# NTSB WPR10LA168: Cessna 150F, N7854F, Tillamook, OR, March 17, 2010 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: March 17, 2010, 10:20 local (17:20 UTC) - Place: Tillamook, OR - Coordinates: 45.42472, -123.819168 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=45.4247&lon=-123.8192&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Enroute-climb to cruise: Loss of engine power (partial)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report July 18, 2011 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: FAA FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 75549 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR10LA168 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/75549/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=75549 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR10LA168 ## Probable cause The partial loss of engine power during climb to cruise due to carburetor icing and the pilot's delay in using carburetor heat. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Engine (reciprocating)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058500): Aircraft › Aircraft power plant · Failure (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 150F, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058500/cases.md?model=2071814), [All aircraft, 497 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058500/cases.md) - [Temp/humidity/pressure: conducive to carburetor icing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03031030): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on equipment (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 150F, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03031030/cases.md?model=2071814), [All aircraft, 435 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03031030/cases.md) - [Runway/land/takeoff/taxi surface: soft surface](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023020): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Effect on equipment; cases with it: [Cessna 150F, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023020/cases.md?model=2071814), [All aircraft, 264 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023020/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: use of equip/system](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 150F, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015/cases.md?model=2071814), [All aircraft, 1,391 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Enroute-climb to cruise: Loss of engine power (partial)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 150F, 8 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342/sequence.md?model=2071814), [All aircraft, 1,858 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342/sequence.md) - [Emergency descent: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440); cases with it: [Cessna 150F, 14 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=2071814), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096); cases with it: [Cessna 150F, 19 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md?model=2071814), [All aircraft, 2,287 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that as he configured the airplane in a level attitude for cruise flight, the engine's rpm began to decrease and he applied carburetor heat with no effect noted. The pilot subsequently turned the airplane back towards the airport to land. As he approached the runway, he had raise the airplane's nose in an effort to avoid an airport perimeter fence. The airplane stalled and impacted soft terrain short of the runway. The airplane came to rest inverted; the aft fuselage and the vertical stabilizer were bent. A postaccident examination of the wreckage revealed no preimpact anomalies with the engine or airframe that would have prevented normal operation. The temperature and dewpoint at the time of the flight were both 45 degrees Fahrenheit. Plotting these temperatures on a carburetor icing chart indicated the conditions were conducive to serious icing at cruise power. ## Factual narrative On March 17, 2010, approximately 1020 Pacific daylight time, a Cessna 150F, N7854F, sustained substantial damage during a forced landing following a loss of engine power near Tillamook, Oregon. The commercial pilot and passenger were not injured. The pilot/owner was operating the airplane under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the personal local flight, which had originated approximately 20 minutes before the accident. A flight plan had not been filed. The pilot reported that he had taken off from the Tillamook Airport on runway 13 and turned northward. As the airplane climbed to 2,000 feet above the ground, the engine's rpm began to decrease and the pilot reported that he applied carburetor heat with no effect noted. The pilot subsequently turned the airplane back towards the airport and he aligned the airplane with runway 13 for landing. The pilot stated that he had to pull up on short final to clear an airport perimeter fence, and the airplane stalled from approximately 15 feet and landed on its nose in soft soil short of the runway. The airplane nosed over and came to rest inverted. The fuselage was bent aft of the cabin area and the vertical stabilizer was bent. A mechanic acquired the airplane after the accident and he reported finding no anomalies with the airframe or power plant other than from impact. The reported weather conditions at the Tillamook airport at 1013 were: wind calm; visibility 7 miles; temperature and dew point 44.6 degrees Fahrenheit. At 1033, the reported weather conditions were wind calm; visibility 10 miles; temperature and dew point 46.4 degrees Fahrenheit. Plotting these temperatures on a carburetor icing chart indicated the conditions were conducive to serious icing at cruise power. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N7854F](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N7854F-2014-11-19), registration cancelled 2014-11-19, S/N 15063954, built 1966 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 150F - Registry model: [Cessna 150F](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-150f) (registry code 2071814) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental 0-200 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-0-200-series) (registry code 17020, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 15063954 - Engines: CONT MOTOR O-200 SERIES 100 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility - Last inspection: Annual, January 2, 2010 - Departed: TMK, Tillamook, OR - Destination: TMK, Tillamook, OR - Airport: TMK, Tillamook Airport, runway 13, 5,001 × 100 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 68; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review March 29, 2005; seat: left; flight hours: 325 total, 82 in this make and model, 2 in the last 90 days, 1 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 46 °F, dew point 46 °F - Altimeter: 30.56 inHg - Observed at: TMK ## Other investigations on N7854F (1) 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. - [NTSB SEA69F0215](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA69F0215), Mar 14, 1969: Cessna 150F (N7854F), Orchards, WA, substantial damage ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on April 27, 2011, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=75549. 1.0 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 497 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40346283&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Weather Reports and Records (item 2, .PDF, 280 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40346286&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Weather%20Reports%20and%20Records-Master.PDF - Record of Conversation with Mechanic (item 3, .PDF, 74 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40346285&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation%20with%20Mechanic-Redacted.PDF - Carburetor Icing Chart (item 4, .PDF, 153 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40346287&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Carburetor%20Icing%20Chart-Master.PDF 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.