Aviation Accident Summaries

Aviation Accident Summary MIA99LA201

ORMOND BEACH, FL, USA

Aircraft #1

N19222

Cessna 150L

Analysis

At 0324, a 'MAYDAY' call was made by one of the two pilots. The flight had been flying for an unknown period of time, and was in the traffic pattern when the airplane's engine lost power. The pilot put the airplane down on a road adjacent to a mall about 1/2 mile southwest of the airport. The airplane impacted the ground and nosed over. Examination of the wreckage revealed that fuel was present in the fuel tanks. The engine examination revealed that the No. 2 exhaust valve was stuck in the open position which caused a loss of power. Further examination of the cylinder revealed no discrepancies were found in the valve stem, valve guide size, or part numbers. Neither crewmember gave their version of the accident or made any statements. The flight instructor suffered a head injury and could not remember the accident. The student pilot refused to speak with the investigators and returned to his home in England a few days after the accident.

Factual Information

On July 24, 1999, about 0325 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 150L, N19222, registered to Ormond Beach Aviation Inc., was substantially damaged during a forced landing, near Ormond Beach, Florida. The commercial-rated pilot and dual student pilot reported serious injuries. Visual meteorological conditions (VMC) prevailed in the vicinity, and no flight plan had been filed. The local instructional flight was being conducted in accordance with Title 14 CFR Part 91. The flight had originated from the Ormond Beach Airport, at an unknown time. The flight was conducted as an instructional flight for the purpose of giving the student a night check-out. At 0324, a "MAYDAY" call was made by one of the pilots to Daytona Airport. The flight had been flying in the traffic pattern at Ormond Beach, when the airplane's engine lost power. The pilot put the airplane down on a road adjacent to the Ormond Beach Mall about 1/2 mile southwest of the airport. The airplane impacted the ground and nosed over. Examination of the wreckage revealed that fuel was present in the fuel tanks. The engine was examined under the supervision of the FAA at Ormond Beach Aviation's facility, Ormond Beach, Florida, on July 28, 1999. The examination revealed that the No. 2 exhaust valve was stuck in the open position. According to the FAA inspector's statement, "...the No. 2 exhaust valve was stuck open which led to a loss of power." Further examination of the cylinder revealed no discrepancies were found in the valve stem, valve guide size, or part numbers. Toxicological tests were conducted on both pilots at the Federal Aviation Administration, Research Laboratory, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, and revealed, "No ethanol or drugs detected in Blood." Neither crewmember gave their version of the accident or made any statements. The FAA inspector stated, "the flight instructor suffered a head injury and could not remember the accident. The student [pilot] refused to speak with the FAA and returned to England a few days after the accident."

Probable Cause and Findings

a loss of engine power due to a stuck exhaust valve which resulted in a forced landing, the subsequent impact with the ground, and nose over.

 

Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database

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