# NTSB ANC15CA064: Champion 7HC, N8556E, Coldfoot, AK, August 16, 2015 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: August 15, 2015, 18:30 local (Aug 16, 2015, 02:30 UTC) - Place: Coldfoot, AK - Coordinates: 67.976943, -149.752502 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=67.9769&lon=-149.7525&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Enroute-change of cruise level: Fuel related](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/190) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report March 14, 2016 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - Parties: FAA Fairbanks FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 91804 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC15CA064 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/91804/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=91804 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC15CA064 ## Probable cause The loss of engine power due to carburetor icing and the pilot's failure to recognize conditions favorable for carburetor icing and apply use of carburetor heat. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Knowledge: knowledge of meteorologic cond](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02032020): Personnel issues › Experience/knowledge · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Champion 7HC, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02032020/cases.md?model=21101PN), [All aircraft, 30 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02032020/cases.md) - [Ice/rain protection system: intake anti-ice, deice](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023020): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Not used/operated (probable cause); cases with it: [Champion 7HC, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023020/cases.md?model=21101PN), [All aircraft, 108 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023020/cases.md) - [Temp/humidity/pressure: conducive to carburetor icing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03031030): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on equipment (probable cause); cases with it: [Champion 7HC, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03031030/cases.md?model=21101PN), [All aircraft, 435 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03031030/cases.md) - [Terrain: mountainous/hilly terrain](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021010): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome; cases with it: [Champion 7HC, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021010/cases.md?model=21101PN), [All aircraft, 329 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021010/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Enroute-change of cruise level: Fuel related](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/190) (defining event); cases with it: [Champion 7HC, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/190/sequence.md?model=21101PN), [All aircraft, 361 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/190/sequence.md) - [Emergency descent: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Champion 7HC, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=21101PN), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot was climbing to cross a remote mountain pass when the airplane's engine lost partial power. The pilot turned the airplane to the left and the engine lost total power and started descending very quickly. The pilot attempted to make a forced landing to a road, but did not make it and landed the airplane in an area of rocks and a ditch. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the wings and fuselage, and a postaccident fire then destroyed the airplane. Plotting temperature and dew point on a carburetor icing probability chart placed the conditions noted at the time of the accident as being probable for serious carburetor icing in cruise or climb power. The pilot stated that he did not use carburetor heat either during the climb, or after the engine lost power. ## Factual narrative The pilot was climbing to cross a remote mountain pass when the airplane's engine lost partial power. The pilot turned the airplane to the left and the engine lost total power and started descending very quickly. The pilot attempted to make a forced landing to a road, but did not make it and landed the airplane in an area of rocks and a ditch. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the wings and fuselage, and a postaccident fire then destroyed the airplane. Plotting temperature and dew point on a carburetor icing probability chart placed the conditions noted at the time of the accident as being probable for serious carburetor icing in cruise or climb power. The pilot stated that he did not use carburetor heat either during the climb, or after the engine lost power. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N8556E](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8556E-2018-03-07), registration cancelled 2018-03-07, S/N 7HC-5, built 1959 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CHAMPION 7HC (NO SERIES) - Registry model: [Champion 7HC](https://openairdocs.org/model/champion-7hc) (registry code 21101PN) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-290 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-290-series) (registry code 41506, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 7HC-5 - Year built: 1959 - Airframe hours: 2074 - Engines: Lycoming O-290-D2 135 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Fire: On-Ground - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, September 1, 2014, 40 hours before - Departed: CXF, COLDFOOT, AK - Destination: GBH, GALBRAITH LAKE, AK - Flight plan: VFR - Equipment: Electronic flight bag or handheld device, Handheld GPS ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 23; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, single-engine land; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; last flight review August 6, 2015; seat: front; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 107 total, 100 in this make and model, 75 as pilot in command, 20 in the last 90 days, 2 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 360° at 4 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 7,500 ft overcast - Temperature: 43 °F, dew point 34 °F - Altimeter: 30.03 inHg - Observed at: PAKP, 47 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 20150816017869A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20150816017869A), Aug 16, 2015: Champion 7HC, Coldfoot, AK, Destroyed. Airman stated he was in a climb to get through the pass when the engine started sputtering. He turned back to cold foot and it got worse, crashed on the side… ## Other investigations on N8556E (1) 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. - [NTSB ANC66D0103](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC66D0103), Apr 17, 1966: Champion 7HC (N8556E), Delta Junctn, AK, substantial damage ## Docket (1 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on March 7, 2016, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=91804. 2.1 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 2.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40437306&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-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.