Accident Overview
On June 13, 2009, at 1705 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 150H (registration N22075) experienced a loss of engine power and subsequently impacted terrain during a forced landing in Lawrenceville, Virginia. The student pilot, who was the sole occupant, was not injured. The airplane sustained substantial damage.
Flight Details
The flight was conducted as an instructional flight under 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. No flight plan was filed for the local training flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The flight originated from the Lawrenceville/Brunswick Municipal Airport (LVL) in Lawrenceville, Virginia, at 1700.
Pilot Account
According to the student pilot, during his third takeoff of the day, he climbed to 700 feet mean sea level and “experienced an engine problem and the prop stopped working. The airspeed dropped and [he] re-established the airspeed by pitching down just a little, [and] all I saw was a lumber factory and aimed for the driveway. I touched down and while I was rolling I hit a light pole on the right side of the wingtip. The airplane went left and [was] stopped by a tree impact.”
Aircraft Examination
An FAA inspector examined the airplane and found substantial damage to both wings from impact with a light pole and trees. Both wing leading edges were crushed aft, bending the spars. The engine examination revealed that engine oil was present and at the proper level. The spark plugs showed no unusual discoloration. The propeller was rotated by hand, and cylinder compression and valve continuity were confirmed. The air filter was removed and the air intake box inspected for obstructions, with none noted. Fuel drained from the airframe fuel bowl had no contaminants. The spark plugs were reinstalled, and the engine was started and ran using the aircraft systems.
Wreckage Examination
Examination of the wreckage did not reveal any evidence of a preexisting mechanical failure or malfunction.
Maintenance History
The airplane's most recent annual inspection was performed on September 1, 2008. At the time of the accident, the airplane had accumulated 70 hours of operation since that inspection.
Carburetor Icing Conditions
A review of the carburetor icing probability chart indicated that at the time of the accident, the aircraft was operating in conditions conducive to serious carburetor icing at glide power.
Conclusion
The accident resulted in substantial damage to the aircraft, with the pilot uninjured. The cause of the engine power loss was not determined from the examination.