Premium research interface

The modern interface for aviation safety intelligence.

Search investigations, review source evidence, monitor watched reports, and trace long-term patterns from one calm, data-first workspace.

63k+
Reports indexed
1940-2026
Coverage
Recent
Last data refresh
Featured Report

Loading…

Loading featured report…

Loading…
Open Report

Safety trends by operating rule

Track fatal and non-fatal accident patterns across Part 91, Part 135, and Part 121 operations.

Loading trend charts…

Browse the aviation graph

Move quickly by aircraft, airport, operator, and time with indexes built for research, not wandering.

Last Data Update

By Decade

By Month

Aircraft Manufacturer

More manufacturers

Airports

More airports

Operators

More operators

About

Aviation safety reports, made easier to study

NTSB Reports is an independent research and search tool for public aviation accident and incident records. It brings NTSB aviation reports, structured fields, docket files, extracted figures, photos, videos, and update history into one searchable interface.

The goal is practical safety education: make it faster to find relevant investigations, compare similar events, review factual records, and understand the evidence behind probable-cause and preliminary reports.

The investigative work and source records belong to the National Transportation Safety Board and the published investigation record. This site is not affiliated with or endorsed by the NTSB.

FAQs

NTSB Report

February 17, 2009 · Cessna 150 L · N747KA

Grayslake, IL

Overview

Report Status
Final with probable cause
Event Type
Incident
Date
February 17, 2009
Injury Outcomes
No injuries (2 uninjured)
Location
Grayslake, IL
Aircraft
Cessna 150 L
Tail Number
N747KA
Injuries
None
NTSB Number
CEN09IA172

The pilot rented the airplane for a local flight with the passenger. While maneuvering, the airplane experienced a partial loss of engine power and the pilot could not maintain altitude. The pilot elected to perform a precautionary landing to a frozen lake and landed uneventfully. Examination of the engine revealed that the Number 1 cylinder intake valve had fractured. The cause of the failure could not be determined. The operator exceeded the engine manufacturer's recommended time between overhaul by over 1,600 hours. However, because the operator operated under Part 91, they were not subject to the Federal regulations that require compliance with manufacturers' recommended maintenance instructions.

NTSB Probable Cause

The failure of the number 1 cylinder intake valve which resulted in a partial loss of engine power. Contributing to the incident was the failure of the operator to maintain the engine per manufacturer's recommendations.

Full Narrative

On February 17, 2009, approximately 1630 central standard time, a Cessna 150L single-engine airplane, N747KA, experienced a partial loss of engine power while maneuvering near Grayslake, Illinois. The airplane was not damaged. The airline transport pilot and passenger were not injured. The airplane was operated by Palwaukee Flyers and registered to Flight Center at Service Aviation, Inc., Wheeling, Illinois. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and a flight plan was not filed for the Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The local flight departed Chicago Executive Airport (PWK), Wheeling, Illinois, at 1610. According to the local authorities and the pilot, the pilot rented the airplane from Palwaukee Flyers at PWK. While maneuvering near Grayslake, the airplane experienced a partial loss of engine power and the pilot could not maintain altitude. The pilot elected to perform a precautionary landing to a frozen lake. The airplane landed uneventfully on the frozen lake. The operator stated that the Continental O-200A48 engine experienced a problem with the number one cylinder. The airplane was recovered for further examination. A review of the engine logbooks revealed that the engine underwent its most recent 100-hour inspection on February 6, 2009, at a tachometer time of 9,584.1 hours. At the time of the incident, the engine had accumulated 3,429.2 hours since major overhaul. Teledyne Continental Service Information Letter SIL98-9 listed the time between overhaul for the O-200A engine, of 1,800 hours, or 12 years. Teledyne Continental Motors records revealed the engine was remanufactured at the factory in 1993. Because Palwaukee Flyers operates under Part 91, they were not subject to the Federal regulations that require compliance with manufacturers' recommended maintenance instructions. Examination of the engine by an engine repair facility revealed that the number 1 cylinder intake valve fractured. The cause of the failure could not be determined. The following incident was reported to another NTSB investigator during an investigation of another accident with the operator. This incident was not reported to the Federal Aviation Administration and/or the NTSB. On August 11, 2008, a student pilot and a flight instructor reportedly experienced the effects of carbon monoxide poisoning during an instructional flight in N747KA. An engine logbook record for N747KA, dated August 14, 2008, showed that the left front exhaust stack riser was removed and replaced at a tachometer time of 9,457.8 hours.

Flight

Event TypeIncident
Event Time16:30 CST
Nearest Airport0nm
Flight Plan FiledNone
Flight Plan ActivatedNo
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftCessna 150 L
Tail NumberN747KA
Aircraft CategoryAir
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsContinental · O-200 · Reciprocating · 100
Seats2

People & Injuries

Injury SummaryNo injuries (2 uninjured)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured2
Total2
Crew 1Age 44 · First Class · None

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind200° @ 15 kt
Visibility10 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point39 C / 0 C
Altimeter0
Weather SourcePILO

Appendix: Source Data