Incident Overview
On August 22, 2015, at 1655 Atlantic standard time, a Cessna 150M, registration N4057V, was substantially damaged during a forced landing in Dorado, Puerto Rico. The private pilot, the sole occupant, was seriously injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed for the personal flight under 14 CFR Part 91.
Flight Sequence
The flight originated from Fernando Luis Ribas Dominicci Airport (TJIG) in San Juan, Puerto Rico, destined for Rafael Hernandez Airport (TJBQ) in Aguadilla. The pilot had flown the same aircraft earlier that morning to Culebra island and returned without any anomalies. According to the pilot, the preflight inspection and engine run-up for the accident flight were normal. The aircraft departed TJIG runway 27 at about 1640, heading west.
Approximately 15 minutes into the flight, at an altitude of 1,000 feet, the pilot detected a smell of smoke. He notified the TJIG air traffic control tower and announced his intention to turn back. The pilot cautiously reversed course. A few minutes later, a large amount of smoke began entering the cabin. The pilot turned off the master switch and searched for the source of the smoke and any signs of fire. The smoke persisted, forcing the pilot to decide between continuing to the airport or landing in a safe area.
Forced Landing
The aircraft was then over an open, unpopulated field that the pilot recognized from previous flights, which appeared flat and clear enough for a landing. Beyond the field lay the Metro San Juan area, and reaching TJIG would require flying over San Juan Bay. Due to the continuing smoke, the pilot chose to land in the field rather than risk an extended flight.
Selecting a landing spot, the pilot executed emergency procedures, cutting the fuel and stopping the engine. He descended aggressively to increase airspeed, following in-flight fire procedures. At about 300 feet, he leveled the aircraft and set up for a landing. The airplane touched down with both main landing gear as gently as possible on high grass. During the rollout, the pilot observed tall bushes ahead. He used the aircraft's momentum to raise it over the bushes by forcefully pulling back on the yoke. The pilot then felt the airplane strike something, and the motion became violent. He lost consciousness temporarily, then regained it and evacuated the aircraft. He was taken to a hospital, where he learned that the airplane had hit a dirt wall (water contingency barrier) hidden by the bushes, causing extensive damage to the forward section, which was displaced into the cabin.
Examination
A Federal Aviation Administration inspector responded to the scene. The aircraft had landed in a park about 6 miles west of TJIG. Examination of the airplane revealed electrical arcing in the engine compartment and melting of the plastic covering the battery grounding wire. The source of the arcing could not be determined.
Maintenance History
The pilot reported that the aircraft had accumulated about 40 flight hours since its most recent annual inspection, which was performed approximately 4 months before the accident.