# NTSB NYC04LA075: Cessna 152, N4669L, Spencer, MA, February 24, 2004 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: February 24, 2004, 10:30 local (15:30 UTC) - Place: Spencer, MA - Coordinates: 42.220275, -71.943611 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.2203&lon=-71.9436&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report December 3, 2004 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA FSDO-03 - NTSB case key (mKey): 58801 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC04LA075 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/58801/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC04LA075 ## Probable cause A loss of engine power for undetermined reasons. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power, cruise - reason for occurrence undetermined (cause) - Forced landing, descent - emergency - Nose over, emergency landing - terrain condition - snow covered ## Analysis The flight instructor was conducting an introductory flight for the passenger, when the engine lost power. He utilized the emergency procedures checklist, and the engine regained power; however, the engine's performance began to fluctuate from a partial power to no power condition. The flight instructor attempted to land at a nearby airport; however, he was not able to maintain altitude and performed a forced landing to a snow covered field. During the landing roll, the airplane nosed over. Examination of the airplane and engine did not reveal any pre-impact mechanical malfunctions. Compression was attained on all cylinders and a fuel sample did not reveal any contamination. ## Factual narrative On February 24, 2004, about 1030 eastern standard time, a Cessna 152, N4669L, was substantially damaged during a forced landing, after a loss of engine power near Spencer, Massachusetts. The certificated flight instructor (CFI) and a passenger were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan had been filed for the instructional flight conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. The CFI stated he was conducting an introductory flight for the passenger. They departed Worcester Regional Airport, Worcester, Massachusetts, about 1015, and flew over the passenger's house. The airplane was in a climb at 2,800 feet, when the engine lost power. The pilot utilized the emergency procedures checklist, and the engine regained power; however, the engine's performance began to fluctuate from a partial power to a no power condition. The CFI attempted to land at the Spencer airport; however, he was not able to maintain altitude and performed a forced landing to a snow covered field. During the landing roll, the airplane nosed over. The airplane had been operated for about 98 hours since it's most recent annual inspection, which was performed on December 3, 2003. The pilot reported 822 hours of total flight experience, which included 220 hours in the same make and model as the accident airplane. Examination of the airplane and engine by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector did not reveal any pre-impact mechanical malfunctions. Compression was attained on all cylinders. Fuel was observed in both the left and right fuel tanks, and a fuel sample did not reveal any contamination. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N4669L](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4669L-2006-09-19), registration cancelled 2006-09-19, S/N 15284211, built 1980 (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: 152-84211 - Airframe hours: 12681 - Engines: Lycoming O-235-L2C 110 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Amity Flight School, LLC. - Registered owner: Capuano LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility - Last inspection: 100 hour, December 3, 2003, 98 hours before - Departed: ORH, WORCESTER, MA - Airport: 60M, Spencer ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Flight instructor; age 22; injuries: none; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine sea, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; last flight review May 17, 2002; seat: right; flight hours: 822 total, 220 in this make and model, 732 as pilot in command, 61 in the last 90 days, 36 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 310° at 8 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 30 °F, dew point 9 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: ORH ## 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 20040224003129A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20040224003129A), Feb 24, 2004: Cessna 152, Spencer, MA, Substantial damage. (-23) During a local flight the pilot lost power for about 3-4 seconds. The power returned but only at about 10-20 seconds before it lost power again. The… 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.