DALLAS, TX, USA
N60124
CESSNA 150J
THIRTY FIVE MINUTES INTO THE DARK NIGHT VMC FLIGHT, THE ENGINE SEIZED WITH NO WARNING. THE PILOT EXECUTED A FORCED LANDING TO A GOLF COURSE AND IMPACTED A TREE JUST BEFORE LANDING. ENGINE TEARDOWN DISCLOSED THAT THE BEARING INSIDE THE GEAR AND SPRAG HOUSING WAS MISSING A NEEDLE AND WAS LOCKED IN POSITION ON THE STARTER GEAR AND SHAFT ASSEMBLY. THE MISSING NEEDLE WAS NOT FOUND. THE GEAR AND SPRAG HOUSING WOULD NOT ROTATE IN EITHER DIRECTION ON THE SHAFT ASSEMBLY. THIS RESULTED IN THE ENGINE BACK DRIVING THE STARTER.
On August 4, 1994, at 2245 central daylight time, a Cessna 150J, N60124, was substantially damaged during a forced landing on a golf course, in the vicinity of Dallas, Texas. The airplane, privately owned and flown by a commercial pilot, was on a local personal flight. There was no flight plan filed and dark night visual meteorological conditions prevailed. The pilot received minor injuries. The aircraft departed from the Addison Airport in Addison, Texas, a suburb of Dallas, at 2210. The pilot stated that she intended to return to the Addison Airport to land. According to the pilot's endorsed statement, the aircraft was between 1500 to 1700 feet above mean sea level when the engine "seized" and the "propeller would not windmill." An air restart was attempted, but was not successful. The pilot then executed a forced landing on a golf course. Just before touchdown, the right wing struck a tree. Examination and teardown of the engine on August 24, 1994, at Air Salvage of Dallas (ASOD), revealed that the engine crankshaft rotated with difficulty until the starter was removed. Further examination revealed that the bearing inside the gear and sprag housing was missing a needle and was locked in position on the gear and shaft assembly. The missing needle was not found. The gear and sprag housing would not rotate in either direction on the shaft assembly. The starter rotated freely once the gear and shaft assembly was removed. A review of the engine log books revealed that a starter clutch (p/n 5853) was installed on January 1, 1993. Additional work on the starter for damaged threads was documented in the log books on December 22, 1993.
THE LOSS OF ENGINE POWER DUE TO FAILURE OF THE STARTER GEAR AND SHAFT ASSEMBLY NEEDLE BEARING. FACTORS WERE THE DARK NIGHT CONDITIONS AND THE LACK OF SUITABLE TERRAIN FOR A FORCED LANDING.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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