Accident Overview
On June 27, 2016, about 2100 eastern daylight time, a Cessna model 150L single-engine airplane, registration N6622G, was substantially damaged during a forced landing on a street in Detroit, Michigan. The commercial pilot was not injured. An individual on the ground was fatally injured after coming into contact with a severed live power line. The airplane was registered to Drake Aerial Enterprises, LLC, and operated by Air America Aerial Ads under 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. Day visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the banner-tow flight, which had departed from Coleman A. Young Municipal Airport (DET) about 1748.
Flight and Engine Details
According to the pilot, after takeoff he remained in the traffic pattern to retrieve the banner, then orbited the Detroit River until 2053 when he decided to return to the airport. En route, about 2057, the engine began to run roughly. The pilot enriched the fuel mixture and turned on the auxiliary fuel pump, but the engine ran a few more seconds before a total loss of power. The pilot declared an emergency with the tower controller, released the banner, and executed a forced landing to a nearby street. The airplane struck a power line during the landing. The ground individual, who was retrieving items from her parked vehicle, was seriously injured when she contacted the severed live power line and died on July 6, 2016, while being treated at a local hospital.
The accident airplane was equipped with a 180-horsepower Lycoming O-360-A4A engine (serial number RL-20646-36A) installed per Supplemental Type Certificate (STC) No. SA4795SW. Extended-range fuel tanks per STC No. SA5733SW increased fuel capacity to 40 gallons (37.2 gallons usable). The pilot reported a full fuel load at departure.
Fuel Examination and Company Policy
The operator stated that typical fuel consumption for a Cessna 150 banner-tow flight was 9.5-10.5 gallons per hour, and company policy limited such flights to 3 hours or less to avoid fuel exhaustion. However, environmental conditions like high density altitude or wind could require higher power settings and increased fuel consumption, prompting a reduced limit of 2 hours 30 minutes to 2 hours 45 minutes. The pilot had received a verbal briefing on this policy within the month prior to the accident.
The pilot reported the flight duration was at least 3 hours 9 minutes, and a higher-than-normal power setting was used to maintain altitude. He acknowledged knowing the company policy limiting flights to 3 hours or less.
Postaccident examination by an FAA inspector found the left fuel tank empty, the right tank with residual fuel, and the gascolator with a few ounces of fuel. A subsequent test run revealed no engine anomalies that would have precluded normal operation.
Regulatory Context
Federal regulation 14 CFR Part 91.151 requires that no person begin a flight in day VMC unless there is enough fuel to reach the intended destination plus 30 minutes at normal cruising speed.
In response, the operator updated its policy to limit banner-tow flights to 2 hours 45 minutes or less, agreed to install cockpit placards reinforcing this limit, and committed to installing fuel flow/totalizers in all banner-tow airplanes with training on their proper use.