Cessna 150F N8637S

Summary

On 26 November 2017 at about 15:15 local time, a Cessna 150F registered N8637S was involved in an accident near Midland, Texas, 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

26 November 2017 at 15:15

Classification

Accident

Location

Midland, Texas, United States

Coordinates

32.0367, -102.1017

Aircraft

Cessna 150F

Registration

N8637S

Category

Airplane

Year built

1965

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Instructional

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Midland → San Angelo

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

CEN18LA040

Nobody was injured.

The improper installation of the generator by unknown personnel, which resulted in a loss of oil and subsequent engine failure.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The student pilot stated that the preflight, engine run-up, and takeoff were normal with no anomalies noted. About 15 minutes into the solo cross-country flight, the engine lost total power, and he performed a forced landing to a tree-covered area. During the forced landing, the airplane impacted a power line and trees. Examination of the airplane revealed oil residue on the back of the engine, lower engine cowling, and the right main landing gear strut. The top mounting nut on the generator was missing, and the two lower mounting nuts were loose. Evidence of oil leakage past the generator mounting gasket was identified after removal of the generator from the engine. A hole in the engine crankcase was noted above the No. 1 cylinder. In addition, examination of the engine run-up and taxiway area, consistent with where the student pilot completed his engine run before the flight, showed a large oil stain and residual oil. The aircraft records did not reveal any recent maintenance to the generator or engine accessories; however, it is likely that when the generator was installed, the nuts were not properly tightened, leading them to back off over time, which led to the loss of oil.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.