The National Transportation Safety Board did not travel to the scene of this accident.
Additional Participating Entity:
Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office; Boston, Massachusetts
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/N9230U
Location: Littleton, MA
Accident Number: ERA16LA300
Date & Time: 08/19/2016, 1349 EDT
Registration: N9230U
Aircraft: CESSNA 150
Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Defining Event: Loss of engine power (total)
Injuries: 1 None
Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General Aviation - Instructional
On August 19, 2016, at 1349 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 150M, N9230U, was substantially damaged when it impacted trees and terrain during a forced landing near Littleton, Massachusetts. The student pilot was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed for the solo instructional flight that was operated under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. The flight departed from Sanford Seacoast Regional Airport (SFM), Sanford, Maine, with the intended destination of Minute Man Air Field (6B6), Stow, Massachusetts.
According to the student pilot, he was on a solo cross-country flight and topped-off the fuel tanks with 100 low lead aviation fuel prior to departing on the first leg of the flight. He departed 6B6, landed at Laconia Municipal Airport (LCI), Laconia, New Hampshire, and then continued to SFM. After departing SFM, while in a cruise descent from 4,500 feet mean sea level (msl) on a 4 mile straight-in approach to runway 21 to 6B6, the engine lost partial power when the rpm decreased from 2,500 to 1,300 rpm around 2,500 feet msl. The student thought he could make it to the runway, but then began searching for a field to perform a forced landing. He located a field, turned toward it, and then began troubleshooting the engine. The student pilot advanced the mixture to full rich and applied carburetor heat; however, there was no change in the engine performance. As he was about to turn onto the final leg of the traffic pattern to the field, about 800 feet msl, the engine lost total power. The pilot landed the airplane in the selected field, which was about 300 feet msl, it impacted a stone wall and trees, and then came to rest in the upright position.
According to the flight instructor, the student pilot received his student pilot certificate in September 2014. His most recent third-class medical certificate was issued on September 18, 2014. At the time of the accident, he had accumulated 73 hours of total flight time, of which 51 hours were in the same make and model as the accident airplane and 11 hours were as pilot-in-command.
According to Federal Aviation Administration records, the airplane was manufactured in 1976, issued an airworthiness certificate in May 2015, and was registered a flight school. In addition, it was equipped with a Lycoming O-200 series, 100-horsepower engine. According to the flight instructor, a 100-hour inspection was performed on the airplane August 4, 2016, at a total time of 8,216.4 hours, and a tach time of 969 hours. At the time of the accident, the tachometer indicated 986.8 hours.
Examination of the airplane revealed that both wings were partially separated from the fuselage and the leading edges were impact damaged. The engine was examined and fuel was noted in the carburetor bowl. The fuel was free of water and debris. The rocker arm covers were removed and no anomalies were noted. Crankshaft and valve train continuity was confirmed from the propeller to the accessory section of the engine by rotating the propeller. In addition, evidence of compression was observed on all cylinders. The magnetos produced spark on all towers, the spark plugs exhibited normal wear, and were in "new condition." During the recovery, about 10 gallons of fuel were drained from the airplane.
The reported weather around the time of the accident at Laurence G Hanscom Field (BED), Bedford, Massachusetts, which was located 10 miles east of the accident location, indicated wind from 330° at 4 knots, 10 miles visibility, few clouds at 6,000 feet above ground level (agl), temperature 31° C, dew point 13° C, and an altimeter setting of 29.90 inches of mercury.
The carburetor icing probability chart from Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Special Airworthiness Information Bulletin (SAIB): CE-09-35 Carburetor Icing Prevention, June 30, 2009, shows a probability of icing at glide and cruise power at the temperature and dew point reported at the time of the accident.
According to the NTSB Pilot/Operator Report that was filed by the flight instructor, under the mechanical malfunction/failure section of the report it stated that the "engine fail[ed] due to carb[uretor] ice."
