# NTSB CEN09LA576: Cessna 170A, N9129A, Grain Valley, MO, September 6, 2009 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: September 6, 2009, 15:30 local (20:30 UTC) - Place: Grain Valley, MO - Coordinates: 39.015556, -94.213058 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.0156&lon=-94.2131&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Approach: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report April 19, 2010 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA Kansas City FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 74709 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN09LA576 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/74709/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=74709 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN09LA576 ## Probable cause A loss of engine power due to carburetor icing as a result of the pilot's failure to use carburetor heat. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Engine controls](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057600): Aircraft › Aircraft power plant · Incorrect use/operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 170A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057600/cases.md?model=2072304), [All aircraft, 51 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057600/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: use of equip/system](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 170A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015/cases.md?model=2072304), [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 · Effect on equipment (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 170A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03031030/cases.md?model=2072304), [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. - [Approach: Fuel related](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/190); cases with it: [Cessna 170A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/190/sequence.md?model=2072304), [All aircraft, 361 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/190/sequence.md) - [Approach: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 170A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=2072304), [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Landing area overshoot](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/380); cases with it: [Cessna 170A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/380/sequence.md?model=2072304), [All aircraft, 400 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/380/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092); cases with it: [Cessna 170A, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md?model=2072304), [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that he climbed to 2,500 feet mean sea level (msl)and flew enroute for about 1 hour 15 minutes. About 2 – 3 miles from the destination airport, the engine started losing power. The pilot decided to make a straight-in landing, but about 1/4 – 1/2 mile from the runway, the engine lost power completely. The pilot slipped the airplane to lose altitude. The airspeed was about 70 mph when he crossed over the threshold of the runway and there was a tailwind. The pilot attempted to touch down about mid-field, but the airplane bounced. The engine started briefly and then stopped again. The airplane landed hard and skidded to a stop. The post accident inspection of the engine revealed no preexisting anomalies. The temperature was about 23 degrees Celsius and the dew point was 16 degrees Celsius. The Transport Canada Carburetor Icing Chart indicated that the potential for moderate icing existed for cruise power, or serious icing for descent power. The pilot stated that he did not remember if he applied carburetor heat. ## Factual narrative On September 6, 2009, at 1530 central daylight time, a Cessna 170A, N9129A, sustained substantial damage during a forced landing to runway 23 (2,200 feet by 50 feet, asphalt) at Grain Valley Airport (3GV), Grain Valley, Missouri. The pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured. The 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight departed Blakesburg, Iowa, at 1405, and was about 2 -3 miles from 3GV when the airplane had a loss of engine power. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. No flight plan was filed. The pilot reported that he climbed to 2,500 feet mean sea level (msl) for the en route cruise, and the time en route was about 1 hour 15 minutes. Approximately 5 miles from 3GV, the pilot made a radio call on the Unicom frequency reporting that he would be making a left downwind pattern for runway 05 at 3GV. He reported that about 2 – 3 miles from the airport, the engine started losing power. He stated the engine “just started winding down!” He made a call on Unicom stating that he had engine problems, and that he would be making a straight-in landing to runway 23. About 1/4 – 1/2 mile from the runway, the engine lost complete power. Because the airplane was high, the pilot slipped the airplane to lose altitude. The airspeed was about 70 mph when he crossed over the end of the runway. He reported, “With the tailwind, I traveled down the runway covering the distance at an alarming rate. Somewhere about mid-field, I eased the wheel forward to stick it on, and it took a wheel hop.” The engine started again briefly, but it quit soon after. The airplane landed hard and it skidded to a stop. An airworthiness inspector from the Federal Aviation Administration examined the airplane. The fuel tanks were checked and they contained fuel. The fuel system was checked and no anomalies were noted. The carburetor was removed and disassembled and a slight amount of contamination was found. A compression check was performed and all cylinders had 70/80 psi or better. The magnetos were checked and each plug was getting spark. The pilot stated that he did not remember if he applied carburetor heat. The 1505 surface weather observation at the Charles B. Wheeler Downtown Airport (MKC), Kansas City, Missouri, located about 19 nautical miles west of 3GV, indicated the temperature was 23 degrees Celsius and the dew point was 16 degrees Celsius. The Transport Canada Carburetor Icing Chart indicated that the potential for moderate icing existed for cruise power, or serious icing for descent power. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N9129A](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N9129A-2011-05-02), registration cancelled 2011-05-02, S/N 18888, built 1949 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 170A - Registry model: [Cessna 170A](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-170a) (registry code 2072304) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental C145 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-c145-series) (registry code 17012, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 18886 - Airframe hours: 4030 - Engines: Continental O-300C 145 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: James R. Brooks - Registered owner: James R. Brooks - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, April 18, 2009 - Departed: IA27, Blakesburg, IA - Destination: 3GV, Grain Valley, MO - Airport: 3GV, Grain Valley, runway 23, 2,200 × 50 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 59; injuries: minor; airline transport, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; seat: left; flight hours: 9,000 total, 20 in this make and model, 70 in the last 90 days, 42 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 60° at 5 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 2,600 ft broken - Temperature: 72 °F, dew point 61 °F - Altimeter: 30.13 inHg - Observed at: MKC, 19 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 20090906017379A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20090906017379A), Sep 6, 2009: Cessna 170A, Grain Valley, MO, Substantial damage. (-23) The pilot approached Grain Valley, MO, East Kansas City Airport (3GV) for landing, after a cross country flight from blakesburg, IA (IA27). According to… ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on January 8, 2010, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=74709. 903 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 704 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40323677&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Pilot's Statement (item 2, .PDF, 143 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40323678&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%27s%20Statement-Master.PDF - Pilot Statement About Aircraft Inspection (item 3, .PDF, 45 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40323679&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%20Statement%20About%20Aircraft%20Inspection-Master.PDF - Weather Information (item 4, .PDF, 12 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40323680&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Weather%20Information-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.