# NTSB WPR11LA210: Cessna 150H, N23295, College Place, WA, April 24, 2011 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: April 24, 2011, 09:45 local (16:45 UTC) - Place: College Place, WA - Coordinates: 46.046665, -118.416946 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=46.0467&lon=-118.4169&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Approach-VFR pattern base: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report September 29, 2014 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 78966 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR11LA210 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/78966/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=78966 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR11LA210 ## Probable cause The pilot’s delayed use of carburetor heat while operating the airplane in atmospheric conditions conducive to carburetor icing, which resulted in a total loss of engine power due to carburetor icing during final approach. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [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 150H, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03031030/cases.md?model=2071818), [All aircraft, 435 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03031030/cases.md) - [Action: delayed action](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 150H, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025/cases.md?model=2071818), [All aircraft, 894 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Approach-VFR pattern base: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 150H, 10 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=2071818), [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md) - [Emergency descent: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440); cases with it: [Cessna 150H, 13 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=2071818), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Cessna 150H, 27 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=2071818), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that, while on final approach, the engine rpm dropped and that the engine then lost power. He advanced the throttle, pushed in the carburetor heat control, and attempted to restart the engine, but engine power was not restored. He subsequently performed a forced landing to a road. During the landing, the airplane's right wing tip struck a sign and a mailbox, which resulted in substantial damage to the right wing spar. After the forced landing, the pilot was able to restart the engine, and he then taxied the airplane back to the airport. The pilot reported no known mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane, and a postaccident examination of the carburetor found no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. Atmospheric conditions at the time of the accident were conducive to the formation of serious carburetor icing at glide power. It is likely that the pilot's delayed use of carburetor heat resulted in the total loss of engine power due to the accumulation of carburetor icing. ## Factual narrative On April 24, 2011, at 0945 Pacific daylight time, a Cessna 150H, N23295, experienced a loss of engine power on final approach for the Martin Field Airport (S95), College Place, Washington. The airplane landed short of the runway on an adjacent road and collided with obstacles. The pilot/owner operated the airplane under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight. The pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured. The airplane's right wing struck a sign, which resulted in substantial damage. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the local area flight that departed at 0930, and no flight plan had been filed.According to the pilot, he was doing touch-and-go takeoffs and landings. On the accident flight as he turned the airplane onto the base leg of the approach, the rpm's dropped. He pushed in the carburetor heat and checked the fuel selector. The pilot then attempted to restart the engine. The pilot turned the airplane toward the runway and tried to restart the engine again. He knew he was not going to make the runway, and an adjacent road seemed the best place to land instead of the soft, recently plowed field that was also nearby. He landed the airplane and on the rollout, the right wing struck the top of "watch for low-flying aircraft" sign. The pilot stated that after the airplane came to a stop, he attempted to restart the engine. On the second attempt, he first primed the engine, and was then able to start it. He then taxied the airplane back to his tie down spot at the airport. A weather reporting station about 6 nautical miles from the accident site reported a temperature of 48 degrees F and dew point of 30 degrees F at the time of the accident. These weather conditions were conducive to the formation of serious carburetor icing at glide power. A post accident examination and flow bench test of the airplane's carburetor revealed no anomalies that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N23295](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N23295), registered now, S/N 15068855, built 1968 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 150H - Registry model: [Cessna 150H](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-150h) (registry code 2071818) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental 0-200 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-0-200-series) (registry code 17020, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 15068855 - Airframe hours: 2967 - Engines: CONT MOTOR O-200 SERIES 100 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility - Last inspection: Annual, July 6, 2010 - Departed: S95, College Place, WA - Destination: S95, College Place, WA - Airport: S95, Martin Field Airport - Equipment: Stall warning system ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 74; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review September 21, 2010; seat: left; flight hours: 613 total, 60 in this make and model, 479 as pilot in command, 4.5 in the last 90 days, 2.7 in the last 30 days, 0.2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 250° at 6 knots - Visibility: 20 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 48 °F, dew point 34 °F - Altimeter: 29.77 inHg - Observed at: ALW, 6 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 20110424008109A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20110424008109A), Apr 24, 2011: Cessna 150H, Walla Walla, WA, Substantial damage. Mr. Goodhew took off from Martin Field (about 9:30 am) to make a few landings. The weather was clear with no wind and Mr. Goodhew took off from runway 23, he… ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 7, 2014, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=78966. 1.3 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 609 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40349604&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - FAA Inspector Statement (item 2, .PDF, 31 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40414742&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=FAA%20Inspector%20Statement-Master.PDF - FAA On Scene Inspection Report (item 3, .PDF, 541 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40414743&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=FAA%20On%20Scene%20Inspection%20Report-Redacted.PDF - FAA Carb Icing Bulletin (item 4, .PDF, 111 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40414744&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=FAA%20Carb%20Icing%20Bulletin-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.