According to the Cessna 150’s owner, he and the other pilot met each other at an aviation event just before the accident. After a short discussion, the two pilots decided to conduct a local flight in the C-150.
The owner, who was seated in the left seat, stated that the airplane’s engine needed to be hand-propped due to a starter that “wasn’t very powerful.”
After the engine start-up, the pilots monitored the airplane’s electrical system and performed an engine run-up with no issues noted.
After takeoff from the airport in Rock Falls, Illinois, while on the downwind leg of the traffic pattern, the right seat pilot asked to take the airplane’s controls from the left seat pilot, and a positive exchange of controls was accomplished.
The right seat pilot then flew a low approach over a temporary grass runway with 40° of flaps extended. The right seat pilot did not intend to land and performed a go-around about 100 feet above the ground with full engine power and carburetor heat in the OFF position.
The right seat pilot then attempted to retract the flaps, however the flaps would not retract.
The left seat pilot attempted to cycle the flap switch and was unsuccessful in retracting the flaps.
Unable to maintain altitude, the right seat pilot performed an off-airport landing to a corn field. The airplane hit the corn field, flipped over, and came to rest inverted.
According to an FAA inspector, the airplane sustained substantial damage to the engine firewall and engine mount. The inspector also noted a four-port USB power supply adapter was plugged into a power port just below the flap switch.
A review of the airplane logbooks revealed that the airplane had been disassembled, inspected, and reassembled. All work was completed on July 1, 2014. Part of the aircraft reassembly included the replacement of the instrument panel and some aircraft wiring.
The flap switch was relocated from its original position and was also changed to a new flap switch design. A circuit breaker had been installed in the flap wiring, which replaced the original fuse. A cigarette style power port was installed below the flap handle.
The total tachometer time from the July 2014 maintenance to the accident was about 150 hours.
Post-accident examination of the airplane was conducted by a FAA inspector and a representative of Textron Aviation. The examination revealed that the flaps were in the full-down or 40° extended position. The airplane battery was connected (it had been disconnected for recovery purposes) and the master switch was turned on. The flap system was tested multiple times. The flaps retracted and extended with the cockpit flap switch, and no anomalies were noted with the function of the flap system.
No visual abnormalities were noted during the examination of the flap wiring. The wiring in the wing was manipulated by hand during the flap extension and retraction cycles, and no problems were noted. The flap circuit breaker was pulled during a flap cycle, and the flap movement stopped. When the circuit breaker was reset, the flaps began to operate.
At some point after the FAA’s initial examination of the airplane, the four-port USB power supply adapter had been removed from the power port and was located in the aft baggage area.
According to the Cessna’s Owner’s Manual, Section 2, Flap Settings, “Normal and obstacle clearance takeoffs are performed with flaps up…flap deflections of 30° and 40° are not recommended at any time for takeoff…In a balked landing (go-around) climb, the wing flap setting should be reduced to 20° immediately after full power is applied. Upon reaching a safe airspeed, the flaps should be slowly retracted to the full up position.”
Multiple requests to obtain a completed National Transportation Safety Board Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident/Incident form and a statement from the right seat pilot were unsuccessful.
Probable Cause: The right seat pilot’s improper decision to perform a low approach with full flaps and the failure of the flaps to retract during the attempted go-around, which resulted in a forced landing.
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This July 2021 accident report is provided by the National Transportation Safety Board. Published as an educational tool, it is intended to help pilots learn from the misfortunes of others.
Not one of us has ever not gotten ourselves in a tight situation while exercising our privileges. Sometimes it bites back. Sometimes we learn. Hopefully the latter. The NTSB probable cause is ridiculous. Another lame report with no substance. The video published by the pilot after the incident had more useful information in it. At least they walked away. Many might have rolled it over and put it in nose first.
Probable Cause: “Probable Cause”
Quite a rightful comment, Mr. Cary Alburn.
I’m sure an new video from him soon will be published. But, like all the others from him, isn’t’ gone be me to see that garbage.
Curious how many hours had both pilots?
According to his submission, the left seat pilot had about 150 hours. The right seat pilot, who is a “famous” YouTuber with a hate/hate relationship with the NTSB, refused or neglected to submit his version of the accident or any information at all. However, he is identified in the left seat pilot’s submission by name and is an ATP with thousands of hours in many different airplanes and often chastises other pilots, both living and dead, for their mistakes that result in accidents. He often disagrees with the findings of the NTSB. I have little doubt that he will publish a video disagreeing with the NTSB’s probable cause that squarely describes his improper actions as responsible for this accident.
He actually admitted that he shouldn’t have done the low pass in the 150 with electric flaps. Too risky. He did own it right after it happened.