Background
On December 16, 2017, about 1320 eastern standard time, a Cessna 152, registration N95550, lost engine power and impacted terrain prior to the runway at Oasis Ranger Station – US Government Airport (9FL7), Everglades City, Florida. The airplane was substantially damaged, and the two private pilots were not injured. The aircraft was registered to and operated by Flying Academy Miami under 14 CFR Part 91 as a personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed. The flight originated at Miami Executive Airport (TMB) and was destined for Venice Municipal Airport (VNC).
Accident Sequence
According to the pilot flying, the aircraft departed TMB with about 26 gallons of fuel and climbed to a cruise altitude of 4,500 ft mean sea level. After reducing engine power and leaning the mixture, approximately five minutes later the engine lost total power. The pilot declared an emergency and aimed for 9FL7, which was nearby, while attempting to restart the engine. The aircraft descended, entered the base leg of the traffic pattern, and the pilot secured the cockpit for landing by leaning the mixture, pulling the throttle fully aft, and turning off carburetor heat and electrical equipment. The pilot not flying reported that on final approach, they tried to restart the engine one last time, but the propeller only spun three times and then stopped. On short final, the airplane struck an airport perimeter fence before impacting the ground just short of the runway. The airplane came to rest upright in a grassy area, and the fuselage was wrinkled and substantially damaged.
Aircraft and Engine Examination
FAA records indicate that the aircraft received its airworthiness certificate in 1984 and was registered to the corporation in 2016. It was equipped with a Lycoming O-235-L2C, 110-hp engine. The most recent 100-hour inspection was completed on November 24, 2017, at a total time of 10,264.5 hours and a tach time of 1899.3 hours. The carburetor was replaced on July 4, 2017, at a tach time of 1747.7 hours, with no further maintenance log entries related to the carburetor. The accident tachometer reading was 1930.5 hours.
An examination by a National Transportation Safety Board investigator found that the engine remained attached to the airframe. Suction and compression were confirmed on all cylinders, and spark plugs showed normal wear. The throttle linkage was secure to the carburetor. When the mixture control was manipulated, the cable moved, but the mixture arm on the carburetor did not. After tightening the fiber locking nut that attached the mixture cable to the arm, the cable and arm moved without anomaly. The airplane was secured to a trailer, fuel was plumbed to the carburetor, and the engine was started. It ran smoothly; power was increased until a rise in RPM was observed, then the engine was shut down.