# NTSB ERA21LA297: Cessna 150, N3059X, Arden, NC, July 23, 2021 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report - Date: July 23, 2021, 18:30 local (22:30 UTC) - Place: Arden, NC · 98 New Rockwood Road, Arden, NC - Coordinates: 35.472191, -82.548497 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.4722&lon=-82.5485&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Enroute-climb to cruise: Loss of engine power (partial)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 3 - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 103540 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA21LA297 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/103540/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=103540 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA21LA297 ## Probable cause The inadequate inspection of the throttle control cable assembly, which resulted in a partial loss of engine power during cruise flight. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Engine fuel and control: fuel controlling system](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057320): Aircraft › Aircraft power plant · Not serviced/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 150F, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057320/cases.md?model=2071814), [All aircraft, 59 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057320/cases.md) - [Engine fuel and control: fuel controlling system](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057320): Aircraft › Aircraft power plant · Failure (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 150F, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057320/cases.md?model=2071814), [All aircraft, 59 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057320/cases.md) - [Maintenance: scheduled/routine maintenance](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02062010): Personnel issues › Task performance · Maintenance personnel (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 150F, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02062010/cases.md?model=2071814), [All aircraft, 320 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02062010/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Prior to flight: Aircraft maintenance event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/040); cases with it: [Cessna 150F, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/040/sequence.md?model=2071814), [All aircraft, 484 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/040/sequence.md) - [Enroute-climb to cruise: Loss of engine power (partial)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 150F, 8 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342/sequence.md?model=2071814), [All aircraft, 1,858 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342/sequence.md) - [Enroute-climb to cruise: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440); cases with it: [Cessna 150F, 14 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=2071814), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md) ## Analysis The student pilot was climbing through 5,100 feet mean sea level when the engine “went to idle.” He attempted to adjust the throttle setting; however, the tachometer continued to indicate 740 rpm. The pilot established best glide speed, declared an emergency, and performed a forced landing into a coal ash pit, during which the airplane nosed over, resulting in substantial damage. Examination of the engine revealed that the throttle control cable had separated from the throttle control lever and there was no spring installed. The securing hardware (bolt/washer/cotter pin) was not found. It is likely that the absence of the cotter pin was not noted during the annual inspection 15 hours before the accident, which allowed the bolt holding the throttle cable to the throttle control lever to loosen and depart during flight, resulting in an engine power reduction to idle. ## Factual narrative On July 23, 2021, about 1830 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 150F, N3059X, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Arden, North Carolina. The student pilot was not injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The pilot departed Asheville Regional Airport (AVL), Asheville, North Carolina, and was climbing through 5,100 feet mean sea level when the engine “went to idle.” The pilot attempted to adjust the throttle setting; however, the tachometer continued to indicate 740 rpm. The pilot established best glide speed, declared an emergency, and turned back toward AVL. When he determined that he could not reach the airport, he performed a forced landing into a coal ash pit; during the landing roll, the airplane nosed over. Examination of the accident site by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector revealed substantial damage to the airplane’s left wing, rudder, and fuselage. The engine throttle cable was separated from the carburetor throttle control lever. The securing hardware (bolt/washer/cotter pin) was not found and there was no evidence of impact damage to the lever or carburetor. Examination of the carburetor after the airplane was recovered revealed that the throttle control lever was in the full forward (or wide-open) position, which matched the position of the cockpit control. The throttle control cable was separated from the intact throttle control lever. Further examination of the throttle control lever revealed that there was no spring installed. Review of maintenance records and the tachometer revealed that the accident occurred 15 hours after the airplane’s most recent annual inspection. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N3059X](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N3059X-2022-04-09), registration cancelled 2022-04-09, S/N 15064459, built 1966 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 150 (F) - Registry model: [Cessna 150F](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-150f) (registry code 2071814) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental 0-200 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-0-200-series) (registry code 17020, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 15064459 - Year built: 1966 - Airframe hours: 2429 - Engines: Continental O-200-A reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility - Last inspection: Annual, April 17, 2021, 14.8 hours before - Departed: AVL, Asheville, NC - Destination: SVH, Statesville, NC - Flight plan: VFR - Airport: AVL, Asheville Rgnl - Equipment: Onboard weather, Electronic primary flight display, Electronic multifunction display, Electronic flight bag or handheld device, Data recorder, ADS-B, Stall warning system, Satellite tracking device ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 46; injuries: none; student; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 101 total, 36 in this make and model, 22 as pilot in command, 12 in the last 90 days, 5 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 210° at 9 knots - Visibility: 7 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 3,700 ft broken - Temperature: 82 °F, dew point 68 °F - Altimeter: 30.14 inHg - Observed at: AVL, 2 nm away - METAR: KAVL 232254Z 21009KT 7SM BKN037 OVC047 28/20 A3014 RMK AO2 SLP181 T02780200 ## 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 20210723011639A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20210723011639A), Jul 23, 2021: Cessna 150F, Arden, NC, Substantial damage. On July 23, 2021 at approximately 1817, a Cessna 150F, flown by a student pilot, departed Asheville Regional Airport using runway 17. After being airborne for… ## Docket (8 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 22, 2023, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=103540. 19.6 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 2.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12836655&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120%20Signed_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Memorandum of record 6120 signature request (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 562 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12836085&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120%20Signature%20Request%20MOR_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Pilot statement (item 3, PDF, 3 pages, 136 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12836551&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=FINAL%20Record%20of%20Conversation%20w%20Damian%20Davis%207%2024%202021%20v02_Redacted-Rel.pdf - FAA inspector statement (item 4, PDF, 1 page, 571 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12835961&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation%20ASI_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Maintenance log excerpts (item 5, PDF, 6 pages, 12.7 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12836463&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Maintenance%20Excerpts_Redacted%20Reduced-Rel.pdf - Investigative photographs (item 6, PDF, 6 pages, 2.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12836239&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%20Array-Rel.pdf - Memorandum for record - airplane and engine examination (item 7, PDF, 3 pages, 998 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12836675&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Memorandum%20For%20Record%20_Airframe%20and%20Engine%20Cursory%20Examination_ERA21LA297-Rel.pdf - Release of aircraft wreckage, NTSB form 6120.15 (item 8, PDF, 1 page, 465 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12836065&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Signed%20Wreckage%20Release_Redacted-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.