Pilot Information
Certificate: Student
Age: 18, Male
Airplane Rating(s): None
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 Without Waivers/Limitations
Last FAA Medical Exam: 09/18/2014
Occupational Pilot: No
Last Flight Review or Equivalent:
Flight Time: 73.6 hours (Total, all aircraft), 50.9 hours (Total, this make and model), 11.4 hours (Pilot In Command, all aircraft), 5.6 hours (Last 90 days, all aircraft), 5.6 hours (Last 30 days, all aircraft)
Aircraft and Owner/Operator Information
Aircraft Make: CESSNA
Registration: N9230U
Model/Series: 150 M
Aircraft Category: Airplane
Year of Manufacture: 1976
Amateur Built: No
Airworthiness Certificate: Normal; Utility
Serial Number: 15078180
Landing Gear Type: Tricycle
Seats: 2
Date/Type of Last Inspection: 08/04/2016, Annual
Certified Max Gross Wt.: 1601 lbs
Time Since Last Inspection: 18 Hours
Engines: 1 Reciprocating
Airframe Total Time: 8216.4 Hours as of last inspection
Engine Manufacturer: CONT MOTOR
ELT: Installed, activated, did not aid in locating accident
Engine Model/Series: O-200-A-48
Registered Owner: Aptis Aviation
Rated Power: 100 hp
Operator: Aptis Aviation
Operating Certificate(s) Held: None
Meteorological Information and Flight Plan
Conditions at Accident Site: Visual Conditions
Condition of Light: Day
Observation Facility, Elevation: BED, 133 ft msl
Distance from Accident Site: 10 Nautical Miles
Observation Time: 1356 EDT
Direction from Accident Site: 110°
Lowest Cloud Condition: Few / 6000 ft agl
Visibility: 10 Miles
Lowest Ceiling: None
Visibility (RVR):
Wind Speed/Gusts: 4 knots /
Turbulence Type Forecast/Actual: /
Wind Direction: 330°
Turbulence Severity Forecast/Actual: /
Altimeter Setting: 29.9 inches Hg
Temperature/Dew Point: 31°C / 13°C
Precipitation and Obscuration: No Obscuration; No Precipitation
Departure Point: Sanford, ME (SFM)
Type of Flight Plan Filed: VFR
Destination: Stow, MA (6B6)
Type of Clearance: VFR Flight Following
Departure Time: EDT
Type of Airspace:
Airport Information
Airport: MINUTE MAN AIRFIELD (6B6)
Runway Surface Type: Grass/turf
Airport Elevation: 268 ft
Runway Surface Condition: Dry; Vegetation
Runway Used: N/A
IFR Approach: None
Runway Length/Width:
VFR Approach/Landing: Forced Landing; Straight-in
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: 42.523889, -71.491667 (est)
14 CFR Part 91: General Aviation
Accident occurred Friday, August 19, 2016 in Littleton, MA
Aircraft: CESSNA 150M, registration: N9230U
Injuries: 1 Uninjured.
This is preliminary information, subject to change, and may contain errors. Any errors in this report will be corrected when the final report has been completed. NTSB investigators may not have traveled in support of this investigation and used data provided by various sources to prepare this aircraft accident report.
On August 19, 2016, at 1349 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 150, N9230U, was substantially damaged when it impacted trees and terrain during a forced landing near Littleton, Massachusetts. The student pilot was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed for the solo instructional flight that was operated under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. The flight departed from Sanford Seacoast Regional Airport (SFM), Sanford, Maine, with the intended destination of Minute Man Air Field (6B6), Stow, Massachusetts.
According to the student pilot, he was on a solo cross country flight and topped off the fuel tanks with 100 LL aviation fuel prior to departing on the first leg of the flight. He departed 6B6, landed at Laconia Municipal Airport (LCI), Laconia, New Hampshire, and then continued on to SFM. After departing SFM, while en route to 6B6, the engine lost partial power and decreased from 2500 rpm to 1300 rpm. The pilot advanced the mixture to full rich, applied carburetor heat; however, there was no change in the engine performance. He located a nearby field to perform a forced landing, and about 900 feet above ground level, the engine lost total power. The pilot landed the airplane in the selected field, it impacted a stone wall and trees, and then came to rest in the upright position.
An examination of the airplane revealed that both wings were partially separated from the fuselage and the leading edges were impact damaged. The engine was examined and fuel was noted in the carburetor bowl. The fuel was free of water and debris. The rocker arm covers were removed and no anomalies were noted. Crankshaft and valve train continuity was confirmed from the propeller to the accessory section of the engine by rotating the propeller. The spark plugs exhibited normal wear and were in "new condition."
During the recovery, about 10 gallons of fuel was drained from the airplane.
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