A postaccident examination of the wreckage and an engine test run revealed no evidence of preimpact mechanical anomalies that would have prevented normal engine operation. Based on the temperature and dew point about the time of the accident, the conditions were favorable for carburetor icing at glide and cruise power settings. It is likely that, during the flight, carburetor ice formed, subsequently resulting in the loss of engine power. ## Factual narrative On July 13, 2021, about 1056 eastern daylight time, a Cessna A150K, N8412M, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Brooksville, Florida. The commercial pilot and passenger sustained minor injuries. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. According to the pilot, he conducted a thorough preflight inspection before departing. About 25 minutes after takeoff, in cruise flight at 1,600 ft mean sea level, he noted an audible rpm reduction, followed by a vibration and a loss of engine power. During the forced landing, he “cycled the carb heat,” and verified that the mixture control was set to rich. He verified that the fuel selector was in the ON position and attempted to restart the engine. As he was unable to restart the engine, he performed a forced landing to a heavily wooded area. According to pictures provided by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector who responded to the accident site, the engine mounts and wing spars sustained substantial damage. A postaccident examination of the engine revealed no evidence of preimpact mechanical anomalies that would have prevented normal engine operation. The propeller spinner was dented and removed prior to starting the engine to eliminate any vibration. The fuel sump was drained, and the automotive fuel looked dark in color. An external fuel tank was connected to the carburetor. The engine started and ran smoothly at various power settings with no anomalies noted. At 1053, the weather reported at Brooksville-Tampa Bay Regional Airport (BKV), about 6 miles southwest of the accident site, included a temperature of 29°C and a dew point of 24°C. The calculated relative humidity at this temperature and dewpoint was 74%. Review of the icing probability chart contained within Federal Aviation Administration Special Airworthiness Information Bulletin CE-09-35 revealed the atmospheric conditions at the time of the accident were "conducive to serious icing at glide and cruise power." ## Aircraft - Registration: [N8412M](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8412M-2023-04-15), registration cancelled 2023-04-15, S/N A1500112, built 1969 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA A150K - Registry model: [Cessna A150K](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-a150k) (registry code 2071824) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental 0-200 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-0-200-series) (registry code 17020, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: A1500112 - Year built: 1969 - Airframe hours: 3969.69 - Engines: Continental O-200 reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, July 14, 2020 - Departed: FA40, New Port Richey, FL - Equipment: Unknown ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 21; injuries: minor; commercial, flight instructor, remote; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; seat: left; flight hours: 292 total ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 110° at 5 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Temperature: 84 °F, dew point 75 °F - Altimeter: 30.25 inHg - Observed at: BKV, 6 nm away - METAR: KBKV 131453Z 11005KT 10SM FEW024 29/24 A3025 RMK AO2 SLP239 T02940239 51009 ## 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 20210713010709A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20210713010709A), Jul 13, 2021: Cessna A150K, Brooksville, FL, Substantial damage. On July 13, 2021, at 1056 EST, a Cessna A150K, N8412M, [privacy data omitted], crash landed in the chassahowitzka national wildlife refuge in Brooksville, FL… ## Other investigations on N8412M (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 MIA80DLD64](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA80DLD64), May 3, 1980: Cessna 150 (N8412M), Plant City, FL, substantial damage ## Docket (6 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on April 26, 2023, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=103491. 99.9 MB in all. - Pilot's statement (item 1, PDF, 2 pages, 4.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12688418&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=N8412M%20Accident%20-%20Ryan%20Jeffcoat%20statement_Redacted-Rel.pdf - No pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 185 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12687927&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=MOR%20No%206120-Rel.pdf - Maintenance records (item 3, PDF, 2 pages, 94.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12689352&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Maintenance%20Records_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Federal aviation administration special airworthiness information bulletin CE-09-35 (item 4, PDF, 1 page, 260 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12737843&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=1%20-%20Carburetor%20Icing%20Probablity%20Chart%20-%20FAA%20SAIB%20CE-09-35-Rel.pdf - Release of aircraft wreckage, NTSB form 6120.15 (item 5, PDF, 1 page, 503 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12688634&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=N8412M%20NTSB%20RELEASE%20SGND_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Photos (item 6, PDF, 3 pages, 674 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12688408&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%20Array-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.