# NTSB FTW96LA178: Cessna 152, N46748, Bullard, TX, April 23, 1996 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: April 23, 1996, 10:15 local (15:15 UTC) - Place: Bullard, TX - Coordinates: 32.140235, -95.310867 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.1402&lon=-95.3109&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report November 11, 1996 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 19812 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW96LA178 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/19812/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW96LA178 ## Probable cause failure of an engine exhaust valve, which resulted in a loss of engine power, a forced landing, and subsequent damage to the airplane. Factors relating to the accident were: the tailwind, and the wet grass runway. ## 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, approach - vfr pattern - downwind - engine assembly,valve,exhaust - failure (cause) - Forced landing, maneuvering - turn to landing area (emergency) - Overrun, emergency landing - airport facilities,runway/landing area condition - grass - airport facilities,runway/landing area condition - wet (contributing factor) - weather condition - tailwind (contributing factor) - Nose over, landing ## Analysis During a dual instructional flight, the engine lost power, while the airplane was at 600 feet AGL, on a downwind leg for landing on runway 30. The flight instructor elected to land downwind on runway 12, which was a 2,700 foot grass runway. The airplane touched down past the midfield point. Braking on the wet grass was minimal, and the airplane overran the end of the runway, went through two fences and nosed over, coming to rest in the inverted position. Examination of the engine revealed that an exhaust valve had failed. ## Factual narrative On April 23, 1996, at 1015 central daylight time, a Cessna 152, N46748, registered to a private owner, and operated by Texas International School of Aviation, of Tyler, Texas, as a Title 14 CFR Part 91 flight, was substantially damaged during a forced landing near Bullard, Texas. The certificated flight instructor and his student were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the local dual instructional flight. The flight originated at Pounds Field, Tyler, about 30 minutes prior to the accident. The flight instructor said that the student pilot was executing touch and go landings to runway 30 at Tarrant Field, in Bullard, Texas. At approximately 600 feet AGL on the downwind leg he heard "the engine pop and the RPM dropped to approximately 2,000 RPM." Within 10 to 15 seconds the engine power further decayed to 1,700 RPM and "altitude could no longer be maintained." The instructor elected to attempt a downwind landing on runway 12. The airplane touched down past the mid field point of the 2,700 foot grass runway. Braking on the wet grass was minimal and the airplane overran the runway, went through two fences and nosed over, coming to rest in the inverted position. Examination of the airplane revealed that both wings sustained structural damage. Examination of the engine by the operator's mechanic revealed that an exhaust valve had failed. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N46748](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N46748), registered now, S/N 15283098, built 1978 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 152 - Registry model: [Cessna 152](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-152) (registry code 2071835) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-235 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-235-series) (registry code 41505, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 15283098 - Airframe hours: 1294 - Engines: Lycoming O-235 110 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Registered owner: Texas Int. School Of Aviation - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility - Departed: TYR, TYLER, TX - Destination: 6XS5 - Airport: 6XS5, Tarrant Field, runway 12, 2,700 × 50 ft, grass/turf ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 26; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: right; flight hours: 1,130 total, 275 in this make and model, 955 as pilot in command, 177 in the last 90 days, 55 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 10° at 8 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 61 °F, dew point 48 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: TYR, 17 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 19960423046269A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19960423046269A), Apr 23, 1996: Cessna 152, Bullard, TX, No damage. (-23) The flight instructor and his student were executing touch & go landings in closed traffic at tarrant field when the engine "popped" & lost power. The… 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.