Thursday, September 21, 2017

Cessna 150E, N6250T: Accident occurred September 20, 2017 at Siler City Municipal Airport (KSCR), Chatham County, North Carolina

Additional Participating Entity:
Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office; Greensboro, North Carolina

Aviation Accident Final Report - National Transportation Safety Board: https://app.ntsb.gov/pdf


Investigation Docket - National Transportation Safety Board: https://dms.ntsb.gov/pubdms


http://registry.faa.gov/N6250T 


National Transportation Safety Board - Aviation Accident Factual Report

Location: Siler City, NC
Accident Number: GAA17CA546
Date & Time: 09/20/2017, 1530 EDT
Registration: N6250T
Aircraft: CESSNA 150
Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Defining Event: Abnormal runway contact
Injuries: 1 None
Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General Aviation - Personal 

Analysis 

According to the pilot, during a time-building, cross-country flight, the airplane had multiple mechanical malfunctions. On the fourth leg of the flight, he departed the airport and noticed that the airplane was low on fuel. He flew to a nearby airport, landed, and added 10 gallons of fuel.

After fueling, the airplane would not start, and the pilot asked maintenance personnel to jump the airplane's battery. Then, during taxi to the runway, he noticed that the "radios and other electronics" were inoperative, but he continued to the runway. During the takeoff roll, he was startled by a loud noise in his headset, which he believed came from the airplane's communication radio. He attempted to assess the problem during the takeoff roll, and the airplane veered off the right side of the runway into the safety area.

After regaining control, he taxied back to the approach end of the runway. He performed a flight control check and an engine power check and departed the airport.

The pilot reported that he then landed at a nontowered airport "to check out the aircraft." He performed another flight control check and an engine run-up but did not exit the airplane "because of the starting issue." The pilot then departed for the destination airport. He reported that he landed the airplane and taxied to parking. He recalled that he performed a postflight check of the airplane, but "other than grass and grass stains [he] did not see any damage."

Later that evening, the airplane's owner informed the pilot that the left wing was damaged.

The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left-wing spar and aileron. 

Probable Cause and Findings

The National Transportation Safety Board determines the probable cause(s) of this accident to be:
The pilot's improper decision to take off with known electrical issues, which distracted him and led to a loss of directional control during the takeoff roll.

Findings

Aircraft
Directional control - Not attained/maintained (Cause)

Personnel issues
Aircraft control - Pilot (Cause)
Situational awareness - Pilot (Cause)

Factual Information

History of Flight

Enroute
Miscellaneous/other

Taxi
Sys/Comp malf/fail (non-power)
Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT)

According to the pilot, during a time building cross-country flight, the airplane had multiple mechanical malfunctions.

On the fourth leg of the flight, he departed the airport and noticed that the airplane was low on fuel. He flew to a nearby airport, landed, and added 10 gallons of fuel.

After fueling, the airplane would not start, and he asked a maintenance shop to jump the airplane's battery. Then, during taxi to the runway, he noticed that the "radios and other electronics" were inoperative, but he continued to the runway. During the takeoff roll, he was startled by a loud noise in his headset, which he believed came from the airplane's communication radio. He attempted to assess the problem during the takeoff roll and the airplane veered off the right side of the runway into the safety area.

After regaining control, he taxied back to the approach end of the runway. He performed a flight control check and an engine power check and departed the airport.

The pilot reported that he then landed at a non-towered airport "to check out the aircraft". He performed another flight control check and an engine run-up but did not exit the airplane "because of the starting issue." The pilot then departed for the destination airport.

He reported that he landed the airplane and taxied to parking. He recalled that he performed a post-flight check of the airplane, but "other than grass and grass stains [he] did not see any damage".

Later that evening, the owner of the airplane informed the pilot that the left wing was damaged.

The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left-wing spar and aileron. 

