# NTSB NYC00LA223: Cessna 150, N51181, Bridgewater, MA, August 9, 2000 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: August 9, 2000, 12:10 local (16:10 UTC) - Place: Bridgewater, MA - Location: 41.9904° N, 70.9750° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Bridgewater, MA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.9904&lon=-70.9750&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 19, 2001 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 49955 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC00LA223 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/49955/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC00LA223 ## Probable cause The mechanic's inadequate annual inspection, which resulted in a departure with fuel contamination. A factor was the pilot-in-command's inadequate preflight inspection. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, cruise - fluid,fuel - contamination - maintenance,annual inspection - inadequate, other maintenance personnel (cause) - aircraft preflight - inadequate, pilot in command (contributing factor) - In flight collision with terrain/water, emergency landing - terrain condition - high vegetation - terrain condition - ditch ## Analysis Prior to the annual inspection, the airplane had not flown for approximately 3 years, and the fuel tanks were left half-full. During the annual inspection, the mechanic checked the main fuel strainer, and did not observe any contamination. After the inspection, the mechanic completely filled the fuel tanks, but the engine would not start. He then drained the tanks and refueled them; however, he did not recheck the main fuel strainer. The pilot-in-command stated that he sumped the fuel tanks during the preflight inspection, and found some water. He kept sumping the tanks until he could not see any water. About 20 minutes after departure, the engine lost all power, and the pilot-in-command performed a forced landing to a field. During the landing in high grass, the airplane struck a ditch and came to rest inverted. Examination of the wreckage by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector revealed that the fuel was contaminated with water and debris. ## Factual narrative On August 9, 2000, about 1210 Eastern Daylight Time, a Cessna 150, N51181, was substantially damaged during a forced landing to a field near Bridgewater, Massachusetts. The pilot-in-command (PIC) and the pilot rated passenger were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed for the personal flight conducted under 14 CFR Part 91 During a telephone interview, the PIC stated that the pilot rated passenger was a mechanic who had completed an annual inspection on the accident airplane. The mechanic wanted to take the airplane for a test flight, but did not have a current medical certificate. Therefore, the mechanic asked the PIC to accompany him on the flight. While performing a preflight inspection of the airplane, the PIC "sumped" the fuel tanks and noticed water in the fuel. He kept "sumping" the tanks, until no water was present. Approximately 20 minutes after takeoff, about 3,000 feet, the engine lost all power. The PIC performed a forced landing to a field, and the airplane came to rest inverted in a ditch. During a telephone interview, the mechanic stated that prior to the annual inspection, the airplane had not flown for approximately 3 years. During those 3 years, the fuel tanks were approximately half full. The mechanic checked the main fuel strainer during the annual inspection, and did not observe any debris or contamination. About 2 weeks before the accident flight, the mechanic completely filled the tanks with fuel. After the fueling, the engine would not start. The mechanic drained all the fuel, and refueled the tanks to capacity, but he did not recheck the main fuel strainer. After the accident, he believed that there was water in the fuel tanks that was "stirred up" during those two fuelings. Examination of the wreckage by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector revealed substantial damage to the fuselage and empennage. The inspector observed fuel contamination in the main fuel strainer and carburetor. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N51181](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N51181-2004-06-29), registration cancelled 2004-06-29, S/N 15069822, built 1968 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 150 - Registry model: [Cessna 150J](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-150j) (registry code 2071820) (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: 15069822 - Airframe hours: 1906 - Engines: Continental O-200 100 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Joseph Gittings - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, August 8, 2000, 1 hours before - Departed: 1B9, MANSFIELD, MA - Airport: 1B9, Manfield Municipal ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 46; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: right; flight hours: 3,562 total, 2,440 in this make and model, 3,340 as pilot in command, 90 in the last 90 days, 36 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 240° at 12 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 84 °F, dew point 70 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: OWD, 13 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 20000809043309A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20000809043309A), Aug 9, 2000: Cessna 150J, Bridgewater, MA, Substantial damage. (-23) Aircraft had not flown for three (3) years. Annual inspection of airframe/engine/propeller just completed by Mr. Joseph (IA) aircraft was on test flight.… 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.