LEONARDTOWN, MD, USA
N5964J
CESSNA A150L
THE PILOT STATED WHILE MAKING SEVERAL LOW LEVEL CIRCULAR PASSES OVER A RESIDENCE 'THE ENGINE LOST POWER-RPM DROP TO MAYBE 1200...ENGINE POWER CUT IN/OUT A FEW TIMES - A LITTLE VIBRATION TOO.' THE PILOT ADJUSTED THE THROTTLE AND MIXTURE BUT COULD NOT MAKE THE ENGINE REGAIN POWER. HE DITCHED IN A POND LOCATED BEHIND THE RESIDENCE. THE PILOT EXITED THE AIRPLANE AS THE AIRPLANE SANK. THE AIRPLANE WAS RECOVERED FROM THE BOTTOM OF THE POND. A POST ACCIDENT EXAMINATION DID NOT REVEAL ANY AIRFRAME OR ENGINE ANOMALIES. THE AIRPLANE HAD APPROXIMATELY SIX GALLONS OF FUEL IN EACH WING TANK. THE CARBURETOR HEAT CONTROL WAS IN THE OFF POSITION. THE THROTTLE WAS 1/3 OPEN WITH THE MIXTURE FULL RICH. CONDITIONS FAVORABLE FOR CARBURETOR ICING EXISTED.
HISTORY OF FLIGHT On May 28, 1994, about 0825 eastern daylight time, a Cessna A 150L, N5964J, ditched in a pond during a forced landing descent, near Leonardtown, Maryland. The commercial pilot was not injured. The airplane was destroyed. The flight was being operated by Airplane Sales and Service, Incorporated, of Hollywood, Maryland. The personal flight departed St. Mary's County Airport in about 0805 and was conducted under the provisions of 14 CFR part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and a flight plan was not filed. According to the owner/operator, the airplane had been scheduled for an instructional flight on the morning of the accident. The accident pilot was not authorized to fly the airplane the morning of the accident. The dispatcher, who was familiar with the pilot, gave the airplane keys to the pilot. On the morning of the accident, the pilot reported that he flew to his girlfriend's house about 15 nautical miles south of the airport. He wrote that he was doing a "Buzz job to get girlfriends attention." He further reported that he circled his girlfriend's house several times at an altitude of about 500 feet mean sea level. He said "...some turns pretty steep, maybe lost some altitude in turns." The pilot reported that while maneuvering the airplane, he set the throttle to "...1800 RPM to keep the noise down...", he then stated "...the engine lost power-RPM drop to maybe 1200...engine power cut in/out a few times - a little vibration too." The pilot adjusted the throttle and mixture retracted flaps and tried to climb. He stated that he recognized the stall buffet and was unable to maintain altitude. The pilot reported he prepared for an off airport landing and ditched the airplane in a pond due to the populated area below his flight path. The pilot said that on short final he slowed the airplane and leveled the wings for landing. He said he unlatched the pilot's door and was reaching for the master switch when the airplane "...hit water." The pilot reported he exited the airplane and safely swam to shore. The airplane sank in about 25 feet of water. Several witnesses who were playing golf collectively reported seeing the airplane circling the sub-division and the golf course. They reported hearing the airplane's engine sputter and then they observed the airplane land in the water. The airplane was recovered from the bottom of the pond on May 30, 1994. PERSONNEL INFORMATION According to information supplied by the owner/operator, the pilot was qualified and current in the airplane in accordance with applicable FARs. Additional information pertaining to the pilot is contained in the pilot information section of the Factual Report of Aviation Accident/Incident, NTSB Form 6120.1/2. METEOROLOGICAL INFORMATION According to witnesses and the pilot, visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the accident site. The Patuxent River Naval Air Station, Maryland, which is the closest observing facility to the accident location, reported that 30 minutes prior to the accident the temperature was 54 degrees Fahrenheit and the dew point was 45 degrees Fahrenheit. Approximately 25 minutes after accident the station reported the temperature to be 61 degrees Fahrenheit with a dew point of 46 degrees Fahrenheit. According to the attached "Conditions Known Favorable For Carburetor Icing" Chart, conditions favorable for carburetor icing were present. WRECKAGE AND IMPACT INFORMATION The accident site is located in the Breton Bay area of St. Mary's County, Maryland, about five miles southeast of Leonardtown. The accident site is a man-made pond with an irregular shape. The pond is located between a residential area and the Breton Bay Golf course. The airplane sank to the bottom of the pond after impacting the water. Recovery of the airplane was successfully accomplished on May 30, 1994. An oily substance, appearing to be aviation fuel, rose to the surface of the pond during recovery. The airplane had approximately six gallons of fuel in each wing tank. Continuity to all flight control surfaces was established using the flight controls in the cockpit. The airplane's fuselage was deformed and bent in an area about one foot aft of the main landing gear on each side of the airplane. The underside (belly) of the airplane was similarly bent and deformed about two and a half feet aft of the main landing gear. The cockpit windscreen was broken out and the upper fuselage plexi-glass panels were broken. The empennage was intact. The lower hinge point attachment for the rudder was bent and deformed. No other damaged was noted in this area. The nose gear was sheared off at the strut attach point and remained attached to the airplane by the strut scissors assembly. Both main landing gear remained attached to the airframe and were bent aft. The propeller spinner was crushed aft. One propeller blade was bent aft and the remaining propeller blade did not display any visible damage. Neither propeller blade displayed noticeable twists. Engine continuity was established by turning the propeller blade and observing accessory gears turning in the aft portion of the engine. All engine accessories remained attached to the engine and were intact. A visual inspection of the spark plugs did not reveal any abnormalities. Water was present throughout the engine accessories and internally in the engine. No pre-existing deficiencies were noted during the on scene engine examination. After the airplane was removed from the accident site, a further examination of the engine and its respective components was conducted. The carburetor heat control was in the off position. The throttle was 1/3 open and the mixture was full rich. The magnetos were checked and found to be operable. No anomalies were noted which would prevent the engine from operating and producing power. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION The National Transportation Safety Board completed its investigation on scene and did not take possession of the airplane.
IMPROPER USE OF CARBURETOR HEAT BY THE PILOT, WHICH RESULTED IN LOSS OF ENGINE POWER DUE TO CARBURETOR ICE. A CONTRIBUTING FACTOR WAS THE PRESENCE OF CARBURETOR ICING CONDITIONS.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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