# NTSB FTW94LA261: Cessna 150J, N60124, Dallas, TX, August 5, 1994 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: August 4, 1994, 22:45 local (Aug 5, 1994, 03:45 UTC) - Place: Dallas, TX - Coordinates: 32.970428, -96.799423 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.9704&lon=-96.7994&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 2 minor - Status: Completed, report February 24, 1995 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 19133 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW94LA261 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/19133/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW94LA261 ## Probable cause THE LOSS OF ENGINE POWER DUE TO FAILURE OF THE STARTER GEAR AND SHAFT ASSEMBLY NEEDLE BEARING. FACTORS WERE THE DARK NIGHT CONDITIONS AND THE LACK OF SUITABLE TERRAIN FOR A FORCED LANDING. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(total) - mech failure/malf, cruise - engine accessories,engine starter - seized (cause) - Forced landing, descent - emergency - In flight collision with object, landing - flare/touchdown - object - tree(s) - light condition - dark night (contributing factor) - terrain condition - none suitable (contributing factor) ## Analysis THIRTY FIVE MINUTES INTO THE DARK NIGHT VMC FLIGHT, THE ENGINE SEIZED WITH NO WARNING. THE PILOT EXECUTED A FORCED LANDING TO A GOLF COURSE AND IMPACTED A TREE JUST BEFORE LANDING. ENGINE TEARDOWN DISCLOSED THAT THE BEARING INSIDE THE GEAR AND SPRAG HOUSING WAS MISSING A NEEDLE AND WAS LOCKED IN POSITION ON THE STARTER GEAR AND SHAFT ASSEMBLY. THE MISSING NEEDLE WAS NOT FOUND. THE GEAR AND SPRAG HOUSING WOULD NOT ROTATE IN EITHER DIRECTION ON THE SHAFT ASSEMBLY. THIS RESULTED IN THE ENGINE BACK DRIVING THE STARTER. ## Factual narrative On August 4, 1994, at 2245 central daylight time, a Cessna 150J, N60124, was substantially damaged during a forced landing on a golf course, in the vicinity of Dallas, Texas. The airplane, privately owned and flown by a commercial pilot, was on a local personal flight. There was no flight plan filed and dark night visual meteorological conditions prevailed. The pilot received minor injuries. The aircraft departed from the Addison Airport in Addison, Texas, a suburb of Dallas, at 2210. The pilot stated that she intended to return to the Addison Airport to land. According to the pilot's endorsed statement, the aircraft was between 1500 to 1700 feet above mean sea level when the engine "seized" and the "propeller would not windmill." An air restart was attempted, but was not successful. The pilot then executed a forced landing on a golf course. Just before touchdown, the right wing struck a tree. Examination and teardown of the engine on August 24, 1994, at Air Salvage of Dallas (ASOD), revealed that the engine crankshaft rotated with difficulty until the starter was removed. Further examination revealed that the bearing inside the gear and sprag housing was missing a needle and was locked in position on the gear and shaft assembly. The missing needle was not found. The gear and sprag housing would not rotate in either direction on the shaft assembly. The starter rotated freely once the gear and shaft assembly was removed. A review of the engine log books revealed that a starter clutch (p/n 5853) was installed on January 1, 1993. Additional work on the starter for damaged threads was documented in the log books on December 22, 1993. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N60124](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N60124-1995-04-13), registration cancelled 1995-04-13, S/N 15070087 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 150J - Registry model: [Cessna 150J](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-150j) (registry code 2071820) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 15070087 - Airframe hours: 7464 - Engines: CONTINENTAL O-200-A 100 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Braun, Opta L. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, April 14, 1994, 56 hours before - Departed: ADS, ADDISON, TX ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 25; commercial, flight instructor, private; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: right; flight hours: 1,257 total, 1,050 in this make and model, 1,060 as pilot in command, 60 in the last 90 days, 2 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/dark - Lowest ceiling: none ## 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 19940804020079A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19940804020079A), Aug 4, 1994: Cessna 150J, Dallas, TX, Substantial damage. Engine siezed on night departure. Hit tree landing on golf course. Starter gear and shaft needle bearing. Locked up ## Other investigations on N60124 (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 LAX72DUK12](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX72DUK12), Jun 22, 1972: Cessna 150 (N60124), Mesa, AZ, substantial damage 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.