Event Description
On 25 September 2021, at approximately 17:10 local time, a Cessna 150M aircraft, registered S5-DDH, was involved in an accident near Strejnic airfield, Prahova County, Romania. The private pilot had planned three Visual Flight Rules flights that day, carrying passengers one at a time. After completing two flights totaling 2 hours and 13 minutes, he departed on the third flight at 16:20. During the approach for runway 26 at Strejnic, the engine speed began to decrease. The pilot moved the engine control lever to maximum power, but after about three seconds the engine speed continued to drop. Estimating he could not reach the runway, he declared an emergency and executed a forced landing on terrain to the right of the landing direction. The aircraft touched down on a plowed field, rolled approximately 10-15 meters on the main landing gear, and when the nose wheel contacted the ground, the front landing gear broke off and the aircraft overturned. The pilot and passenger exited the aircraft unaided and had no physical injuries.
Aircraft and Pilot Information
The aircraft was a Cessna 150M, serial number 15076204, manufactured in 1975, owned by a private individual, and registered in Slovenia. It had a valid certificate of airworthiness. The pilot, a 26-year-old male, held a valid PPL(A) license with SEP (land) qualification and a valid medical certificate. No technical engine problems were recorded in the aircraft logbook, and no maintenance was performed after 21 January 2021.
Fuel Management
Before the first flight, the pilot measured approximately 24.5 liters of fuel in the tanks and added 34 liters, for a total of about 60 liters. The first two flights consumed an estimated 35.5 liters, leaving approximately 24.5 liters for the third flight. Subtracting non-consumable fuel (about 13 liters), the usable fuel at the start of the third flight was approximately 11.5 liters, sufficient for about 45 minutes of operation. The third flight lasted 50 minutes. The investigation found that the fuel tanks were empty after the accident, with no visible fuel leakage at the site.
Analysis
The investigation determined that the total amount of fuel on board at the start of the third flight did not ensure landing at Strejnic airfield. The pilot's attempt to recover engine power after the first symptoms of decrease did not succeed. He chose to land on unobstructed terrain to the right of the extended centerline of runway 25. After the forced landing, the nose wheel became stuck in the plowed soil, causing the front landing gear to break and the aircraft to overturn.
Cause of the Accident
The cause of the accident is the failure of the front landing gear after the forced landing on an improper terrain chosen from the flight, due to the loss of engine power.