# NTSB LAX01LA287: Cessna 150M, N63405, Murrietta, CA, August 22, 2001 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: August 22, 2001, 12:05 local (19:05 UTC) - Place: Murrietta, CA - Coordinates: 33.569068, -117.140243 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.5691&lon=-117.1402&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 May 28, 2002 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Continental Motors, FAA Flight Standards District Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 53089 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX01LA287 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/53089/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=53089 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX01LA287 ## Probable cause The failure of the muffler assembly causing a fuel line to overheat, resulting in vapor lock, and a subsequent engine failure followed by an emergency landing in rough terrain. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power, takeoff - initial climb - exhaust system - burst (cause) - fuel system,line - vapor lock (cause) - In flight collision with terrain/water, emergency landing - terrain condition - rough/uneven (contributing factor) - emergency procedure - attempted, pilot in command ## Analysis According to the operator who inspected the airplane and interviewed the instructor, the airplane was topped off with 13.4 gallons of aviation gasoline and placed in the maintenance shop just prior to the flight. The airplane received new tires and was released from the shop. No other maintenance was performed. The airplane departed at 1200 with full fuel tanks, which was 22.5 gallons of useable fuel. The instructor had stated that shortly after takeoff, about 1,000 feet, there was a "popping" sound from the engine followed by a loss of engine power. He repositioned the mixture and throttle controls, but with no effect. He stated that he pitched the airplane to attain best glide speed and initiated a forced landing procedure. The airplane landed in rough terrain and was nosed over. The entire back portion of the muffler was open. There was evidence of sooting and discoloration of the firewall directly behind the left muffler. The fuel input line leading from the gascolator to the carburetor was positioned between the aft end of the left muffler and the firewall. It was approximately 3 inches away from the open end of the muffler and was heated substantially when the back end of the muffler blew off. The heat most likely caused the fuel in the line to vaporize, resulting in vapor lock. The lack of altitude and time did not allow the engine to re-fire after the fuel in the line cooled off. ## Factual narrative On August 22, 2001, at 1205 hours Pacific daylight time, a Cessna 150M, N63405, nosed over during a forced landing following a loss of engine power after takeoff at French Valley Airport, Murrietta, California. The flight instructor and student pilot were not injured, and the airplane was substantially damaged. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the instructional flight operated by American Valet Air under 14 CFR Part 91. The airplane departed French Valley at 1200 for the local flight, and no flight plan was filed. According to the operator, who inspected the airplane and interviewed the instructor, the airplane was topped off with 13.4 gallons of aviation gasoline and placed in the maintenance shop just prior to the flight. The airplane received new tires and was released from the shop. No other maintenance was performed. The airplane departed at 1200 with full fuel tanks, which was 22.5 gallons of useable fuel. The instructor had stated that shortly after takeoff, about 1,000 feet, there was a "popping" sound from the engine followed by a loss of engine power. He repositioned the mixture and throttle controls, but with no effect. He stated that he pitched the airplane to attain best glide speed and initiated a forced landing procedure. The airplane landed in rough terrain and nosed over. The engine was examined at a recovery yard. The mixture, throttle, and carburetor heat control cables were connected through the firewall to their respective positions on the engine, and worked appropriately when activated. The crankshaft was rotated. Mechanical continuity was established for the valve train and the accessory drive section. The accessory section gears were clean and undamaged. The right and left magnetos provided spark when activated. Thumb compressions were established for all cylinders. The carburetor was removed and inspected. The throttle valve was in place, as was the one piece venturi. The carburetor float was of metal construction. Fuel was noted when the accelerator pump was activated. An examination of the left muffler revealed that the aft end was missing. The entire back portion of the muffler was open. There was evidence of sooting and discoloration of the firewall directly behind the left muffler. The fuel input line leading from the gascolator to the carburetor was positioned between the aft end of the left muffler and the firewall. It was approximately 3 inches away from the open end of the muffler. The fuel line was wrapped in heat shield material, which also exhibited sooting and discoloration. There was a small amount of fuel in the line when it was removed from the carburetor. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N63405](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N63405-2002-02-05), registration cancelled 2002-02-05, S/N 15077289, built 1975 (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: 77289 - Airframe hours: 8450 - Engines: Continental O-200-A 100 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Joe Diorio, doing business as American Valet Air Inc. - Registered owner: D&L Aircraft Aquisitions Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility - Last inspection: 100 hour, August 20, 2001, 4 hours before - Departed: F70, Murrietta, CA - Destination: AVX, Catalina, CA - Airport: F70, French Valley, runway 36, 4,600 × 75 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 46; injuries: none; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; last flight review June 12, 2001; seat: right; flight hours: 4,400 total, 700 in this make and model, 4,100 as pilot in command, 380 in the last 90 days, 130 in the last 30 days, 6 in the last 24 hours - Student pilot; injuries: none; seat: left; flight hours: 22 total, 22 in this make and model, 22 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 350° at 5 knots - Visibility: 20 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 25,000 ft broken - Temperature: 81 °F, dew point 48 °F - Altimeter: 30.01 inHg - Observed at: RIV, 38 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 20010822024469A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20010822024469A), Aug 22, 2001: Cessna 150M, Murrieta/Temecu, CA, Substantial damage. (-23) The pilot reported that the training flight departed French Valley Airport, (F70) Murrieta hot springs, California, at about 12:00 pm. During climb out… ## Docket (8 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on January 30, 2002, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=53089. 786 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 455 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40424991&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Statement of Party Representatives to NTSB Investigation (item 2, .PDF, 73 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40424992&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Statement%20of%20Party%20Representatives%20to%20NTSB%20Investigation-Redacted.PDF - Photo 1. Back of engine. (item 3, .PDF, 47 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40153492&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201.%20%20Back%20of%20engine.-Master.PDF - Photo 2. Back of left muffler. (item 4, .PDF, 31 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40153493&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%202.%20%20Back%20of%20left%20muffler.-Master.PDF - Photo 3. Muffler and fuel line. (item 5, .PDF, 42 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40153494&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%203.%20%20Muffler%20and%20fuel%20line.-Master.PDF - Photo 4. Fuel line burn mark on heat shielding. (item 6, .PDF, 32 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40153495&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%204.%20%20Fuel%20line%20burn%20mark%20on%20heat%20shielding.-Master.PDF - Photo 5. Propeller blade. (item 7, .PDF, 48 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40153496&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%205.%20%20Propeller%20blade.-Master.PDF - Photo 6. Propeller blade. (item 8, .PDF, 57 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40153497&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%206.%20%20Propeller%20blade.-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.