Incident Overview
On November 26, 2017, at 0915 central standard time, a Cessna 150F airplane, registration N8637S, was forced to land after its engine lost all power near Midland, Texas. The student pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured, but the aircraft sustained substantial damage. The airplane was owned by Skycops, LLC, of Midland, Texas, and was operated by a private individual under 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and a visual flight rules flight plan had been filed for the solo cross-country flight.
Flight Details
The flight departed from Midland Airpark (MDD) at about 0900, destined for San Angelo, Texas. The student pilot reported that the preflight, engine run-up, and takeoff were normal, with no anomalies noted. Approximately 15 minutes into the flight, the engine experienced a total loss of power. The pilot executed a forced landing into an area with mesquite trees. During the landing, the airplane struck a power line and mesquite trees.
Examination Findings
Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspectors examined the airframe and engine at the accident site and after recovery. They noted oil residue on the back of the engine, the lower engine cowling, and the right main landing gear strut. The top mounting nut of the generator was missing, and the two lower mounting nuts were loose. When the generator was removed, evidence of oil leakage past the generator mounting gasket was found. Additionally, a hole was discovered in the engine crankcase above the No. 1 cylinder.
On the day of the accident, FAA inspectors also examined the engine run-up and taxiway area at MDD, where the student pilot had completed his engine run-up. The area contained a large oil stain and residual oil.
Engine History
A review of the engine logbook showed that the most recent 100-hour inspection was completed on February 19, 2017, at an aircraft tachometer time of 4,204.8 hours. At the time of the accident, the tachometer indicated 4,282.3 hours. According to the student pilot, an engine oil change had been performed about 10 hours before the accident. However, no entry for the oil change was found in the engine records.