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| NTSB Identification: CHI96LA128. The docket is stored in the (offline) NTSB Imaging System. |
| Accident occurred Tuesday, April 09, 1996 at SIKESTON, MO |
| Aircraft: CESSNA 150L, registration: N6689G |
| Injuries: 1 Minor |
| Event: 20001208X05530 Status: Final Report Approved On Wednesday, May 29, 1996 |
| NTSB Preliminary Narrative (6120.19A) |
| On April 9, 1996, at 1700 central daylight time (cdt), a Cessna 150, N6689G, piloted by a private pilot, was substantially damaged during a |
| forced landing following a total loss of power. The pilot reported the engine lost its power shortly after he had turned the airplane onto a base |
| leg for runway 02 at the Sikeston Memorial Municipal Airport, Sikeston, Missouri. The airplane landed about 2,000 feet short of the runway's |
| threshold. The 14 CFR Part 91 flight was not operating on a flight plan. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. |
| The pilot reported minor injuries. The flight departed Sikeston, Missouri, at 1655 cdt. |
| The pilot's written statement said he "...pulled the throttle..." opposite runway 02's approach end while on downwind at 90 knots indicated |
| airspeed (KIAS). He said he then applied carburetor heat. After slowing to 70 KIAS, the pilot said he made a shallow banked turn to base leg. |
| The pilot said while N6689G was on base leg its engine sounded as though it was decelerating. He said he confirmed that carburetor heat had |
| been applied. According to the pilot, he made a shallow banked turn toward final approach. During this turn N6689G's propeller stopped |
| rotating. |
| The pilot said he chose a field to land in rather than a busy street. As he approached the ground, the pilot said he slowed the airplane up so it |
| would land before a ditch that was in front of him. The pilot said "...the airplane quit flying..." when it was between 10 and 15 feet above the |
| ground. The airplane made a hard landing and nosed over during its landing roll according to the pilot. |
| During an interview with the pilot it was revealed that he had not flown the Cessna 150 for almost a year. He said he usually flies an airplane |
| with a fuel injected engine that does not have carburetor heat. He said the final approach glide path N6689G was on looked like it was going to |
| take the airplane into a ditch. He said he slowed the airplane down so it would descend and land before the ditch. |
| The pilot was asked if he flew the airplane too far on downwind after reducing power before turning base leg. He said he did now that he |
| though about it. The before landing checklist for N6689G states: "Mixture--Rich, Carburetor Heat-- Apply full heat before closing throttle." The |
| reported temperature/dew point for the airport located at Cape Girardeau, Missouri, was 56 and 23 degrees Fahrenheit respectively. According |
| to the FAA's Carburetor Icing Probability Chart, the temperature and dew point were adequate to create light carburetor icing during cruise or |
| gliding flight. A copy of the chart is appended to this report. |
| According to the Federal Aviation Administration Principal Operations Inspector (POI) representing the NTSB on-scene, the airplane landed about |
| 2,000 feet short of runway 02. The POI said the airplane nosed over after colliding with the ground. No mechanical anomalies were found with |
| the engine or airframe that would have prevented normal operation. |
| NTSB Final Narrative (6120.4) |
| The pilot said he reduced power opposite the approach end of the runway. After retarding the throttle, he applied carburetor heat. The pilot said |
| he made a shallow banked turn onto base leg after the airplane had decelerated from 90 to 70 KIAS. The airplane's propeller stopped rotating as |
| the pilot made a shallow banked turn onto final approach. The pilot made a forced landing about 2,000 feet short of the runway. During the |
| landing, the airplane nosed over and was damaged. The pilot said that he normally flew an airplane with a fuel injected engine that did not have |
| carburetor heat. During a discussion with the IIC, the pilot said the engine may have stopped because of carburetor ice. He said he could not |
| recall how much time had elapsed between the time he reduced power and applied carburetor heat. The before landing checklist in the pilot |
| operating handbook stated: 'Mixture--Rich, Carburetor Heat-- Apply full heat before closing throttle.' About 20 miles north-northeast at Cape |
| Girardeau, Mo, the temperature and dew point were 56 and 23 degrees, respectively. An icing probibility chart showed that the potential for |
| carburetor icing existed during gliding or cruise flight. |
| NTSB Probable Cause Narrative |
| The pilot's delay in applying carburetor heat, which resulted in carburetor icing and subsequent loss of engine power. Factors relating to the |
| accident were: carburetor icing (weather) conditions, and the pilot's lack of recent experience in the make and model of airplane. |
| Occurrences and Sequence of Events |
| Occurrence: 1, LOSS OF ENGINE POWER(TOTAL) - NONMECHANICAL |
| Phase of Operation: APPROACH - VFR PATTERN - BASE LEG/BASE TO FINAL |
| Sequence of Events for Occurrence Number: 1 |
| 1 ( Factor ) WEATHER CONDITION / CARBURETOR ICING CONDITIONS / (0) |
| 2 ( Cause ) CARBURETOR HEAT / DELAYED / PILOT IN COMMAND |
| 3 ( Factor ) LACK OF RECENT EXPERIENCE IN TYPE OF AIRCRAFT / (0) / PILOT IN COMMAND |
| 4 ( Cause ) FUEL SYSTEM, CARBURETOR / ICE / (0) |
| Occurrence: 2, FORCED LANDING |
| Phase of Operation: EMERGENCY LANDING |
| Occurrence: 3, NOSE OVER |
| Phase of Operation: LANDING - ROLL |
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