Accident Overview
On February 28, 2022, at about 1730 eastern standard time, a Cessna 152, registration N68218, was substantially damaged during a forced landing near Madisonville, Tennessee. The pilot and passenger sustained minor injuries. The flight was conducted under Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight.
Pilot Account
According to the pilot, after a normal preflight inspection, the airplane departed with 20 gallons of fuel for a local flight. Following 30 minutes of flight, approximately 5 miles from the departure airport, the pilot initiated a descent from 3,000 feet and slightly reduced engine power. About 10 seconds later, the engine rpm suddenly dropped to between 900 and 1,000 rpm. The pilot advanced the throttle and turned on the carburetor heat, but the engine did not respond. A forced landing was executed, and the airplane touched down on a wet grassy field. During the rollout, the main landing gear wheels locked, the airplane struck a tree stump, and came to a stop.
Examination Findings
An FAA inspector who responded to the accident site observed that the left wing was nearly separated at the wing root and the firewall was bent. A detailed examination of the engine, conducted under FAA supervision, confirmed crankshaft continuity. Compression and suction were present on all four cylinders, and a lighted borescope inspection of the cylinder interiors revealed no anomalies. The propeller was separated at the crankshaft flange. The carburetor was separated, and the throttle cable remained partially attached. The magnetos were attached to the engine, and spark was observed from all towers when rotated by hand. The oil suction screen and filter were free of debris.
Maintenance History
According to the manufacturer's maintenance manual, the engine should be overhauled every 12 years. A review of the maintenance logbooks indicated that the engine had not been overhauled since 1998. The engine had accumulated 1,598 hours since its last overhaul. Between the annual inspection in 2021 and the previous annual inspection in 2017, the airplane accumulated 4 hours of flight time.