Pilot Information

Certificate: Private
Age: 67, Male
Airplane Rating(s): Single-engine Land
Seat Occupied: Left
Other Aircraft Rating(s): None
Restraint Used: 3-point
Instrument Rating(s): None
Second Pilot Present: No
Instructor Rating(s): None
Toxicology Performed: No
Medical Certification: Class 3 With Waivers/Limitations
Last FAA Medical Exam: 03/01/2017
Occupational Pilot:
Last Flight Review or Equivalent: 12/27/2016
Flight Time:  (Estimated) 147 hours (Total, all aircraft), 7 hours (Total, this make and model), 43 hours (Pilot In Command, all aircraft), 5 hours (Last 90 days, all aircraft), 3 hours (Last 30 days, all aircraft), 2 hours (Last 24 hours, all aircraft) 

Aircraft and Owner/Operator Information

Aircraft Manufacturer: CESSNA
Registration: N6250T
Model/Series: 150 E
Aircraft Category: Airplane
Year of Manufacture: 1964
Amateur Built: No
Airworthiness Certificate: Normal
Serial Number: 15060950
Landing Gear Type: Tricycle
Seats: 2
Date/Type of Last Inspection: 07/26/2017, Annual
Certified Max Gross Wt.: 1601 lbs
Time Since Last Inspection:
Engines: 1 Reciprocating
Airframe Total Time: 6162 Hours as of last inspection
Engine Manufacturer: CONT MOTOR
ELT: C91  installed, not activated
Engine Model/Series: O-200 SERIES
Registered Owner: On file
Rated Power: 100 hp
Operator: On file
Operating Certificate(s) Held: Pilot School (141) 

Meteorological Information and Flight Plan

Conditions at Accident Site: Visual Conditions
Condition of Light: Day
Observation Facility, Elevation: KHBI, 673 ft msl
Observation Time: 1930 UTC
Distance from Accident Site: 19 Nautical Miles
Direction from Accident Site: 261°
Lowest Cloud Condition: Clear
Temperature/Dew Point: 30°C / 18°C
Lowest Ceiling: None
Visibility:  10 Miles
Wind Speed/Gusts, Direction: 7 knots, 250°
Visibility (RVR):
Altimeter Setting: 30 inches Hg
Visibility (RVV):
Precipitation and Obscuration: No Obscuration; No Precipitation
Departure Point: Lexington, NC (EXX)
Type of Flight Plan Filed: VFR
Destination: Lexington, NC (EXX)
Type of Clearance: None
Departure Time: 1400 EDT
Type of Airspace: Class G

Airport Information

Airport: SILER CITY MUNI (SCR)
Runway Surface Type: Asphalt
Airport Elevation: 615 ft
Runway Surface Condition: Dry
Runway Used: 04
IFR Approach: None
Runway Length/Width: 5000 ft / 75 ft
VFR Approach/Landing: None 

Wreckage and Impact Information

Crew Injuries: 1 None
Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Passenger Injuries: N/A
Aircraft Fire: None
Ground Injuries: N/A
Aircraft Explosion: None
Total Injuries: 1 None
Latitude, Longitude:  35.704167, -79.504167 (est) Additional Participating Entity:
Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office; Greensboro, North Carolina

Aviation Accident Factual Report - National Transportation Safety Board: https://app.ntsb.gov/pdf


Investigation Docket - National Transportation Safety Board: https://dms.ntsb.gov/pubdms


http://registry.faa.gov/N6250T 


National Transportation Safety Board - Aviation Accident Factual Report

Location: Siler City, NC
Accident Number: GAA17CA546
Date & Time: 09/20/2017, 1530 EDT
Registration: N6250T
Aircraft: CESSNA 150
Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Defining Event: Abnormal runway contact
Injuries: 1 None
Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General Aviation - Personal 

According to the pilot, during a time building cross-country flight, the airplane had multiple mechanical malfunctions.

On the fourth leg of the flight, he departed the airport and noticed that the airplane was low on fuel. He flew to a nearby airport, landed, and added 10 gallons of fuel.

