MARION, WI, USA
N704CW
CESSNA 150M
THE STUDENT PILOT WAS FLYING A SINGLE ENGINE AIRPLANE ON A SOLO CROSS COUNTRY FLIGHT WHEN THE ENGINE BEGAN TO RUN ROUGH. THE ENGINE LOST APPROXIMATELY 25 PERCENT OF THE ORIGINAL POWER SETTING. THE AIRPLANE WOULD NOT MAINTAIN ALTITUDE AND WAS, ACCORDING TO THE PILOT, 'VIBRATING VERY BADLY.' THE PILOT CHOSE A FIELD WHICH HE BELIEVED SMOOTH AND LEVEL. UPON TOUCHDOWN THE AIRPLANE ROLLED DOWN HILL AND NOSED OVER AT THE BOTTOM OF THE HILL AFTER ITS NOSEGEAR COLLAPSED. INSPECTION OF THE ENGINE REVEALED FAILED INTAKE AND EXHAUST VALVES, AND A PISTON WITH HOLES IN ITS TOP. THE AIRPLANE WAS OPERATING UNDER AND AUTO GAS STC WHICH ALLOWED THE USE OF THAT FUEL AND ANY MIXTURE COMBINATION OF 100 LL AVIATION FUEL.
THE FAILURE OF THE EXHAUST AND INTAKE VALVES. FACTORS CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WERE DOWNHILL TERRAIN AND A COLLAPSED NOSEGEAR.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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