# NTSB MIA07LA071: Cessna 152, N46913, Canal Point, FL, April 7, 2007 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: April 7, 2007, 12:39 local (16:39 UTC) - Place: Canal Point, FL - Coordinates: 26.976943, -80.602218 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=26.9769&lon=-80.6022&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report April 30, 2008 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA Flight Standards District Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 65562 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA07LA071 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/65562/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA07LA071 ## Probable cause The pilot-in-command's incorrect leaning of the fuel/air ratio resulting in the total loss of engine power during cruise flight. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power, cruise - normal - mixture - improper use of, pilot in command (cause) - Forced landing, emergency descent/landing - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, emergency landing - terrain condition - ground - Nose gear collapsed, landing - flare/touchdown ## Analysis While flying at 1,200 to 1,300 feet, the pilot-in-command incorrectly leaned the fuel/air ratio to the point of total loss of engine power. She enrichened the fuel/air ratio but was unsuccessful in restoring engine power. She maneuvered for a forced landing in a field but the flight was too fast and too low. She overshot the intended field and landed on an unlevel surface in a sugarcane field. During the landing roll, the nosewheel impacted a hole causing the nose wheel to separate. The airplane then nosed over coming to rest inverted partially submerged in a water retention ditch. Damage to both wings, and the vertical stabilizer were noted. No determination was made as to the reason the engine did not resume power after adequate fuel/air ratio was provided. ## Factual narrative On April 7, 2007 about 1239 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 152, N46913, registered to and operated by Voyager Aviation International, LLC, experienced a loss of engine power and nosed over during a forced landing near Canal Point, Florida. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan was filed for the 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight from Merritt Island Airport, Merritt Island, Florida, to Okeechobee County Airport, Okeechobee, Florida. The airplane was substantially damaged and the private-rated pilot and pilot-rated passenger were not injured. The flight originated about 1030, from Merritt Island Airport. The pilot stated that the flight proceeded to Palm Beach County Glades Airport, Pahokee, Florida, where she performed 1 touch-and-go landing. Following the touch-and-go landing she climbed to 1,200 to 1,300 feet, and leaned the fuel/air ratio. The engine then quit, and she enrichened the fuel/air ratio which was unsuccessful in restoring engine power. She initiated emergency procedures and looked for a forced landing location while descending. She reported that, "after some time we saw a green patch of land and tried aiming to get to it." She entered a slanted downwind and base but the flight was too fast and too low. She overshot the intended field, and landed on an unlevel surface in a sugarcane field south of the intended location. During the landing roll, the nose wheel impacted a hole causing the nose wheel to separate. The airplane then nosed over coming to rest inverted partially submerged in a water retention ditch. The pilot-rated passenger stated that while slowly leaning the fuel/air ratio, they suddenly realized that the engine had "basically quit." They maneuvered for a forced landing in a field but the "...wind pushed them quite far and we landed slightly beyond the field where there was a ditch." Examination of the airplane following recovery revealed both wings and the vertical stabilizer were damaged. The fuel tanks which were full of fuel/water were drained and a total of approximately 9 gallons of fuel were drained. Postaccident examination of the engine by the director of maintenance (DOM) of the operator revealed continuity of the throttle, mixture and carburetor heat controls. No obstructions other than impact damage was noted to the fuel supply system, and no evidence of preimpact failure or malfunction of the power section of the engine was noted. Impact damage to the carburetor and water submersion of the magnetos precluded bench testing of the components. Approximately 5 quarts of oil were drained from the oil sump. No determination was made as to the reason for the engine not to resume power after proper fuel/air ratio was provided. The airplane Pilot's Operating Handbook and FAA Approved Airplane Flight Manual indicates that leaning the fuel/air ratio during cruise flight is performed by leaning the mixture to the point where the engine rpm "...peaks and drops 25-50 RPM." ## Aircraft - Registration: [N46913](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N46913-2018-02-16), registration cancelled 2018-02-16, S/N 15283143, built 1979 (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: 15283143 - Airframe hours: 10176.2 - Engines: Lycoming O-235-L2C 110 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Voyager Aviation International, LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility - Last inspection: 100 hour, January 1, 2007, 76.5 hours before - Departed: KCOI, Merritt Island, FL - Destination: KOBE, Okeechobee, FL ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 18; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; last flight review March 1, 2007; seat: left - Co-pilot; age 18; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; last flight review January 1, 2007; seat: right ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 310° at 11 knots, gusting 16 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 68 °F, dew point 41 °F - Altimeter: 30.03 inHg - Observed at: KSUA, 24 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 20070407008949A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20070407008949A), Apr 7, 2007: Cessna 152, Indian Town, FL, Substantial damage. (-23) On April 7, 2007 about 1239 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 152, N46913, registered to and operated by voyager aviation international, experienced a loss… 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.