# NTSB ERA22LA139: Cessna 152, N68218, Madisonville, TN, February 28, 2022 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report - Date: February 28, 2022, 17:30 local (22:30 UTC) - Place: Madisonville, TN · open field - Coordinates: 35.549623, -84.343803 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.5496&lon=-84.3438&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Enroute: Loss of engine power (partial)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 2 minor - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 3 - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: Lycoming, FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 104708 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA22LA139 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/104708/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=104708 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA22LA139 ## Probable cause A partial loss of engine power for undetermined reasons. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Power plant](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057100): Aircraft › Aircraft power plant · Unknown/Not determined (probable cause); cases with it: [All aircraft, 198 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057100/cases.md) - [Maintenance: scheduled/routine maintenance](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02062010): Personnel issues › Task performance · Owner/builder (probable cause); cases with it: [All aircraft, 320 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02062010/cases.md) - [Maintenance/inspections: time limits](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01010510): Aircraft › Aircraft handling/service · Not serviced/maintained; cases with it: [All aircraft, 17 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01010510/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 (partial)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342) (defining event); cases with it: [All aircraft, 1,858 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342/sequence.md) - [Emergency descent: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440); cases with it: [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md) ## Analysis During descent, after a short local flight, the engine lost partial power. The pilot advanced the throttle and turned on the carburetor heat; however, power was not restored to the engine. He performed a forced landing to a wet, grassy field. The main landing gear wheels locked up and the airplane contacted a tree stump during the landing roll. Although a review of the maintenance records revealed the airplane’s engine had not been overhauled in 24 years, exceeding the recommended engine overhaul time of 12 years, a postaccident examination of the engine revealed no evidence of any preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. The reason for the partial loss of engine power could not be determined. ## Factual narrative On February 28, 2022, about 1730 eastern standard time, a Cessna 152, N68218, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Madisonville, Tennessee. The pilot and passenger received minor injuries. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. According to the pilot, after a normal preflight inspection, he departed with 20 gallons of fuel for a local flight. After a 30-minute flight, about 5 miles from the airport, he initiated a descent from 3,000 ft and slightly reduced engine power. About 10 seconds later, the engine rpm suddenly dropped to 900 to 1,000 rpm. He advanced the throttle and turned on the carburetor heat, with no effect on the engine. He performed a forced landing and touched down on a wet grassy field. During the rollout the main landing gear wheels locked up, the airplane hit a tree stump and came to a stop. According to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector who responded to the site, the left wing was nearly separated at the wing root, and the firewall was bent. A detailed examination of the engine supervised by the FAA inspector confirmed crankshaft continuity. Compression and suction were observed on all four cylinders and a lighted borescope was used to view the interior of the cylinders and no anomalies were noted. The propeller was separated at the crankshaft flange. The carburetor was separated, the throttle cable remained partially attached. The magnetos remained attached to the engine, and spark was observed from all towers when rotated by hand. The oil suction screen and filter were absent of debris. According to the manufacturer’s maintenance manual, the engine should be overhauled every 12 years. Review of the maintenance logbooks revealed the engine had not been overhauled since 1998. The engine had accumulated 1,598 hours since the overhaul. Between the annual inspection in 2021 and the previous annual in 2017, the airplane accumulated 4 hours of flight time. ## Aircraft - Registration: N68218 (not matched to a registry record) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 152 - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 15282192 - Year built: 1978 - Airframe hours: 5598 - Engines: Lycoming O-235 110 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Monroe County Flyers and Aircraft Sales - Registered owner: Cabe Flight Instruction, LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, April 12, 2021, 24 hours before - Departed: MNV, Madisonville, TN - Airport: MNV, Monroe County - Equipment: Stall warning system ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 58; injuries: minor; commercial, private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review January 8, 2021; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 542 total, 3 in this make and model, 496 as pilot in command, 10 in the last 90 days, 2 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Temperature: 55 °F, dew point 14 °F - Altimeter: 30.14 inHg - Observed at: TYS, 24 nm away - METAR: KTYS 282253Z 00000KT 10SM SCT250 13/M10 A3014 RMK AO2 SLP207 T01331100 ## 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 20220228003029A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20220228003029A), Feb 28, 2022: Cessna 152, Madisionville, TN, Substantial damage. On descent, while lining up for approach, the aircraft lost engine power. Engine controls were manipulated to regain power, engine power remained lost. Pilot… ## Docket (7 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 5, 2023, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=104708. 28.9 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 2.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15199209&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120%20Pilot_Operator%20Aircraft%20Accident_Incident%20Report_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Pilot's statement (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 542 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15205539&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Pilot%20Statement_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Engine examination mfr (item 3, PDF, 2 pages, 120 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15708320&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=MFR%20Lycoming%20Engine%20Examination-Rel.pdf - Maintenance records (item 4, PDF, 7 pages, 24.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15199199&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Maintenance%20records_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Lycoming service instruction (item 5, PDF, 8 pages, 1.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15201832&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Lycoming%20Service%20Instruction-Rel.pdf - Release of aircraft wreckage, NTSB form 6120.15 (item 6, PDF, 1 page, 74 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15219243&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Wreckage%20release_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Photos (item 7, PDF, 4 pages, 495 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15199219&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photos-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.