At about 13:00 eastern time, a Cessna 150 was damaged during an emergency landing in a field near Bridgewater. Neither occupant was injured. The pilot designated the PIC said the pilot-rated passenger was a mechanic who had completed an annual inspection on the airplane. The mechanic wanted to take the airplane for a test flight, but did not have a current medical certificate, so he asked the PIC to accompany him on the flight. Prior to the annual inspection, the airplane had not flown for approximately three years. The mechanic checked the main fuel strainer during the annual inspection and did not observe any debris or contamination. About 2 weeks before the accident flight, the mechanic completely filled the tanks with fuel. After the fueling, the engine would not start. The mechanic drained all the fuel and refueled the tanks to capacity, but he did not recheck the main fuel strainer. The PIC sumped the fuel tanks before the accident flight, found water, and continued sumping until the sample was clear. The inspector observed fuel contamination in the main fuel strainer and carburetor.
Aug. 9, Bridgewater, Mass. / Cessna 150
At about 13:00 eastern time, a Cessna 150 was damaged during an emergency landing in a field near Bridgewater. Neither occupant was injured. The pilot designated the PIC said the pilot-rated passenger was a mechanic who had completed an annual inspection on the airplane. The mechanic wanted to take the airplane for a test flight, but did not have a current medical certificate, so he asked the PIC to accompany him on the flight. Prior to the annual inspection, the airplane had not flown for approximately three years. The mechanic checked the main fuel strainer during the annual inspection and did not observe any debris or contamination. About 2 weeks before the accident flight, the mechanic c...
Key Takeaways:
- A Cessna 150 made an emergency landing during a test flight after a three-year storage and annual inspection, sustaining damage but causing no injuries.
- The flight involved a pilot-in-command and a pilot-rated mechanic who had performed the inspection but lacked a current medical certificate to fly solo.
- Although the PIC sumped the fuel and found water prior to flight, post-accident inspection revealed significant fuel contamination in the main fuel strainer and carburetor.
- Two weeks before the incident, the mechanic had drained and refueled the aircraft after an engine start issue, but did not recheck the fuel strainer for contamination.
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