# NTSB ANC13CA062: Aeronca 11AC, N9118E, Kodiak, AK, July 6, 2013 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: July 6, 2013, 14:30 local (22:30 UTC) - Place: Kodiak, AK - Coordinates: 57.836666, -152.366668 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=57.8367&lon=-152.3667&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Enroute-cruise: Loss of engine power (partial)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report August 13, 2013 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - Parties: FAA Anchorage FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 87451 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC13CA062 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/87451/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=87451 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC13CA062 ## Probable cause The loss of engine power due to carburetor icing and the pilot's failure to continue the use of carburetor heat after experiencing carburetor ice. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Use of equip/info: use of equip/system](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Aeronca 11AC, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015/cases.md?model=0191102), [All aircraft, 1,391 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015/cases.md) - [Temp/humidity/pressure: conducive to carburetor icing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03031030): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Contributed to outcome; cases with it: [Aeronca 11AC, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03031030/cases.md?model=0191102), [All aircraft, 435 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03031030/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Enroute-cruise: Loss of engine power (partial)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342) (defining event); cases with it: [Aeronca 11AC, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342/sequence.md?model=0191102), [All aircraft, 1,858 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342/sequence.md) - [Emergency descent: Ditching](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/441); cases with it: [Aeronca 11AC, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/441/sequence.md?model=0191102), [All aircraft, 186 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/441/sequence.md) - [Landing: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096); cases with it: [Aeronca 11AC, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md?model=0191102), [All aircraft, 2,287 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot was flying a potential buyer of the airplane on a pre-buy inspection flight. Just after leveling the airplane in cruise flight, the engine lost power momentarily. He applied carburetor heat, and the engine regained normal power. While returning to the airport, he turned the carburetor heat back off, and then on again, and the engine again lost power. He stated that this time, the engine power could not be restored, and with no suitable landing sites available within gliding distance, he ditched the airplane into the water paralleling the shoreline. During the ditching, the airplane nosed over, and sustained substantial damage to the left wing. Based on the temperature and dew point at the time of the accident, the conditions were favorable for serious carburetor icing at any power setting. ## Factual narrative The pilot was flying a potential buyer of the airplane on a pre-buy inspection flight. Just after leveling the airplane in cruise flight, the engine lost power momentarily. He applied carburetor heat, and the engine regained normal power. While returning to the airport, he turned the carburetor heat back off, and then on again, and the engine again lost power. He stated that this time, the engine power could not be restored, and with no suitable landing sites available within gliding distance, he ditched the airplane into the water paralleling the shoreline. During the ditching, the airplane nosed over, and sustained substantial damage to the left wing. Based on the temperature and dew point at the time of the accident, the conditions were favorable for serious carburetor icing at any power setting. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N9118E](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N9118E), registered now, S/N 11AC-753, built 1946 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: AERONCA 11AC - Registry model: [Aeronca 11AC](https://openairdocs.org/model/aeronca-11ac) (registry code 0191102) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental A&C65 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-a-c65-series) (registry code 17003, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 11AC-753 - Airframe hours: 1086 - Engines: CONT MOTOR O-235-C-1 100 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, September 9, 2012, 4 hours before - Departed: PAKD, Kodiak, AK - Destination: PAKD, Kodiak, AK ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 26; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review October 23, 2012; seat: left; flight hours: 176 total, 75 in this make and model, 3 in the last 90 days, 0 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 140° at 12 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 2,300 ft broken - Temperature: 54 °F, dew point 46 °F - Altimeter: 29.88 inHg - Observed at: PADQ, 6 nm away ## 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 20130706011729A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20130706011729A), Jul 6, 2013: Aeronca 11AC, Kodiak, AK, Substantial damage. According to the pilot, he departed from Kodiak municipal airport with one passenger on board. He was in a slow cruise/climb heading northbound. He made one… ## Docket (1 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on July 26, 2013, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=87451. 769 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 769 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40397446&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.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.