# NTSB GAA18CA519: Cessna 150, N45586, Everett, WA, July 22, 2018 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: July 21, 2018, 18:55 local (Jul 22, 2018, 01:55 UTC) - Place: Everett, WA - Coordinates: 47.906944, -122.281669 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=47.9069&lon=-122.2817&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Approach-VFR pattern final: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report March 20, 2020 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 98193 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA18CA519 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/98193/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=98193 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA18CA519 ## Probable cause A total loss of engine power due to carburetor icing during final approach, which resulted in a hard landing short of the runway and the nose landing gear collapsing. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Temp/humidity/pressure: conducive to carburetor icing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03031030): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 150M, 9 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03031030/cases.md?model=2071830), [All aircraft, 435 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03031030/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Approach-VFR pattern final: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 150M, 20 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=2071830), [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md) - [Landing: Landing gear collapse](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094); cases with it: [Cessna 150M, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md?model=2071830), [All aircraft, 1,787 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that, during final approach, the engine sputtered and then lost all power. The airplane landed short of the runway on the threshold, and the nose landing gear collapsed. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the engine truss and mount. Postaccident examination by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector revealed no evidence of preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. A photograph provided by the inspector showed no damage to the propeller, which is consistent with the engine not producing power at the time of impact. The inspector reported that fuel was present in the tanks, that the gascolator screen was found clear of debris, and that he suspected carburetor ice was responsible for the loss of engine power. The airport's automated weather observation station reported that, about the time of the accident, the wind was from 310° at 7 knots, the temperature was 72°F, and the dew point was 48°F. The atmospheric conditions were favorable for serious carburetor icing at descent power setting. ## Factual narrative The pilot reported that, during final approach, the engine sputtered then had a total loss of power. The airplane landed short of the runway on the threshold, and the nose landing gear collapsed. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the engine truss and mount. A postaccident examination by a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) airworthiness inspection did not show any evidence of preimpact mechanical malfunction or abnormalities. A photograph provided by the inspector, shows no damage to the propeller, which is consistent with the engine not producing power at the time of impact. He added that fuel was present in the tanks and that the gascolator screen was found clear of debris, and he suspected carburetor ice was responsible for the loss of engine power. The automated weather observation station located on the airport reported that, about the time of the accident, the wind was 310° at 7 knots, 7 statute miles, temperature 72°F, dew point 48°F. The airplane landed on runway 34R. According to the Carburetor Icing Probability Chart (refer to docket) and based on the temperature and dew point about the time of the accident, the conditions were favorable for serious carburetor icing at decent power setting. After multiple attempts, the pilot did not submit the National Transportation Safety Board Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident/Incident Report Form 6120.1. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N45586](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N45586), registered now, S/N 15076982, built 1975 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 150 (M) - 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: 15076982 - Year built: 1975 - Engines: Continental O-200 SERIES 100 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility - Departed: PAE, Everett, WA - Destination: PAE, Everett, WA - Flight plan: VFR - Airport: PAE, Snohomish County (Paine Fld), runway 34R, 3,004 × 75 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Unknown ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 26; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; last flight review December 27, 2017; seat: left; flight hours: 255 total, 151 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 310° at 7 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 72 °F, dew point 48 °F - Altimeter: 30.18 inHg - Observed at: KPAE ## 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 20180721017499A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20180721017499A), Jul 21, 2018: Cessna 150M, Everett, WA, Substantial damage. Pilot was on final approach to land when engine quit. Pilot statement Indicates he used carb heat. Temp was 22 and dewpoint was 9, indicating A serious icing… ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on December 5, 2019, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=98193. 1.3 MB in all. - Record of Conversation - Pilot (item 1, .PDF, 65 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40478617&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation%20-%20Pilot-Master.PDF - Record of Conversation - FAA (item 2, .PDF, 65 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40478618&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation%20-%20FAA-Master.PDF - Accident Photos (item 3, .PDF, 2 photos, 1.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40478619&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Accident%20Photos-Master.PDF - Carburetor Icing Probability Chart (item 4, .PDF, 123 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40478620&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Carburetor%20Icing%20Probability%20Chart-Master.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.