# NTSB FTW99LA185: Cessna 150M, N7660U, Pocahontas, AR, July 7, 1999 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: July 7, 1999, 14:00 local (19:00 UTC) - Place: Pocahontas, AR - Coordinates: 36.260704, -90.95903 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.2607&lon=-90.9590&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report September 12, 2000 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 46724 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW99LA185 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/46724/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW99LA185 ## Probable cause The failure of the carburetor heat control cable which resulted in a partial loss of engine power during initial takeoff climb. A 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(partial) - mech failure/malf, takeoff - initial climb - carburetor heat - selected, pilot in command - carburetor heat control,cable/push-pull rod - fractured (cause) - proper climb rate - not possible, pilot in command - Forced landing, emergency landing after takeoff - Nose over, emergency landing - terrain condition - soft - terrain condition - none suitable (contributing factor) ## Analysis The flight instructor noted a partial loss of engine power during initial takeoff climb from runway 36. Suspecting carburetor ice, he pulled the carburetor heat lever to the full hot (out) position, and the knob, with a portion of the control cable still attached, came all the way out. The power available with full carburetor heat on was not sufficient to maintain a climb rate. The flight instructor maneuvered the airplane to avoid trees and obstacles until he was able to execute a forced landing to an open field. During the landing roll in the soft dirt, the airplane nosed over and came to rest in the inverted position. Examination of the carburetor heat control cable confirmed that the control cable was fractured, and the carburetor heat lever was in the full 'on' position. Based on the physical appearance of the control cable, the flight instructor suspected that the cable was 'original equipment.' A review of the maintenance records by the FAA inspector revealed that the airplane had accumulated a total of 6,837 flight hours since new. ## Factual narrative On July 7, 1999, at 1400 central daylight time, a Cessna 150M airplane, N7660U, was substantially damaged during a forced landing following a partial loss of engine power during takeoff from the Nick Wilson Field Airport, near Pocahontas, Arkansas. The flight instructor and the student pilot receiving instruction were not injured. The airplane was registered to and operated by the flight instructor, who was doing business as Swink Aviation of Pocahontas, Arkansas. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the Title 14 CFR Part 91 local flight for which a flight plan was not filed. The instructional flight originated from the same location approximately 20 minutes prior to the accident. The 3,765-hour flight instructor reported that the student pilot receiving instruction had accumulated a total of 5 flight hours. The flight instructor elected to stay in closed traffic at the Nick Wilson Field Airport (M70), to practice takeoffs and landings. During the fifth takeoff of the afternoon, a partial loss of engine power occurred during initial takeoff climb from runway 36. The flight instructor stated that, suspecting carburetor ice, he pulled the carburetor heat lever to the full hot (out) position, and the knob, with a portion of the control cable still attached, came all the way out. The flight instructor stated that he assumed the controls. He added that the power available was not sufficient to maintain a climb rate. The flight instructor maneuvered the airplane to avoid trees and obstacles until he was able to execute a forced landing to an open field. During the landing roll in the soft dirt, the airplane nosed over and came to rest in the inverted position approximately 1/4 mile from the departure end of runway 36. Examination of the airplane by the flight instructor revealed that the fuselage, aft of the baggage compartment, sustained structural damage. Examination of the carburetor heat control cable confirmed that the control cable was fractured, and the carburetor heat lever was found in the full "on" position. Based on the physical appearance of the control cable, the flight instructor suspected that the cable was "original equipment." A review of the maintenance records by the FAA inspector revealed that the airplane had accumulated a total of 6,837 flight hours since new. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N7660U](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N7660U-2013-04-24), registration cancelled 2013-04-24, S/N 15077786, built 1976 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 150M - Registry model: [Cessna 150M](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-150m) (registry code 2071830) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental 0-200 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-0-200-series) (registry code 17020, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 150-77786 - Airframe hours: 6837 - Engines: Continental O-200-A 100 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Registered owner: William G. Swink. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, February 19, 1999, 75 hours before - Departed: M70 - Airport: M70, Nick Wilson Field ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 45; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: right; flight hours: 3,765 total, 1,000 in this make and model, 3,590 as pilot in command, 22 in the last 90 days, 12 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 40° at 7 knots, gusting 14 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 95 °F, dew point 77 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: ARG, 8 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 19990707008479A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19990707008479A), Jul 7, 1999: Cessna 150M, Pocahontas, AR, Destroyed. Acft lost power on take-off, crash-landed in a field, and flipped over, other circumstances are unknown. (-23)on July 7, 1999, at 1400 CDT, Cessna, 150D,… 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.