ADKINS, TX, USA
N6623S
CESSNA 150H
THE STUDENT PILOT WAS PERFORMING LOW LEVEL PASSES OVER HIS PRIVATE AIRSTRIP WHEN THE AIRPLANE'S LEFT WING IMPACTED A FENCE POST DURING A MANEUVER. HE LANDED WITHOUT INCIDENT, PUT DUCT TAPE ON THE IMPACTED AREA OF THE LEADING EDGE, AND FLEW BACK TO HIS DEPARTURE AIRPORT. HE DID NOT REPORT THE EVENT. SEVERAL DAYS LATER, AN FAA INSPECTOR SAW THE AIRPLANE AT A REPAIR STATION AND NOTED THE FRACTURED LEFT WING SPAR. HE THEN INTERVIEWED THE STUDENT AND HIS INSTRUCTOR. THE STUDENT STATED THAT DURING THE LOW PASS OVER HIS AIRSTRIP, HIS ATTENTION WAS DIVERTED MOMENTARILY DUE TO AN OPEN ENGINE COWLING INSPECTION DOOR
On February 20, 1993, at approximately 1500 central standard time, a Cessna 150H, N6623S, was substantially damaged while maneuvering at low altitude when it impacted a fence post and barbed wire at a private airstrip near Adkins, Texas. The student pilot was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the solo instructional flight. The student pilot departed in his airplane from Stinson Airport, San Antonio, Texas, at approximately 1400 and flew to his private airstrip to practice landings. He stated to the FAA that he was flying approaches to the airstrip, but not touching down on the surface. During a low level maneuver, he was distracted when the engine cowling inspection door came open and the airplane's left wing impacted with a fence post and barbed wire, according to his statement. He landed the airplane without further incident, inspected the damage, put duct tape over the damaged area, and flew back to Stinson Airport. The accident was not reported and was discovered by an FAA inspector during an inspection of a repair station. The airplane's left wing spar was fractured through. The FAA mailed an NTSB Form 6120.1/2 to the pilot. The pilot has not returned the document to date, even though numerous attempts have been made to contact him to obtain it.
THE STUDENT PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN CLEARANCE WHILE MANEUVERING. A FACTOR WAS THE STUDENT'S DIVERTED ATTENTION FROM THE OPEN ENGINE INSPECTION DOOR
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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