Accident Overview
On March 22, 2010, at about 1100 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 150L (registration N6589G) was substantially damaged during a forced landing after losing engine power while approaching runway 23 at Winter Haven’s Gilbert Airport (GIF), Winter Haven, Florida. The certificated flight instructor (CFI) and student pilot were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed for the local instructional flight under 14 CFR Part 91.
Sequence of Events
The pilots reported that they were turning from base leg to final for runway 23. After completing the before landing checklist, the student pilot reduced the throttle to 2,000 rpm. Shortly thereafter, engine power dropped to 1,500 rpm without input. The student pilot increased the throttle, and the engine reached 1,800 rpm, maintaining that for about 20 seconds before losing power completely. At that time, the airplane was about 500 feet above ground level. Neither pilot attempted to restart the engine. The CFI took control and performed a forced landing to a field near the airport. During the landing roll, the nose wheel encountered rough terrain, causing the airplane to nose over and come to rest inverted.
Examination Findings
An FAA inspector examined the airplane at the scene. Substantial damage was noted to the firewall and empennage. The airplane was inverted in a left wing low attitude. About four gallons of fuel were drained from the left wing fuel tank and gascolator; the right wing fuel tank contained no fuel.
A detailed engine examination on April 1, 2010, by two FAA inspectors found no mechanical malfunction. Magnetos operated normally. The carburetor was disassembled and showed no leakage or contamination. Compression checks were acceptable on all cylinders. Spark plugs indicated normal function except for the lower spark plug on cylinder four, which was oil soaked. No evidence of mechanical malfunction was noted.
Pilot Information
According to FAA records, the CFI held a commercial pilot certificate with ratings for airplane single-engine land, multi-engine land, and instrument airplane, and a flight instructor certificate with ratings for airplane single-engine, multi-engine, and instrument airplane. His most recent second-class medical certificate was issued on November 20, 2009. He reported about 2,800 hours of flight experience, with 1,000 hours in the accident airplane make and model.
The student pilot was issued a third-class medical certificate on July 25, 2008.
Aircraft Information
The airplane was a 1970 Cessna 150L, registered to an individual in September 2009. It was equipped with a 100-horsepower Teledyne-Continental Motors O-200 engine. It was a two-place, all-metal, high-wing, single-engine, cantilever monoplane with fixed tricycle landing gear.
Engine logbooks showed the last overhaul on June 1, 1995, at engine total time 1,687.7 hours. The last inspection was on May 16, 2009, at 2,329.9 hours. At the accident, the tachometer indicated about 2,472 hours.
Weather Conditions
At 1050, weather at GIF reported winds from 250 degrees at 6 knots, visibility 10 statute miles, scattered clouds at 15,000 feet, temperature 16°C, dew point 11°C, and altimeter 30.00 inches of mercury. An FAA Carburetor Icing Chart indicated "Serious icing - glide power" for that temperature and dew point. The pilots reported using carburetor heat as they reduced engine power upon entering the traffic pattern.