Cessna 150 N11560

Summary

On 11 April 1994 at about 14:40 local time, a Cessna 150 registered N11560 was involved in an accident near Hazel Green, Alabama, United States. 2 people were 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

11 April 1994 at 14:40

Classification

Accident

Location

Hazel Green, Alabama, United States

Nearest airport

Jones Field (NONE)

Coordinates

34.9194, -86.5601

Aircraft

Cessna 150

Registration

N11560

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ATL94LA079

Nobody was injured.

THE LOSS OF ENGINE POWER WHEN THE FRACTURED PIECE OF THE ROCKER BOSS INTERRUPTED THE NORMAL OPERATION OF A MOVABLE COMPONENT UNDER THE VALVE COVER. A FACTOR WAS THE SOFT TERRAIN IN THE LANDING AREA.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

UPON ARRIVING FROM A FORTY MINUTE LOCAL FLIGHT, THE PILOT ENTERED A TRAFFIC PATTERN FOR LANDING AT HIS PRIVATE SOD AIRSTRIP. WHILE ON FINAL APPROACH THE PILOT ELECTED TO GO AROUND BECAUSE SOMEONE WAS WALKING ON THE SOD STRIP. WHEN THE PILOT APPLIED POWER THE ENGINE FAILED TO DEVELOP FULL POWER AND HE HEARD A LOUD BACK FIRING SOUND COME FROM THE ENGINE. WITH REDUCED POWER, 1600 RPM, THE PILOT MADE A 270 DEGREE LEFT TURN AND MADE A FORCED LANDING IN A PLOWED FIELD ADJACENT TO HIS AIRSTRIP; AT TOUCH DOWN THE AIRPLANE NOSED OVER. EXAMINATION OF THE ENGINE ASSEMBLY DISCLOSED THAT, THE OUTER TOP OR HALF MOON SECTION OF THE INTAKE BOSS, ON NUMBER 3 CYLINDER HEAD, HAD SEPARATED FROM THE BOSS. THE HALF MOON SECTION OF THE BOSS ASSEMBLY WAS RECOVERED FROM INSIDE THE ROCKER COVER AND EXAMINED. THE EXAMINATION OF THE FRACTURE FACE REVEALED AREAS OF FATIGUE STRIATIONS, AND A POST-FRACTURE MARK ON THE OUTER RADIUS. THE EXAMINATION ALSO DETERMINED THAT THE FUNCTIONAL ABILITY OF THE CYLINDER WAS NOT EFFECTED UNLESS THE SEPARATED PIECE OF BOSS WAS WEDGED UNDER ONE OF THE MOVEABLE COMPONENTS OF THE CYLINDER HEAD.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.