# NTSB CEN09CA532: Piper PA-28-161, N47539, Washington, IA, August 16, 2009

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: August 16, 2009, 16:00 local (21:00 UTC)
- Place: Washington, IA
- Coordinates: 41.305278, -91.655281
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.3053&lon=-91.6553&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Approach: Fuel related](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/190)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious
- Status: Completed, report November 9, 2009
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Central Region
- Parties: FAA-DSM-FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 74552
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN09CA532
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/74552/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=74552
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN09CA532

## Probable cause

A loss of engine power due to carburetor icing as a result of the pilot's failure to use carburetor heat in conditions that were conducive to carburetor icing.

## 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 · Effect on equipment (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-161, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03031030/cases.md?model=7102803), [All aircraft, 435 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03031030/cases.md)
- [Engine controls](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057600): Aircraft › Aircraft power plant · Not used/operated (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-161, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057600/cases.md?model=7102803), [All aircraft, 51 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057600/cases.md)
- [Action: lack of action](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041030): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-161, 8 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041030/cases.md?model=7102803), [All aircraft, 792 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041030/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Approach: Fuel related](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/190) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-161, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/190/sequence.md?model=7102803), [All aircraft, 361 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/190/sequence.md)
- [Approach: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-161, 22 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=7102803), [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md)
- [Landing-flare/touchdown: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-161, 19 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=7102803), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md)
- [Landing-flare/touchdown: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-161, 58 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=7102803), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot was returning to the airport to land when the accident occurred. He was 1 mile from the airport when the engine lost power. The pilot performed a forced landing in a corn field during which, he suffered a broken arm. Post accident inspection of the airframe and engine failed to reveal any mechanical failure/malfunction which would have resulted in the loss of engine power. The pilot stated he did not use carburetor heat during the descent back to the airport. The local temperature and dewpoint were 27 degrees Celsius and 21 degrees Celsius respectively. These conditions are conducive to visible icing at rated power.

## Factual narrative

The pilot was returning to the airport to land when the accident occurred. He was one mile from the airport when the engine lost power. The pilot performed a forced landing in a corn field during which, he suffered a broken arm. Post accident inspection of the airframe and engine failed to reveal any mechanical failure/malfunction which would have resulted in the loss of engine power. The pilot stated he did not use carburetor heat during the descent back to the airport. The local temperature and dewpoint were 27 degrees Celsius and 21 degrees Celsius respectively. These conditions were conducive to visible icing at rated power.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N47539](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N47539-2016-07-11), registration cancelled 2016-07-11, S/N 28-7816093, built 1977 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28-161
- Registry model: [Piper PA-28-161](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-161) (registry code 7102803) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 28-7816093
- Airframe hours: 7557
- Engines: LYCOMING O-320-D3G 160 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Jarrard Edward E
- Registered owner: Jarrard Edward E
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, October 22, 2008, 18 hours before
- Departed: AWG, Washington, IA
- Destination: AWG, Washington, IA
- Airport: AWG, Washington Municipal

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 78; injuries: serious; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; last flight review May 28, 2008; seat: left; flight hours: 2,896 total, 1,000 in this make and model, 1 in the last 90 days, 1 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 220° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 2,800 ft broken
- Temperature: 81 °F, dew point 70 °F
- Altimeter: 29.92 inHg
- Observed at: AWG, 3 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 20090816016459A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20090816016459A), Aug 16, 2009: Piper PA28161, Washington, IA, Substantial damage. (-23) The pilot departed Washington Municipal Airport (awg) on a local flight to inspect his farm fields. He was the only occupant of the aircraft. After…

## Other investigations on N47539 (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 CEN13LA287](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN13LA287), May 18, 2013: Piper PA-28-161 (N47539), Oskaloosa, IA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The loss of engine power for reasons that could not be determined because the engine examination did not reveal any malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation.

## Docket (1 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on September 17, 2009, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=74552. 572 KB in all.

- Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.11 (item 1, .PDF, 572 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40318265&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.11-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.

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