# NTSB CEN09CA378: Piper PA-24, N7660P, Urbana, OH, June 20, 2009 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: June 20, 2009, 17:37 local (21:37 UTC) - Place: Urbana, OH - Coordinates: 40.12611, -83.751945 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.1261&lon=-83.7519&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Takeoff: Loss of engine power (partial)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 4 uninjured - Status: Completed, report September 10, 2009 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 74116 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN09CA378 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/74116/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=74116 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN09CA378 ## Probable cause A failure of the carburetor heat cable attach bracket which resulted in the inadvertent activation of carburetor heat and the subsequent loss of engine power during takeoff. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's operation of the aircraft with a known deficiency. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Object/animal/substance: runway/taxi/approach light](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022012): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome; cases with it: [Piper PA-24, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022012/cases.md?model=7102402), [All aircraft, 106 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022012/cases.md) - [Engine fuel and control: fuel control/carburetor](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057322): Aircraft › Aircraft power plant · Failure (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-24, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057322/cases.md?model=7102402), [All aircraft, 195 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057322/cases.md) - [Info processing/decision: decision making/judgment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-24, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md?model=7102402), [All aircraft, 3,098 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Prior to flight: Powerplant sys/comp malf/fail](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/340); cases with it: [Piper PA-24, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/340/sequence.md?model=7102402), [All aircraft, 820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/340/sequence.md) - [Takeoff: Loss of engine power (partial)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-24, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342/sequence.md?model=7102402), [All aircraft, 1,858 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440); cases with it: [Piper PA-24, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=7102402), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Landing gear collapse](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094); cases with it: [Piper PA-24, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md?model=7102402), [All aircraft, 1,787 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that during the engine run-up prior to the first flight of the day, he noted that there was no resistance on the control knob when he checked the operation of the carburetor heat and that there was a slightly “sluggish” return in the engine rpms as it returned to normal. The engine operated normally during this flight. When he applied carburetor heat during the engine run-up for the second flight of the day, he noticed that the rpm needle "wiggled down 50" then returned to the set rpm. Everything appeared normal during the takeoff until the airplane reached about 200 feet above the runway, when it felt a little “soggy.” The pilot stated that he raised the landing gear to reduce drag, but it did not seem like the engine was producing power. The pilot then extended the landing gear and decided to land the airplane in a field off the end of the runway. The landing gear, which was not locked down, collapsed during the landing and the left wing was substantially damaged when it contacted a runway end identifier light. Postaccident inspection of the airplane and engine revealed that the carburetor heat bracket between the valve shaft and the cable was fractured and missing. The carburetor heat valve was in the open position. ## Factual narrative The pilot reported that during the engine run-up prior to the first flight of the day, he noted there was no resistance on the control knob when he checked the operation of the carburetor heat and there was a slightly “sluggish” return in the RPM as it returned to normal. The engine operated normally during this flight. When he applied carburetor heat during the engine run-up for the second flight of the day, he noticed “RPM needle wiggled down 50” then returned to the set RPM. Everything appeared normal during the takeoff until the airplane reached about 200 feet above the runway when it felt a little “soggy.” The pilot stated he raised the landing gear to reduce drag, but it did not seem like the engine was producing power. The pilot then extended the landing gear and decided to land the airplane in a field off the end of the runway. The landing gear, which was not locked down, collapsed during the landing and the left wing was substantially damaged when it contacted a runway end identifier light. Post accident inspection of the airplane and engine revealed the carburetor heat bracket between the valve shaft and the cable was fractured off and missing. The carburetor heat valve was in the open position. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N7660P](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N7660P), registered now, S/N 24-2873, built 1961 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA-24 - Registry model: [Piper PA-24](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-24) (registry code 7102402) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming O&VO-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-vo-360-series) (registry code 41514, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 24-2873 - Airframe hours: 5895 - Engines: LYCOMING O&VO-360 SER 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Marc S. Comegys - Registered owner: Kingcole Comanche LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, May 1, 2009, 50 hours before - Departed: I74, Urbana, OH - Destination: SGH, Springfield, OH - Airport: I74, Grimes Field Airport, runway 20, 4,400 × 100 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 42; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; last flight review March 13, 2009; seat: left; flight hours: 432 total, 23 in this make and model, 367 as pilot in command, 22 in the last 90 days, 0 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 290° at 9 knots - Visibility: 9 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 82 °F, dew point 66 °F - Altimeter: 29.80 inHg - Observed at: SGH, 20 nm away ## Docket (1 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on July 24, 2009, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=74116. 695 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 695 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40316106&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.