# NTSB LAX07LA155: Cessna 152, N68166, Monroe, WA, May 10, 2007 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: May 10, 2007, 14:20 local (21:20 UTC) - Place: Monroe, WA - Coordinates: 47.835277, -121.90583 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=47.8353&lon=-121.9058&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report June 30, 2008 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 65769 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX07LA155 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/65769/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX07LA155 ## Probable cause A loss of engine power during cruise due to carburetor icing, and the pilot's delay in using carburetor heat. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(partial) - nonmechanical, cruise - weather condition - carburetor icing conditions (cause) - carburetor heat - not used, pilot in command (cause) - Forced landing, descent - emergency - Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown - terrain condition - open field - landing gear,nose gear assembly - overload - landing gear,nose gear assembly - separation ## Analysis During cruise flight the engine lost partial power and the rpm decreased from 2,300 to 1,200. The pilot applied carburetor heat, but engine power was not restored, and the pilot made a forced landing in an open field. The nose gear collapsed during the landing. An examination of the engine revealed no evidence of internal component failure. Review of a carburetor icing probability chart disclosed that the temperature and dew point were within an area of the chart annotated "Moderate Icing -- Cruise Power or Serious Icing Descent Power." ## Factual narrative On May 10, 2007, about 1420 Pacific daylight time, a Cessna 152, N68166, experienced a partial loss of engine power during cruise flight, about 3 miles east of Monroe, Washington. The pilot made a hard forced landing in an open, grass-covered field. During rollout, the airplane's nose gear assembly and propeller sheared off. The airplane was substantially damaged, with a deformed firewall. It came to rest in a nose down attitude. The private pilot was not injured. The airplane was operated by Northway Aviation, Everett, Washington. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time, and no flight plan had been filed. The personal flight was performed under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91, and it originated from Everett about 1410. The pilot reported to the National Transportation Safety Board investigator that while cruising about 95 knots, at an engine speed of 2,300 rpm, the engine lost power. The engine began "running very rough," and the engine's speed decreased to 1,200 rpm. The pilot reported that he applied full carburetor heat and checked the magnetos, but he did not perceive any change in the engine's power. So, he prepared for a forced landing. The airplane touched down two times before coming to a stop in a nose down attitude. Under the direction of the Safety Board investigator, personnel from AvTech Services, LLC, Kent, Washington, partially disassembled the engine under the supervision of Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) personnel. In summary, AvTech personnel reported that internal engine continuity was confirmed with all four cylinders. Both magnetos produced spark during rotation of the crankshaft. The top spark plugs were removed and appeared in good condition with normal combustion coloration. The fuel gascolator was drained and about 1/2 cup of "blue" aviation-like fuel was observed. The oil filter was cut open and no metal was noted inside. Compression was unremarkable in three of the cylinders. The fourth cylinder exhibited leakage from its exhaust valve. No evidence of any mechanical malfunction was found. The FAA coordinator stated that he was unable to find evidence for the pilot's reported loss of engine power. Review of a carburetor icing probability chart disclosed that the temperature and dew point were within an area of the chart annotated "Moderate Icing -- Cruise Power or Serious Icing Descent Power." ## Aircraft - Registration: [N68166](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N68166-2018-01-23), registration cancelled 2018-01-23, S/N 15282158, 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: 15282158 - Airframe hours: 6363 - Engines: Lycoming O-235 110 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Northway Aviation of Washington, Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility; Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, April 1, 2007, 10 hours before - Departed: PAE, Everett, WA ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 48; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review December 1, 2006; seat: left; flight hours: 65 total, 8 in this make and model, 18 as pilot in command, 8 in the last 90 days, 7 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: variable at 5 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 59 °F, dew point 43 °F - Altimeter: 30.12 inHg - Observed at: PAE, 18 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 20070510008279A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20070510008279A), May 10, 2007: Cessna 152, Monroe, WA, Substantial damage. (-23) The pilot [privacy data omitted] was piloting a Cessna 172 (N68166) at an altitude of 2500 feet on a flight from paine field to gold bar, Washington for… ## Other investigations on N68166 (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 ANC81FAA23](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC81FAA23), Aug 5, 1981: Cessna 152 (N68166), Northway, AK, 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.