Cessna 152 N48418

Summary

On 2 July 1990 at about 23:11 local time, a Cessna 152 registered N48418, operated by Aviation Facilities, Inc., was involved in an accident near Fullerton, California, United States. One person was on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

2 July 1990 at 23:11

Classification

Accident

Location

Fullerton, California, United States

Coordinates

Not recorded

Aircraft

Cessna 152

Registration

N48418

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Aviation Facilities, Inc.

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Instructional

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

LAX90LA241

Nobody was injured.

THE WARPED CONDITION OF THE ENGINE VALVES AND VALVE SEATS DUE TO EXCESSIVE AND REPEATED THERMAL SHOCK CYCLES.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

THE STUDENT SAID THAT WHILE FLYING TOWARD THE AIRPORT, THE ENGINE POWER OUTPUT SUDDENLY DROPPED AND VARIED BETWEEN 900 AND 1,400 RPM. THE POWER WAS INSUFFICIENT TO MAINTAIN FLIGHT AND THE STUDENT SAID HE REALIZED HE COULD NOT MAKE THE AIRPORT. HE SAW A LEVEL DIRT ROAD AT A CONSTRUCTION SITE AND MADE A FORCED LANDING. THE AIRCRAFT CONTACTED GROUND OBSTACLES DURING THE LANDING ROLL AND NOSED OVER. TEARDOWN OF THE ENGINE REVEALED THAT ALL VALVES AND VALVE SEATS WERE WARPED, WITH EVIDENCE OF EXHAUST GASSES ENTERING THE INTAKE PORTS. THE ENGINE WAS REPORTEDLY AT TBO.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.