Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Compton, California 90220
Tuesady, December 26, 1995 12:22 PST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The instructor experienced a sudden reduction in engine rpm during climb out. After checking the engine and electrical systems, he took the controls and made a forced landing to a dry flood control canal. His attempts to advance the throttle resulted in a further loss of power. During the last portion of the approach he saw utility lines and attempted to avoid them but the aircraft struck an overhead cable. Witnesses heard popping sounds and saw smoke trailing the aircraft. An examination of the engine revealed a broken exhaust push rod. An examination found the push rod failed due to the manufacturing process in which it was artificially aged. This process made the push rod susceptible to stress corrosion cracking (SCC) with a lower stress threshold. The ASM handbook states that the preferred method is to maintain the material at the aging temperature for a longer period of time. The interference pins that are inserted in the ends of the push rod most likely produced hoop stress at a level sufficient to initiate SCC once the push rod is exposed to an environment of humid and/or salty air. SCC most likely began after manufacture, but before the push rod was placed into service during a period in which it was exposed to adverse environmental conditions.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

a push rod failed from fatigue as a result of longitudinal stress corrosion cracking.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 12/26/1995
Event Day of the Week Tuesday
Time of Event 1222
Event Time Zone Pacific Standard Time
Event City COMPTON
Event State CALIFORNIA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 90220
Event Date Year 1995
Event Date Month 12
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1245 Pacific Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID HHR
Elevation of weather observation facility 97
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation PST
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 100
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) --
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) --
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 30
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 4
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Minor
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor 2
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 2
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 2102
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Dec 26 1995 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1245
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 7 2000 4:52PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N6110Q
NTSB Number LAX96FA080
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Destroyed
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Cessna
Aircraft Model 152
Aircraft Series Identifier 152
Aircraft Serial Number 15285135
Certified Max Gross Weight 1675
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 2
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection 100 Hour
Date of Last Inspection Apr 3 1995 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 311
Airframe Hours 8764
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name JACK BOUGE
Aircraft Owner Street Address 2733 SPRING STREET
Aircraft Owner City LONG BEACH
Aircraft Owner State CA
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 90806
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address
Operator City
Operator State
Operator Country
Operator Zip code
Operator Code
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation Unknown
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Instructional
Second Pilot on Board Yes
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code CPM
Departure City
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 1219
Departure Time Zone PST
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code LGB
Destination City LONG BEACH
Destination State CA
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Takeoff
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:30AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 0
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --