# NTSB ATL98LA102: Piper PA-22, N1266C, New Bern, NC, August 5, 1998 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: August 5, 1998, 17:50 local (21:50 UTC) - Place: New Bern, NC - Coordinates: 35.109321, -77.069496 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.1093&lon=-77.0695&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report May 19, 1999 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 43625 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL98LA102 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/43625/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL98LA102 ## Probable cause The failure of the inner cable of the carburetor heat cable assembly that prevented the application of carburetor heat. Factors were conditions favorable for the formation of carburetor ice. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Airframe/component/system failure/malfunction, cruise - carburetor heat control,cable/push-pull rod - worn (cause) - carburetor heat control,cable/push-pull rod - failure,total (cause) - weather condition - carburetor icing conditions (contributing factor) - Loss of engine power, cruise - Forced landing, descent - emergency - Ditching, descent - emergency ## Analysis Less than one hour into the flight, the engine developed a rough condition, and the pilot decided to apply carburetor heat. When he pulled the carburetor heat lever to apply heat, the inner cable pulled completely out, and he could not apply carburetor heat. Since the engine power condition continued to deteriorate, the pilot elected to return home. Unable to maintain altitude, and still less than a mile from the shore, the pilot was forced to ditched the airplane about 1500 feet from the shoreline. Examination of the carburetor heat cable assembly disclosed that the inner movable cable was worn to a point. The cable failed about eighteen inches from the attach point on the carburetor. The pilot reported that the failed section of the worn inner cable was positioned at a bend in the cable assembly. A review of weather data revealed that conditions were favorable for the formation of carburetor ice. ## Factual narrative On August 5, 1998, at 1750 eastern daylight time, a Piper PA-22, N1266C, ditched in five feet of water, according to the pilot, following a complete loss of engine power near New Bern, North Carolina. The personal flight was operated by the pilot under the provisions of Title 14 CFR Part 91 with no flight plan filed. According to the pilot, visual weather conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The pilot also reported that the airframe sustained substantial structural damage. The pilot said that he was not injured. The local flight departed New Bern, North Carolina, at 1700. According to the pilot, less than one hour into the flight, the engine developed a rough condition, and he decided to apply carburetor heat. When he pulled the carburetor heat lever to apply heat, the inner cable pulled completely out, and he could not apply carburetor heat. Since the engine power condition continued to deteriorate, the pilot elected to return home. Unable to maintain altitude, and still less than a mile from the shore, the pilot was forced to ditch the airplane about 1500 feet from the shoreline. Examination of the carburetor heat cable assembly disclosed that the inner movable cable was worn to a point. The failure was about eighteen inches from the attach point on the carburetor. The pilot reported that the failed section of the worn inner cable was positioned at a bend in the cable assembly. The carburetor heat cable assembly had been installed on the airplane for 800 hours. A review of weather data from the nearest reporting facility revealed that conditions were favorable for the formation of carburetor ice. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N1266C](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N1266C-1999-07-27), registration cancelled 1999-07-27, S/N 22-1061 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Piper PA-22 - Registry model: [Piper PA-22](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-22) (registry code 7102202) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 22-1061 - Airframe hours: 1950 - Engines: Lycoming O-290-D-2 135 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Randall E. Bernard - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, February 28, 1998, 65 hours before - Departed: EWN - Airport: EWN, Craven County Regional, runway 31, 4,200 × 50 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 42; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine sea, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 6,200 total, 400 in this make and model, 90 in the last 90 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 40° at 11 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 5,000 ft broken - Temperature: 84 °F, dew point 70 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: EWN, 1 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 19980805019739A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19980805019739A), Aug 5, 1998: Piper PA22, New Bern, NC, Substantial damage. Acft engine quit and the acft ditched in 3 feet of water along the edge ot the river. (-23) at cruise 1200' pilot experienced carburator icing. He attempted to… 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.