After fueling, the airplane would not start, and he asked a maintenance shop to jump the airplane's battery. Then, during taxi to the runway, he noticed that the "radios and other electronics" were inoperative, but he continued to the runway. During the takeoff roll, he was startled by a loud noise in his headset, which he believed came from the airplane's communication radio. He attempted to assess the problem during the takeoff roll and the airplane veered off the right side of the runway into the safety area.

After regaining control, he taxied back to the approach end of the runway. He performed a flight control check and an engine power check and departed the airport.

The pilot reported that he then landed at a non-towered airport "to check out the aircraft". He performed another flight control check and an engine run-up but did not exit the airplane "because of the starting issue." The pilot then departed for the destination airport.

He reported that he landed the airplane and taxied to parking. He recalled that he performed a post-flight check of the airplane, but "other than grass and grass stains [he] did not see any damage".

Later that evening, the owner of the airplane informed the pilot that the left wing was damaged.

The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left-wing spar and aileron. 

Pilot Information

Certificate: Private
Age: 67, Male
Airplane Rating(s): Single-engine Land
Seat Occupied: Left
Other Aircraft Rating(s): None
Restraint Used: 3-point
Instrument Rating(s): None
Second Pilot Present: No
Instructor Rating(s): None
Toxicology Performed: No
Medical Certification: Class 3 With Waivers/Limitations
Last FAA Medical Exam: 03/01/2017
Occupational Pilot:
Last Flight Review or Equivalent: 12/27/2016
Flight Time:  (Estimated) 147 hours (Total, all aircraft), 7 hours (Total, this make and model), 43 hours (Pilot In Command, all aircraft), 5 hours (Last 90 days, all aircraft), 3 hours (Last 30 days, all aircraft), 2 hours (Last 24 hours, all aircraft) 

Aircraft and Owner/Operator Information

Aircraft Manufacturer: CESSNA
Registration: N6250T
Model/Series: 150 E
Aircraft Category: Airplane
Year of Manufacture: 1964
Amateur Built: No
Airworthiness Certificate: Normal
Serial Number: 15060950
Landing Gear Type: Tricycle
Seats: 2
Date/Type of Last Inspection: 07/26/2017, Annual
Certified Max Gross Wt.: 1601 lbs
Time Since Last Inspection:
Engines: 1 Reciprocating
Airframe Total Time: 6162 Hours as of last inspection
Engine Manufacturer: CONT MOTOR
ELT: C91  installed, not activated
Engine Model/Series: O-200 SERIES
Registered Owner: On file
Rated Power: 100 hp
Operator: On file
Operating Certificate(s) Held: Pilot School (141) 

Meteorological Information and Flight Plan

Conditions at Accident Site: Visual Conditions
Condition of Light: Day
Observation Facility, Elevation: KHBI, 673 ft msl
Observation Time: 1930 UTC
Distance from Accident Site: 19 Nautical Miles
Direction from Accident Site: 261°
Lowest Cloud Condition: Clear
Temperature/Dew Point: 30°C / 18°C
Lowest Ceiling: None
Visibility:  10 Miles
Wind Speed/Gusts, Direction: 7 knots, 250°
Visibility (RVR):
Altimeter Setting: 30 inches Hg
Visibility (RVV):
Precipitation and Obscuration: No Obscuration; No Precipitation
Departure Point: Lexington, NC (EXX)
Type of Flight Plan Filed: VFR
Destination: Lexington, NC (EXX)
Type of Clearance: None
Departure Time: 1400 EDT
Type of Airspace: Class G

Airport Information

Airport: SILER CITY MUNI (SCR)
Runway Surface Type: Asphalt
Airport Elevation: 615 ft
Runway Surface Condition: Dry
Runway Used: 04
IFR Approach: None
Runway Length/Width: 5000 ft / 75 ft
VFR Approach/Landing: None 

Wreckage and Impact Information

Crew Injuries: 1 None
Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Passenger Injuries: N/A
Aircraft Fire: None
Ground Injuries: N/A
Aircraft Explosion: None
Total Injuries: 1 None
Latitude, Longitude:  35.704167, -79.504167 (est)

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