NYC08CA079

NTSB accident investigation · Cessna 150G · Sarasota, FL · January 10, 2008

Accident · No injuriesData collectionFinal report
Date
January 9, 2008, 19:44 local (Jan 10, 2008, 00:44 UTC)
Place
Sarasota, FL
Injuries
2 uninjured
Damage
Substantial damage
Phase of flight
Maneuvering
Aircraft
N2490JCessna 150G
Defining event
Maneuvering: Fuel exhaustion
Weather
Visual (VMC) · Dusk
Status
Completed · report February 28, 2008
Report
Approved by Office Director
Parties
FAA/FSDO
FAA report
20080109014329A
Case key
67363

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 improper preflight and in-flight planning which resulted in a loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion.

Findings · 4

NTSB’s coded findings. Those marked are part of the probable cause; the rest are factors or other findings. Under each, the cases with the same finding.

Planning/preparation: flight planning/navigationPersonnel issues › Task performance · PilotCessna 150G: 1 caseAll aircraft: 179 casesProbable cause
Terrain: rough terrainEnvironmental issues › Physical environment · Not specifiedCessna 150G: 3 casesAll aircraft: 442 casesProbable cause
Planning/preparation: fuel planningPersonnel issues › Task performance · PilotCessna 150G: 3 casesAll aircraft: 719 casesProbable cause
Fluids: fuelAircraft › Fluids/misc hardware · Fluid managementCessna 150G: 9 casesAll aircraft: 1,695 casesProbable cause

Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event is the one that best describes the accident. Under each, the cases with the same event anywhere in their sequence.

Analysis

During a cross country flight the pilot of a Cessna 150G executed a forced landing after a complete loss of engine power. During the landing the airplane nosed over substantially damaging the firewall and vertical stabilizer. According to the pilot, after leaving his departure airport, he stopped at two other airports prior to proceeding to his final destination. Once he arrived at his destination airport, he was unable to turn on the runway lights and began to orbit the airport. Approximately 10 minutes later, the engine began to "roll back" and lost all power. The pilot estimated that he had operated the airplane for 3.2 hours prior to the loss of power and that all of the flights had been operated at 3,000 feet. He stated that the fuel burn had been 4.2 gallons an hour in accordance with the pilot's operating handbook (POH). A review of the Cessna 150G POH revealed that 3.24 gallons was required for the three, engine start, taxi, and takeoff sequences. A review of the airplane's engine hour meter and maintenance records revealed that the airplane had been operated for 4.6 hours. Fuel burn calculations derived from information in the POH, the pilot's stated fuel burn, and hour meter information revealed that a total of 22.52 gallons of gasoline would have been consumed. According to the POH, total usable fuel was 22.5 gallons. A postaccident examination by an airframe and powerplant mechanic revealed no evidence of fuel in either the fuel lines or fuel tanks.

Factual narrative

During a cross country flight the pilot of a Cessna 150G executed a forced landing after a complete loss of engine power. During the landing the airplane nosed over substantially damaging the firewall and vertical stabilizer. According to the pilot, after leaving his departure airport, he stopped at two other airports prior to proceeding to his final destination. Once he arrived at his destination airport, he was unable to turn on the runway lights and began to orbit the airport. Approximately 10 minutes later, the engine began to "roll back" and lost all power. The pilot estimated that he had operated the airplane for 3.2 hours prior to the loss of power and that all of the flights had been operated at 3,000 feet. He stated that the fuel burn had been 4.2 gallons an hour in accordance with the pilot's operating handbook (POH). A review of the Cessna 150G POH revealed that 3.24 gallons was required for the three, engine start, taxi, and takeoff sequences. A review of the airplane's engine hour meter and maintenance records revealed that the airplane had been operated for 4.6 hours. Fuel burn calculations derived from information in the POH, the pilot's stated fuel burn, and hour meter information revealed that a total of 22.52 gallons of gasoline would have been consumed. According to the POH, total usable fuel was 22.5 gallons. A postaccident examination by an airframe and powerplant mechanic revealed no evidence of fuel in either the fuel lines or fuel tanks.

Aircraft

Registration
N2490J
Reported as
Cessna 150G
Category
Airplane
Serial number
15065590
Airframe hours
1,651.5
Engine
Continental O-200-A, 100 horsepower, reciprocating
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Personal · Part 91
Operator
Bill Burton
Registered owner
Granville Group
Airworthiness certificate
Standard, Normal
Last inspection
Annual · November 1, 2007 · 4.6 hours before
Departed
X58 · Indiantown, FL
Destination
22FA · Sarasota, 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
60
Injuries
None
Certificates
Flight instructor, Airline transport, Commercial
Airplane ratings
Single-engine land, Multi-engine land
Instrument ratings
Airplane
Seat
Left
Flight hours
5,000 total · 3,000 in this make and model

Weather

Conditions
Visual (VMC) · Dusk
Wind
Calm
Visibility
10 statute miles
Lowest ceiling
None
Temperature
64 °F, dew point 55 °F
Altimeter
30.11 inHg
Observed at
SRQ, 17 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 N2490J · 1

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