# NTSB MIA06LA056: Cessna 150L, N5262Q, Fruitland Park, FL, February 18, 2006 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: February 18, 2006, 17:15 local (22:15 UTC) - Place: Fruitland Park, FL - Coordinates: 28.87, -81.883888 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=28.8700&lon=-81.8839&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 2 serious - Status: Completed, report July 25, 2007 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA Flight Standards District Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 63273 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA06LA056 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/63273/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA06LA056 ## Probable cause The fatigue failure of the No. 4 cylinder resulting in a loss of engine power and subsequent 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, cruise - normal - engine assembly,cylinder - fatigue (cause) - engine assembly,cylinder - failure,total - Forced landing, descent - emergency - In flight collision with object, emergency descent/landing - object - pole - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled - terrain condition - ground ## Analysis The pilot stated that after takeoff the flight proceeded to a location called the "Villages" then he made a right turn and elected to return to the departure airport. He reported that he was on the west side of Lake Griffin and approximately 3 miles from the destination airport when the engine began to run rough. He reduced throttle control but the engine continued to run rough. He checked the magnetos and verified the mixture control was full rich which had no effect. He discontinued the approach and began a right descending turn not wanting to fly over the lake. He noted that something inside the engine compartment hit the engine cowling, and he looked for a place to land. He banked to the right and after spotting an opening, he lowered the flaps but overshot the intended landing area. While descending he noted a telephone pole straight ahead and applied left rudder to avoid the pole but the right wing collided with the pole. The head of the No. 4 cylinder separated from the barrel due to fatigue cracking. A review of the maintenance records revealed that the engine was overhauled on November 2, 1993. On June 1, 1999, the No. 4 cylinder was removed, repaired, and installed. The No. 4 cylinder had accumulated 1,076.9 hours since installation after repair. ## Factual narrative On February 18, 2006, about 1715 eastern standard time, a Cessna 150L, N5262Q, registered to Changing Horses LLC, and operated by an individual, collided with a telephone pole then the ground while descending for a forced landing near Fruitland Park, Florida. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan was filed for the 14 CFR Part 91 personal, local, flight from Leesburg Regional Airport, Leesburg, Florida. The airplane was substantially damaged and the private-rated pilot and one passenger sustained serious injuries. The flight originated about 30 minutes earlier from Leesburg Regional Airport. The pilot stated that after takeoff the flight proceeded to a location called the "Villages" then he made a right turn and elected to return to the departure airport. He reported that he was on the west side of Lake Griffin and approximately 3 miles from the destination airport when the engine began to run rough. He reduced throttle control but the engine continued to run rough. He checked the magnetos and verified the mixture control was full rich which had no effect. He discontinued the approach and began a right descending turn not wanting to fly over the lake. He noted that something inside the engine compartment hit the engine cowling, and he looked for a place to land. He banked to the right and after spotting an opening, he lowered the flaps but overshot the intended landing area. While descending he noted a telephone pole straight ahead and applied left rudder to avoid the pole but the right wing collided with the pole. The airplane then impacted the ground. Examination of the engine by an FAA airworthiness inspector revealed the head of the No. 4 cylinder was separated from the barrel and only remained secured to the engine by the ignition leads. The No. 4 cylinder was retained for further examination. The No. 4 cylinder was examined at the NTSB Materials Laboratory located in Washington, D.C. The result of the examination revealed the cylinder was fractured through the steel barrel between the third and fifth fins. Magnified examination of the fracture surface revealed "... curved beach marks over a large portion of the fracture indicative of fatigue cracking." The orientation of the beach marks indicated fatigue initiation on the outer diameter of the barrel between the third and fourth fins from the head; on the intake valve side of the barrel. No damage or corrosion was apparent in the origin region. The fatigue extended circumferentially in both directions for more than half of the barrel circumference. A review of the maintenance records revealed that the engine was overhauled on November 2, 1993. On June 1, 1999, the No. 4 cylinder was removed, repaired, and installed. The No. 4 cylinder had accumulated 1,076.9 hours since installation after repair. The airplane minus the retained No. 4 cylinder was released on April 4, 2006, to Buck Williams, of Sample International Aviation, Inc. The retained No. 4 cylinder was also released to Buck Williams on June 22, 2007. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N5262Q](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5262Q-2006-07-25), registration cancelled 2006-07-25, S/N 15073162, built 1972 (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: 15073162 - Airframe hours: 9049.9 - Engines: Continental 0-200-A 100 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Gene F. Megyesi - Registered owner: Changing Horses LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility - Last inspection: Annual, May 1, 2005, 22.7 hours before - Departed: KLEE, Leesburg, FL - Destination: KLEE ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 81; injuries: serious; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; seat: left; flight hours: 4,000 total ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 310° at 9 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 79 °F, dew point 55 °F - Altimeter: 30.12 inHg - Observed at: KLEE ## 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 20060218002319A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20060218002319A), Feb 18, 2006: Cessna 150L, Fruitland Park, FL, Destroyed. (-23) Engine began to run very rough, the pilot shut down the engine and made an emergency landing. Over shot the intended landing site, the right wing was… 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.