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 12, 2011 · Cessna 150L · N6622G

Trenton, MI

Overview

Report Status
Final with probable cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
February 12, 2011
Injury Outcomes
No injuries (1 uninjured)
Location
Trenton, MI
Aircraft
Cessna 150L
Tail Number
N6622G
Operator
Drake Aerial Enterprises Llc Dba
Injuries
None
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
CEN11LA182

The pilot had been conducting a banner towing operation for about 55 minutes when he felt a heavy vibration and heard a “loud bang.” The airplane's engine subsequently lost power, and the pilot executed a forced landing. During the forced landing, the nose landing gear collapsed when it contacted "heavy snow and unimproved terrain," resulting in substantial damage to the firewall. A postaccident examination of the engine revealed that one of the connecting rods had separated from the crankshaft. Metallurgical examination determined that one of the two connecting rod bolts had failed in overstress. The second connecting rod bolt was deformed but otherwise intact; its associated nut had separated from the bolt and was undamaged. The lack of damage to one of the connecting rod nuts in conjunction with the overstress failure of the opposing bolt was consistent with a loss of installation torque on the intact nut. The engine had accumulated 2,836 hours since overhaul. The operator did not supply engine overhaul maintenance records but provided a statement indicating that the installed bolts and nuts were new at the engine cylinder's last maintenance (an engine manufacturer service bulletin instructs that connecting rod bolts and nuts be replaced any time they are removed). However, due to the lack of maintenance records and the number of hours since last overhaul, the investigation could not conclusively attribute the loss of preload torque to the overhaul operation.

NTSB Probable Cause

The loss of preload torque on a connecting rod nut and bolt, which precipitated a separation of the connecting rod from the engine's crankshaft and resulted in the total loss of engine power.

Full Narrative

On February 12, 2011, about 1150, eastern standard time, a Cessna 150L airplane, N6622G, was substantially damaged during a forced landing near Trenton, Michigan, following an in-flight loss of engine power. The commercial pilot, the sole occupant on board the airplane, reported no injuries. The airplane was registered to and operated by Drake Aerial Enterprises, LLC under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a banner towing flight. Visual flight rules (VFR) conditions prevailed for the flight, which was not operating on a flight plan. The local flight departed from the Oakland/Troy Airport, near Troy, Michigan, about 1100, and was destined for the Grosse Ile Municipal Airport, near Grosse Ile, Michigan. The operator's accident report stated that the pilot was flying the airplane with a banner in tow for about 55 minutes when the pilot felt a heavy vibration and heard a loud bang. The airplane "instantly" lost power and the pilot was unable to "keep the engine running." He released the banner over an area away from people and structures and performed a forced landing. During the forced landing the nose landing gear collapsed when it contacted "heavy snow and unimproved terrain." Substantial damage occurred when the collapsed nose landing gear bent the firewall. The airplane was a 1970 Cessna 150L, serial number 15072122, was an all-metal, high-wing, semimonocoque design airplane. The airplane was powered by a Lycoming O-360-A4A, serial number L-28947-35A, installed under supplemental type certificate SA4795SW. The installation was documented on a major repair and alteration form, dated December 8, 2003. The airplane was maintained under an annual inspection program and the operator reported that the airplane’s most recent annual inspection was conducted on February 7, 2010. The airplane reportedly accumulated 8,201 hours of total time and the engine accumulated 2,836 hours since overhaul A postaccident examination of the engine revealed that the no. four connecting rod had separated from its crankshaft. One of the two corresponding connecting rod bolts was deformed. However, the associated nut had separated from the bolt and appeared undamaged. The second connecting rod bolt was fractured near the midpoint of the shank. Metallurgical examination of the fracture surface revealed features consistent with overstress separation. The Lycoming Service Bulletin No. 240W, Mandatory Parts Replacement at Overhaul and During Repair or Maintenance, in part, stated: AT OVERHAUL OR UPON REMOVAL: ... Any time the following parts are removed from any Lycoming reciprocating engine, it is mandatory that the following parts be replaced regardless of their apparent condition: ... Stressed bolts and fasteners, such as: ... Connecting rod bolts and nuts The operator indicated that the installed connecting rod bolts and nuts were new when the last maintenance was performed on this cylinder.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time11:50 EST
Nearest Airport0nm
Flight Plan FiledNone
Flight Plan ActivatedNo
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftCessna 150L
Tail NumberN6622G
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageSubstantial
OperatorDrake Aerial Enterprises Llc Dba
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsLycoming · O-360-A4A · Reciprocating · 180
Seats2

People & Injuries

Injury SummaryNo injuries (1 uninjured)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured1
Total1
Crew 1Age 39 · Second Class · None

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind270° @ 15 kt, gusting 21 kt
Visibility10 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point30 C / 14 C
Altimeter30.03 inHg
Observation Time16:53
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data