Cessna 150L N6622G

Summary

On 28 June 2016 at about 01:00 local time, a Cessna 150L registered N6622G, operated by Air America Aerial Ads, was involved in an accident near Detroit, Michigan, United States. 2 people were on board. One person on the ground also died. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

28 June 2016 at 01:00

Classification

Accident

Location

Detroit, Michigan, United States

Nearest airport

Coleman A. Young Municipal (DET)

Coordinates

42.3892, -83.0042

Aircraft

Cessna 150L

Registration

N6622G

Category

Airplane

Year built

1970

Engines

1

Operator

Air America Aerial Ads

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Banner Tow

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Detroit → Detroit

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

CEN16LA236

Injuries not recorded.

The pilot’s disregard of the banner-tow operator's policy regarding the maximum allowable flight duration, which resulted in a total loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The commercial pilot was conducting a banner-tow flight. He reported that the airplane experienced a total loss of engine power after being airborne for at least 3 hours 9 minutes. He informed the tower controller of his emergency, released the banner, and conducted a forced landing to a nearby street. The airplane collided with a power line during the forced landing. The pilot reported that he had used a higher-than-normal engine power setting to maintain altitude throughout the accident flight. A postaccident examination of the fuel system established that the left fuel tank was empty, that the right fuel tank contained residual fuel, and that the gascolator contained a few ounces of fuel. A subsequent test run established that there were no anomalies with the engine that would have precluded normal operation. The operator had a policy that limited all banner-tow flights in the accident airplane to 3 hours or less to avoid fuel exhaustion. The operator also noted that environmental considerations, such as operating at a high-density altitude and/or in windy conditions, could require a higher-than-normal engine power setting and increased fuel consumption. Additionally, the operator told its pilots that banner-tow flights operating in such conditions should be reduced to between 2 hours 30 minutes and 2 hours 45 minutes. The pilot had received a verbal briefing within a month of the accident that covered the operator's policy regarding the maximum allowable flight duration in the accident airplane while towing banners and acknowledged knowing these procedures.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.