CESSNA 150J near Brookline, NH — 2014-12-05
- Date
- 2014-12-05
- Location
- Brookline, NH, USA
- Airport
- NH
- Aircraft
- CESSNA 150J
- Registration
- N50709
- Category
- Airplane
- Highest injury
- Minor
- Fatalities
- 0
- Phase of flight
- Cruise
Probable cause
The student pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from a wire during an off-airport landing following a partial loss of engine power for reasons that could not be determined during postaccident examination.
NTSB narrative
The student pilot reported that the preflight inspection and engine run-up revealed no anomalies and that he subsequently departed for a solo cross-country flight. About 30 minutes into the flight, the student pilot observed low cloud ceilings and decided to return to his departure airport. Two minutes after turning the airplane back toward the airport, the engine power dropped below 2,000 rpm. The student pilot applied carburetor heat, but the engine power did not increase, so he proceeded to a nearby airport to initiate an emergency landing. However, the engine continued to lose rpm during the approach, so he decided to land in a small field. During the landing, the airplane impacted a wire and then the ground, which resulted in substantial damage to the right wing and fuselage. Although the left magneto exhibited severe wear on the cam and burnt points, a single magneto failure would not have caused the loss of engine power. No other anomalies with the engine were found that would have precluded normal operation. Although atmospheric conditions at the time of the accident were favorable for the accumulation of carburetor icing at glide and cruise power, it could not be determined if carburetor ice was present when the loss of partial power occurred.
Analysis
- Primary failure mode
- Engine power loss
- First missed decision gate
- Pilot could have chosen to land earlier when engine power began to decline.
NTSB coding
Evidence available
- ADS-B / radar
- Photos
- 12 docket documents
Docket documents12
- ATC Flight Track and Accident Siteatc
- Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1form
- Release of Aircraft Wreckage, NTSB Form 6120.15form
- Carburetor Ice Chartother
- Excerpt from Engine Logbookother
- FAA Correspondenceother
- Record of Conversationsother
- Photograph 1: Airplane at Accident Site (Courtesy of FAA)photos
- Photograph 2: Airplane at Accident Site (Courtesy of FAA)photos
- Photograph 3: Panoramic View of Accident Airplane and Direction of Flight (Courtesy of FAA)photos
- Mechanic's Report – Engine Examinationreport
- Weather Reports and Recordsreport
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