Cessna A150K N8380M

Summary

On 23 June 2012 at about 23:30 local time, a Cessna A150K registered N8380M, operated by Kyle B. Spears, was involved in an accident near Mamou, Louisiana, 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

23 June 2012 at 23:30

Classification

Accident

Location

Mamou, Louisiana, United States

Coordinates

30.6975, -92.4139

Aircraft

Cessna A150K

Registration

N8380M

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Kyle B. Spears

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Mamou → Mamou

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

CEN12LA388

Nobody was injured.

The pilot's inadequate preflight inspection, which resulted in a partial loss of engine power due to fuel contamination.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot reported that the engine experienced a partial loss of engine power after encountering turbulence during cruise flight. He noted that the engine continued to operate smoothly at idle speed, but was minimally responsive to multiple throttle movements. Specifically, a full application of the throttle would result in a momentary increase of engine power before the engine went back to idle speed. The pilot applied carburetor heat, which had no observed effect on engine operation. He made a forced landing in a rice field, during which the airplane nosed over. Postaccident examination of the carburetor and gascolator bowls revealed evidence of water and particulate contamination. The wing fuel tanks also contained water contamination. Additionally, an examination of the pilot's refueling container, located on his private airstrip, revealed water and particulate contamination. The filter assembly installed on the refueling container was also contaminated with particulate debris. The contamination in the fuel system, which should have been detected during a routine preflight inspection, likely resulted in the partial loss of engine power.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.