Pilot Debrief

CESSNA 152 near Everglades City, FL — 2017-12-16

Final reportERA18LA050
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Date
2017-12-16
Location
Everglades City, FL, USA
Airport
9FL7
Aircraft
CESSNA 152
Registration
N95550
Category
Airplane
Highest injury
None
Fatalities
0
Phase of flight
Descent

Probable cause

The loose nut connecting the mixture control cable to the mixture control arm, which resulted in the pilot’s inability to control the mixture and the subsequent total loss of engine power.

NTSB narrative

The pilot reported that while in level cruise flight on the personal flight, he adjusted the throttle and mixture controls. Shortly after, the engine lost total power. Emergency engine procedures did not restore engine power, and the pilot selected a nearby airport for a forced landing. During the subsequent emergency landing, the airplane struck a perimeter fence before impacting the ground just short of the runway, which resulted in substantial damage to the fuselage. A postaccident engine examination revealed that when the mixture control was manipulated, the cable moved, but the mixture arm on the carburetor did not move. When the fiber lock nut that attached the mixture cable to the mixture arm was tightened, the mixture linkage operated normally. The engine was then started and operated at various power settings. Given the absence of mechanical issues other than the loose mixture control fiber lock nut, it is likely that the mixture linkage became loose and the mixture control arm vibrated to the lean direction, which resulted in the mixture being too lean and the engine losing total power.

Analysis

Primary failure mode
Engine power loss
First missed decision gate
Pilot could have checked engine performance before departure.

NTSB coding

Evidence available

  • Photos
  • 8 docket documents
View NTSB final reportView NTSB docket

Docket documents8

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