NYC00LA121

NTSB accident investigation · Cessna 150D · Waynesville, OH · April 26, 2000

Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal report
Date
April 25, 2000, 20:20 local (Apr 26, 2000, 00:20 UTC)
Place
Waynesville, OH
Injuries
1 uninjured
Damage
Substantial damage
Phase of flight
Enroute
Aircraft
N4182UCessna 150D
Weather
Visual (VMC) · Day
Status
Completed · report December 4, 2000
Report
Approved by Office Director
FAA report
20000425036969A
Case key
49047

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's inadequate preflight, and the water that remained in the fuel system after the preflight.

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(total) - nonmechanicalClimb
Fuel system - waterCause
Aircraft preflight - inadequatePilot in commandCause
Forced landingEmergency landing after takeoff
In flight collision with objectDescent - emergency

Analysis

During the pilot's preflight, he found water in the right fuel tank and sump, which he drained until they were completely free of the water. He then started up the airplane, went through all the ground checks, and flew the airplane about 39 statute miles without any problems. He landed the airplane, and shut down the engine for approximately 20 minutes. He then restarted the engine, taxied the airplane to the runway, and made a full-throttle, soft-field takeoff. During the takeoff run, the engine sounded like it was making full power, but the airplane appeared to take longer than normal to build up airspeed. Once airborne, about 75 to 100 feet, the engine sputtered, then quit. Approaching an open field, the airplane's landing gear hit an electrical power line. The airplane stalled, then dropped from a height of about 25 feet. The nose landing gear collapsed, and the airplane flipped over. During a post-accident inspection, about 4 ounces of liquid were found in the carburetor bowl, all of which, was water. The pilot stated that he had previously had problems with water in the fuel system.

Factual narrative

On April 25, 2000, about 2020 Eastern Daylight Time, a Cessna 150D, N4182U, was substantially damaged when it collided with an electrical wire during a forced landing, just after takeoff from Red Stewart Airfield (40I), Waynesville, Ohio. The certificated private pilot was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. No flight plan had been filed for the flight, between Waynesville and Cincinnati West Airport (I67), Harrison, Ohio. The personal flight was conducted under 14 CFR Part 91.

The pilot reported that the flight was the second one of the day. During the preflight for the first flight, he found water in the "right [fuel] tank and engine compartment sump; drained until completely clear." He started up the airplane, and completed his run-up checks. He then flew the airplane 39 statute miles without any problems, landed, and shut down the engine for approximately 20 minutes. He then restarted the engine, taxied to the runway, and made a full-throttle, soft-field takeoff.

During the takeoff run, the engine sounded like it was producing full power, but the airplane appeared to take longer than normal to build up airspeed. Once airborne, about 75 to 100 feet, the engine sputtered, then quit. There wasn't enough time for a restart, and there were trees and houses ahead, so the pilot turned about 90 degrees to the left, towards a field between some power lines and a highway. Approaching the field, the airplane's landing gear hit the top power line, and the airplane stalled, then dropped from a height of about 25 feet. The nose landing gear collapsed, and the airplane flipped over.

According to a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector, the airplane had about 15 gallons of fuel remaining onboard after the accident, but the engine could not be run due to carburetor damage. The inspector drained the carburetor bowl, and found about 4 ounces of liquid, all of which, was water. Also according to the inspector, the pilot stated he had previously had problems with water in the fuel system.

Aircraft

Registration
N4182U
Reported as
Cessna 150D
Category
Airplane
Serial number
15060182
Airframe hours
6,101
Engine
Continental O-200-A, 100 horsepower, reciprocating
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Personal · Part 91
Registered owner
Jeffrey And Nancy Aston
Airworthiness certificate
Standard, Utility
Last inspection
Annual · October 1, 1999 · 16 hours before
Departed
40I
Destination
I67 · Harrison, OH
Airport
40I · Red Stewart Airfield, runway 8, 2,442 × 150 ft, grass/turf

Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

Role
Pilot
Age
46
Certificate
Private
Airplane ratings
Single-engine land
Medical
Class 3, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
Seat
Left
Flight hours
275 total · 60 in this make and model · 182 as pilot in command · 4 in the last 90 days · 1 in the last 30 days · 1 in the last 24 hours

Weather

Conditions
Visual (VMC) · Day
Wind
30° at 8 knots
Visibility
10 statute miles
Lowest ceiling
None
Temperature
46 °F, dew point 30 °F
Altimeter
30.00 inHg
Observed at
DAY, 25 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.