MIA94LA185

NTSB accident investigation · Cessna 152 · Bunnell, FL · July 27, 1994

Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal report
Date
July 27, 1994, 10:50 local (14:50 UTC)
Place
Bunnell, FL
Injuries
2 uninjured
Damage
Substantial damage
Phase of flight
Maneuvering
Aircraft
N68165Cessna 152
Weather
Visual (VMC) · Day
Status
Completed · report November 18, 1994
Report
Approved by Office Director
FAA report
19940727027169A
Case key
37579

From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.

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Probable cause

The pilot-in-command's improper use of carburetor heat. The carburetor icing conditions were a factor.

Sequence of events

NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.

Loss of engine power(partial) - nonmechanicalManeuvering
Weather condition - carburetor icing conditionsFactor
Carburetor heat - improper use ofPilot in command(cfi)Cause
Fuel system,carburetor - ice
Forced landingDescent - emergency
Nose overLanding - roll

Analysis

The certified flight instructor (CFI) was demonstrating a forced landing to a student pilot. The CFI entered the maneuver at 1,200 feet agl by reducing the throttle to the idle position, and applying carburetor heat. At 800 feet agl he cleared the engine and began a power recovery at 500 feet agl. When he increased power he noted no response. He reduced throttle to the idle position, increased throttle, reduced throttle to the idle position with negative results. He verified the position of the fuel selector valve and made a forced landing to an open field. On landing rollout the airplane nosed over. Examination of the engine and accessories revealed no evidence of a precrash failure or malfunction. The engine was started and developed power. Review of the icing probability chart indicates serious icing at glide power based on the weather conditions at the accident site.

Factual narrative

On July 27, 1994, about 1050 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 152, N68165, registered to Phoenix East Aviation Inc., operating as a 14 CFR Part 141 instructional flight, crashed in the vicinity of Bunnell, Florida. The airplane sustained substantial damage. The commercial pilot/certified flight instructor (CFI), and student pilot were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. The flight originated from Daytona Beach, Florida, about 1 hour 30 minutes before the accident.

The CFI stated he was demonstrating a simulated engine failure with a power recovery to the student pilot. He entered the maneuver at 1,200 feet agl by reducing the throttle to the idle position, and turning the carburetor heat on. While passing through 800 feet agl, he cleared the engine, and continued with the maneuver. At 500 feet agl, he increased throttle and noticed no response. He reduced the throttle to the idle position, increased throttle, and returned the throttle to idle position with negative results. The position of the fuel selector valve was verified, and a forced landing was made to an open field. On landing rollout the airplane nosed over, and came to a complete stop inverted.

Examination of the engine assembly and accessories by Phoenix East Aviation, in the presence of the FAA revealed no evidence to indicate a precrash failure or malfunction. The engine was started and developed power.

Review of the probability carburetor icing chart revealed that the engine would encounter serious icing at glide power based on the weather conditions at the time of the accident.

Aircraft

Registration
N68165
Reported as
Cessna 152
Category
Airplane
Serial number
15282157
Airframe hours
8,135
Engine
Lycoming O-235-L2C, reciprocating
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Instructional · Part 91
Registered owner
Phoenix East Aviation Inc.
Airworthiness certificate
Standard, Utility
Last inspection
100 hour · July 8, 1994 · 68 hours before
Departed
DAB · Daytona Beach, FL

Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

Role
Pilot
Age
26
Certificates
Flight instructor, Commercial
Airplane ratings
Single-engine land, Multi-engine land
Instrument ratings
Airplane
Medical
Class 2, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
Seat
Right
Flight hours
500 total · 230 in this make and model · 250 as pilot in command · 90 in the last 90 days · 30 in the last 30 days · 3 in the last 24 hours

Weather

Conditions
Visual (VMC) · Day
Wind
Calm
Visibility
10 statute miles
Lowest ceiling
None
Temperature
86 °F, dew point 73 °F
Altimeter
30.00 inHg
Observed at
DAB, 250 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.

Other investigations on N68165 · 2

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.