# NTSB LAX93LA346: Cessna 150L, N10669, Chemehuevi Valy, CA, September 5, 1993 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: September 4, 1993, 18:45 local (Sep 5, 1993, 01:45 UTC) - Place: Chemehuevi Valy, CA - Coordinates: 34.780647, -114.590866 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.7806&lon=-114.5909&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report August 1, 1994 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 28469 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX93LA346 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/28469/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX93LA346 ## Probable cause A LOSS OF ENGINE POWER FOR UNDETERMINED REASONS. A FACTOR IN THE ACCIDENT WAS THE UNSUITABLE NATURE OF THE TERRAIN FOR THE FORCED LANDING ATTEMPT. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, cruise - reason for occurrence undetermined (cause) - Forced landing, descent - emergency - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - flare/touchdown - terrain condition - loose gravel/sandy (contributing factor) - terrain condition - mountainous/hilly (contributing factor) ## Analysis THE PILOT WAS ON THE RETURN LEG OF A PERSONEL CROSS COUNTRY FLIGHT IN A RENTAL AIRPLANE. THE PILOT WAS WITHIN SIX MILES OF A PLANNED FUEL STOP AIRPORT AT 3500 FEET MSL WHEN THE ENGINE LOST POWER. HE FAILED TO GET A RESTART AND WAS FORCED TO LAND ON UNSUITABLE TERRAIN. THE AIRPLANE RECEIVED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE. THE PILOT WAS NOT INJURED. THE AIRPLANE WAS ABANDONED FOR SEVERAL DAYS DURING WHICH TIME DESERT WINDS BLEW THE AIRPLANE UPSIDE DOWN. THE AIRPLANE WAS EVENTUALLY RETRIEVED BY HELICOPTER FROM THE REMOTE DESERT SITE. AFTER RETRIEVAL, THE AIRPLANE AND ENGINE WERE EXAMINED. NO DISCREPANCIES WERE FOUND DURING THE ENGINE EXAMINATION. BECAUSE THE AIRPLANE LAY UPSIDE DOWN FOR SEVERAL DAYS, NO FUEL WAS AVAILALBE FOR TESTING NOR QUANTIFYING. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT AT THE TIME OF THE POWER LOSS HE HAD FLOWN FOR 2.5 HOURS. ## Factual narrative On September 4, 1993, about 1845 hours Pacific daylight time, a Cessna 150L, N10669, operated by Arizona Aviation of Mesa, Arizona, was substantially damaged from an off airport landing after a total loss of engine power during cruise flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the personal cross country flight and a VFR flight plan was filed. The renter-pilot was not injured. The flight originated at Bakersfield Municipal Airport (L45), California, at 1615 hours PDT, with a planned fuel stop at Lake Havasu, Arizona, and a final destination of Mesa, Arizona. The pilot reported that he had refueled the airplane prior to departing Bakersfield for the return trip. He said it had required 16 gallons to top the fuel tanks with 100 low lead aviation fuel. The pilot stated that after crossing a mountain range at 3500 feet mean sea level with the Lake Havasu Airport in sight, the engine momentarily ran rough, then quit, and the propeller did not windmill. The pilot performed a forced landing in a sand wash area. The nose gear collapsed damaging the firewall, propeller, and a wing tip. The airplane was abandoned for several days due to site inaccessibility. During the period of abandonment, the airplane was apparently blown over by wind. PERSONNEL INFORMATION At the time of the accident, the private pilot reported a total flight time of 99 flight hours with 7 hours in the make and model of the accident airplane. AIRCRAFT INFORMATION The aircraft maintenance records were obtained during the investigation. At the last annual inspection on March 3, 1993, the 1974 Cessna 150L had accumulated a total flight time of 5614.8 hours. At the time of the accident, the airplane had accumulated an additional 350 hours according to the recording tachometer. ENGINE INFORMATION According to the records, on August 26, 1993, at a tachometer reading of 6812.6 (17 hours prior to the accident), an engine change occurred. The log entry stated that the installed engine was a Continental 0-200-A, serial number 204805-9A. At engine installation, the log book listed the time since major overhaul as 632.1 hours with zero time since top overhaul. The log entry further stated that the engine was disassembled, cleaned, inspected, and reassembled with new gaskets, seals, and four new Superior Air Parts cylinder assemblies with pistons. METEOROLOGICAL INFORMATION At the time of the accident the Lake Havasu Automated Weather Observation Service (AWOS) was reporting: clear below 12000 feet, visibility ten miles, temperature 104 degrees fahrenheit, dewpoint 39 degrees fahrenheit, wind 240 degrees at five knots, altimeter 29.74 inches of mercury, and the density altitude was 4000 feet. TESTS AND RESEARCH On September 24, 1993, an examination of the airplane and engine was conducted at Lake Havasu, Arizona, after the airplane was retrieved by helicopter from the remote area on the California side of the Colorado River. The post crash examination failed to reveal any evidence of a failure or malfunction of the engine or the associated systems. Valve and gear train continuity was established. Compression was established on all four cylinders. All spark plugs displayed acceptable wear patterns when compared to the Champion wear limits chart. Both magnetos produced sparks with manual hand rotation. The oil filter element was free of metal, and the oil pump gears were normal in appearance. The cockpit magneto switch was removed and tested with an Ohm meter, with electrical continuity established. The main fuel line was clear of obstructions. The carburetor was removed, opened, and examined. The fuel gascolator was not recovered nor was a fuel sample available for analysis. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N10669](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N10669), registered now, S/N 15074962, built 1973 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 150L - Registry model: [Cessna 150L](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-150l) (registry code 2071826) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental 0-200 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-0-200-series) (registry code 17020, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 15074962 - Airframe hours: 5965 - Engines: CONTINENTAL O-200-A 100 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Arizona Aviation - Registered owner: Michael A. Roberti - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, August 26, 1993, 17 hours before - Departed: BFL, BAKERSFIELD, CA - Destination: FFZ, MESA, AZ - Flight plan: VFR ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 38; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 99 total, 7 in this make and model, 45 as pilot in command, 83 in the last 90 days, 39 in the last 30 days, 7 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 240° at 5 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 104 °F, dew point 39 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: HII, 6 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 19930904033589A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19930904033589A), Sep 4, 1993: Cessna 150L, Chemehuevi Valy, AZ, Substantial damage. Reported power loss near destination. Crash landed in desert. No engine anomalies. Possibel fuel exhaustion. ## Other investigations on N10669 (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 LAX94LA140](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX94LA140), Feb 27, 1994: Cessna 150 (N10669), Chandler, AZ, substantial damage. Probable cause: THE PILOT'S INTENTIONAL SWERVE TO AVOID A LARGE BIRD THAT FLEW TOWARD THE AIRPLANE DURING THE LANDING ROLL. 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.