# NTSB ANC12LA096: Taylorcraft F21, N2005E, Willow, AK, September 3, 2012 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: September 2, 2012, 16:00 local (Sep 3, 2012, 00:00 UTC) - Place: Willow, AK - Coordinates: 61.739444, -150.036666 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=61.7394&lon=-150.0367&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Takeoff-rejected takeoff: Loss of engine power (partial)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious - Status: Completed, report September 12, 2013 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - Parties: FAA FSDO-03 - NTSB case key (mKey): 84898 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC12LA096 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/84898/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=84898 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC12LA096 ## Probable cause The pilot’s failure to maintain control of the airplane after a loss of engine power during takeoff due to carburetor ice. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Temp/humidity/pressure: conducive to carburetor icing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03031030): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Contributed to outcome (probable cause); cases with it: [Taylorcraft F21, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03031030/cases.md?model=8850906), [All aircraft, 435 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03031030/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: airspeed](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Taylorcraft F21, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010/cases.md?model=8850906), [All aircraft, 1,681 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Taylorcraft F21, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=8850906), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Takeoff-rejected takeoff: Loss of engine power (partial)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342) (defining event); cases with it: [Taylorcraft F21, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342/sequence.md?model=8850906), [All aircraft, 1,858 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342/sequence.md) - [Takeoff-rejected takeoff: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240); cases with it: [Taylorcraft F21, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=8850906), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md) - [Uncontrolled descent: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Taylorcraft F21, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=8850906), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis During takeoff from a lake in a float-equipped airplane, the pilot said the airplane became airborne, but the engine began to lose power. The pilot said that he did not think the airplane would clear the trees at the end of the lake, so he started a right turn to stay over the water. As he steepened the turn, the airplane stalled and impacted the lake. The pilot said the outside temperature was about 55 degrees Fahrenheit and that it was raining. He reported that the more he thought about the circumstances, the more he believed that the loss of power was the result of carburetor ice. The weather conditions at the time of the accident were conducive to serious icing conditions at any engine power setting. No preaccident mechanical problems that would have precluded normal operation were reported. ## Factual narrative On September 2, 2012, about 1600 Alaska daylight time, a float-equipped Taylorcraft F21 airplane, N2005E, sustained substantial damage when it impacted the water during takeoff at Willow Lake Seaplane Base, Willow, Alaska. The airplane was being operated by the pilot as a visual flight rules (VFR) personal cross-country flight, under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations, Part 91, when the accident occurred. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and the solo pilot received serious injuries. During a telephone conversation with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigator-in-charge (IIC) on September 3, the pilot said he had landed at the lake due to turbulence along his route of flight. After waiting about 30 minutes, he decided to depart. During takeoff, the airplane became airborne, but he did not think he would clear the trees at the end of the lake. He started a right turn to stay over the water, but as the turn steepened the airplane stalled, and impacted the lake. He said he did not know if the airplane's engine was producing full power. The right wing of the airplane was severed. In a written statement to the NTSB dated September 14, the pilot said after takeoff the engine began missing. He also indicated that the outside temperature was about 55 degrees F, and that it was raining. He further wrote that "maybe a more lengthy run-up to rule out carburetor ice" would have been appropriate. In an email to the NTSB IIC dated April 10, 2013, the pilot wrote that eventually the airplane had been salvaged from the lake, and sold for parts. He reported that the more he thought about the circumstances, the more he believed that the loss of power was the result of carburetor ice. The closest weather reporting facility was the Palmer Airport, about 10 miles east of the accident site. The 1353 weather observation from the Palmer Airport was reporting, in part: Wind, 140 degrees (true) at 16 knots, gusting to 21 knots; visibility, 10 statute miles; clouds and sky condition, 4,000 scattered, 7,000 feet broken, 9,000 overcast; temperature, 55 degrees F; dew point, 33 degrees F; altimeter, 29.77 inches Hg. According to a carburetor icing probability chart, the conditions at the time of the accident were conducive to serious carburetor icing at any engine power setting. No preaccident mechanical problems were reported, and due to the remote location, the airplane and engine were not examined by the NTSB. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N2005E](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N2005E), registered now, S/N F-1015, built 1981 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: TAYLORCRAFT AVIATION CORP. F21 - Registry model: [Taylorcraft F21](https://openairdocs.org/model/taylorcraft-f21) (registry code 8850906) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-235 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-235-series) (registry code 41505, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: F-1015 - Airframe hours: 983 - Engines: LYCOMING O-235 SERIES 115 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Long Stephen W - Registered owner: Long Stephen W - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, August 25, 2012 - Departed: 2X2, Willow, AK - Destination: Seymore Lake, AK - Airport: 2X2, Willow Seaplane ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 63; injuries: serious; private; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review May 26, 2011; seat: left; flight hours: 1,688 total, 517 in this make and model, 1,688 as pilot in command, 19 in the last 90 days, 8 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: variable at 8 knots - Visibility: 15 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 1,000 ft overcast - Temperature: 55 °F - Altimeter: 29.77 inHg ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20120902020469A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20120902020469A), Sep 2, 2012: Taylorcraft Aviation Corp. F21, Willow, AK, Substantial damage. Pilot/owner was enroute to anchorage from schlotna lake and diverted to Willow Lake because of wind and weather. After a 15 minute wait, he decided to take-off… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 10, 2013, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=84898. 461 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 140 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40393987&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Record of Conversation - Pilot (item 2, .PDF, 60 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40393988&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation%20-%20Pilot-Master.PDF - Carburetor Icing Probability Chart (item 3, .PDF, 262 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40393989&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Carburetor%20Icing%20Probability%20Chart-Master.PDF From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.