# NTSB NYC84FA072: Cessna 152, N5536L, Barre, MA, January 22, 1984

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: January 22, 1984, 10:40 local (15:40 UTC)
- Place: Barre, MA
- Location: 42.4230° N, 72.1064° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Barre, MA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.4230&lon=-72.1064&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 35311
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC84FA072
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/35311/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC84FA072

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Loss of engine power(total) - mech failure/malf, climb - to cruise
  - weather condition - temperature extremes (contributing factor)
  - fluid,oil - too cold (contributing factor)
  - aircraft preflight - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
  - fluid,oil - movement restricted (cause)
  - fluid,oil - starvation (cause)
  - engine assembly,bearing - failure,total (cause)
  - engine assembly,connecting rod - failure,total (cause)
  - engine assembly,crankcase - penetrated
- Fire, descent - emergency
  - fluid,oil - smoke (contributing factor)
  - air cond/heating/pressurization - fire (contributing factor)
- Forced landing, landing
- In flight collision with terrain/water, landing - flare/touchdown

## Analysis

THE ACFT WAS LANDED OFF THE ARPT TAILING FIRE AND SMOKE SHORTLY AFTER TAKEOFF. IT WAS A COLD DAY AND THE CFI AND STUDENT HAD TROUBLE STARTING THE ACFT EVEN AFTER PRE-HEAT WAS USED. WITNESSES SAW THE ACFT AFTER TAKEOFF DESCENDING WITHSMOKE AND FLAMES TRAILING BEHIND. EXAMINATION OF THE ACFT DISCLOSED A HOLE IN THE CRANKCASE. THE CABIN HEAT HOSE WAS BURNED. THE CABIN HEAT VALVE WAS BURNED. THERE WAS BURN DAMAGE TO THE HEAT DUCT AND THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE CABIN NEAR THEMAP COMPARTMENT. THE ENGINE HAD SEIZED AT THE #1 CONNECTING ROD BEARING. THE #3 CONNECTING ROD BEARING WAS OVERHEATED, BUT IT DID NOT SEIZE. THERE WAS NO EVIDENCE OF A LACK OF GENERAL LUBRICATION. THE ENGINE WAS NOT WINTERIZATION EQUIPPED.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N5536L (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 152
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 15284342
- Airframe hours: 962
- Engines: LYCOMING O-235-L2C 110 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Fire: In-Flight
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Registered owner: Stephen J. Grady
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility
- Last inspection: 100 hour, January 18, 1984, 18 hours before
- Destination: CONCORD, NH

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 33; student; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, unknown; seat: right; toxicology performed; flight hours: 44 total, 30 in this make and model, 4 as pilot in command, 13 in the last 90 days, 3 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 250° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 10 °F, dew point 12 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: ORH, 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 19840122000979A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19840122000979A), Jan 22, 1984: Cessna 152, Barre, MA, Destroyed. Inflight engine compartment fire. Hole in crankcase. Controlled ground impact after fire, smoke came thru heat duct

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.

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