# NTSB FTW04LA121: Cessna 150-G, N493RA, Livingston, TX, April 28, 2004 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: April 28, 2004, 18:00 local (23:00 UTC) - Place: Livingston, TX - Coordinates: 30.684722, -95.017219 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.6847&lon=-95.0172&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report July 29, 2004 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Flight Standards District Office (SW09) - NTSB case key (mKey): 59199 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW04LA121 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/59199/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW04LA121 ## Probable cause A loss of engine power due to the blockage of the fuel system vents, resulting in fuel starvation. A contributing factor was the lack of suitable terrain for the forced landing. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power, maneuvering - fuel system,vent - blocked(total) (cause) - Forced landing, emergency descent/landing - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, emergency landing - terrain condition - none suitable (contributing factor) - terrain condition - rough/uneven - Nose over, emergency landing ## Analysis The single-engine airplane experienced a loss of engine power, and the pilot executed a forced landing to a grassy field. According to the 175-hour private pilot, after takeoff he climbed to approximately 1,000 feet agl and flew in the local area for about 50 minutes. After making several circles around the airport, the engine started to run "rough." The pilot applied carburetor heat and maneuvered the airplane to set up for a forced landing into a field. He reported that the engine "appeared" to be starved from gas, and as he cycled the throttle, the engine would "restart." After several attempts to maintain engine RPM, the engine "quit." Subsequently, the pilot landed the airplane in a grassy field located across from the airport. During the roll-out, the front tire struck a small ditch, nosed-over, and came to rest inverted. An examination of both wing fuel caps revealed that their respective vents were "painted over," and when low pressure air was introduced to the left wing fuel vent, the vent appeared to be blocked. Higher pressure air was applied to the vent, and a "pop" was heard, as if the vent had "cleared" debris when the air was applied. According to entries in the airplane's maintenance logbooks, the last annual inspection was completed on March 15, 2003. Additional entries showed that the airplane had flown a total of approximately 1.4 hours (including the 50 minutes of the accident flight) since the annual inspection. ## Factual narrative On April 28, 2004, at 1800 central daylight time, a Cessna 150G, single-engine airplane, N493RA, registered to and operated by a private individual, sustained substantial damage during a forced landing following a loss of engine power while maneuvering in the vicinity of Livingston, Texas. The private pilot and one passenger were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and a flight plan was not filed for the 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The local flight originated from the Livingston Municipal Airport (00R), Livingston, Texas, at 1705. According to the 175-hour pilot, after take off he climbed to approximately 1,000 feet above ground level (agl), and flew in the local area about 50 minutes. After making several circles around the airport, the engine started to run "rough." The pilot applied carburetor heat and maneuvered the airplane to set up for a forced landing into a field. He reported that the engine "appeared" to be starved from gas, and as he cycled the throttle, the engine would "restart." After several attempts to maintain engine RPM, the engine "quit." Subsequently, the pilot landed the airplane in a grassy field located across from the airport. During the roll-out, the front tire struck a small ditch, nosed-over, and came to rest inverted. An examination of the wreckage by a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector, who responded to the accident site, revealed that the firewall was buckled. Both wing fuel caps appeared to have their respective vents "painted over," and when low pressure air was introduced to the left wing fuel vent, the vent appeared to be blocked. Higher pressure air was applied to the vent, and a "pop" was heard, as if the vent had "cleared" debris when the air was applied. According to entries in the airplane's maintenance logbooks, the last annual inspection was completed on March 15, 2003. Additional entries showed that the airplane had flown a total of approximately 1.4 hours (including the 50 minutes of the accident flight) since the annual inspection. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N493RA](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N493RA-2012-08-27), registration cancelled 2012-08-27, S/N 15066987, built 1967 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 150-G - Registry model: [Cessna 150G](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-150g) (registry code 2071816) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental 0-200 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-0-200-series) (registry code 17020, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 15066987 - Airframe hours: 1406 - Engines: Continental O200A 100 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Freddy C. Palmer - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, April 25, 2004 - Departed: 00R, Livingston, TX - Destination: 00R, Livingston, TX - Airport: 00R, Livingston Municipal ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 52; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review February 4, 2004; seat: left; flight hours: 175 total, 50 in this make and model, 160 as pilot in command, 5 in the last 90 days, 2 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 150° at 11 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 73 °F, dew point 55 °F - Altimeter: 30.05 inHg - Observed at: CXO, 28 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 20040428008129A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20040428008129A), Apr 28, 2004: Cessna 150G, Livingston, TX, Substantial damage. (-23) On April 28, 2004 Mr. Palmer (PIC) and one passenger [privacy data omitted] departed Livingston airport (00R) in a CE-150-G visual meteorological… ## Other investigations on N493RA (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 FTW03LA109](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW03LA109), Mar 15, 2003: Cessna 150G (N493RA), Hope, AR, substantial damage. Probable cause: The loss of engine power for undetermined reasons. A contributing factor was the lack of suitable terrain for the forced landing. 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.