# NTSB CEN10LA002: Piper J3C-65, N70585, Rosemount, MN, October 3, 2009 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: October 3, 2009, 15:47 local (20:47 UTC) - Place: Rosemount, MN - Coordinates: 44.740673, -93.06916 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=44.7407&lon=-93.0692&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: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious, 1 minor - Status: Completed, report May 28, 2010 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA-Minneapolis FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 74849 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN10LA002 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/74849/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=74849 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN10LA002 ## Probable cause The pilot's delayed use of carburetor heat while operating in conditions conducive to carburetor icing. ## 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: [Piper J3C-65, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057600/cases.md?model=7100510), [All aircraft, 51 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057600/cases.md) - [Action: delayed action](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper J3C-65, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025/cases.md?model=7100510), [All aircraft, 894 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: use of equip/system](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot; cases with it: [Piper J3C-65, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015/cases.md?model=7100510), [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 operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper J3C-65, 8 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03031030/cases.md?model=7100510), [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. - [Takeoff: Fuel related](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/190); cases with it: [Piper J3C-65, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/190/sequence.md?model=7100510), [All aircraft, 361 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/190/sequence.md) - [Takeoff: Loss of engine power (partial)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper J3C-65, 10 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342/sequence.md?model=7100510), [All aircraft, 1,858 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342/sequence.md) - [Takeoff: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240); cases with it: [Piper J3C-65, 21 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=7100510), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md) - [Uncontrolled descent: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Piper J3C-65, 54 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=7100510), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that he started the engine and waited for about 10 minutes for the oil temperature to rise before he departed from a grass airstrip. During takeoff, he reported that the airplane “felt slow.” He turned the carburetor heat on, but the engine lost partial power and the airplane "started to sink." He banked to the left to avoid trees. He reported losing altitude, and then the airplane experienced a “stall spin to the left,” impacting a mature corn field. Postaccident inspection of the engine and airframe revealed no preexisting anomalies that would preclude normal operation of the airplane. The observed temperature was 11 degrees Celsius (C) and the dew point was 6 degrees C. The Transport Canada Carburetor Icing chart indicated that at the observed weather conditions the engine was susceptible to “Serious Icing – Any Power.” ## Factual narrative On October 3, 2009, at 1547 central daylight time, a Piper J3C-65, N70585, sustained substantial damage when it impacted terrain after a loss of engine power after takeoff from a grass airfield in Rosemount, Minnesota. The pilot received minor injuries and the front seat passenger received serious injuries. The 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight was departing from Jensen Airfield, a private grass airstrip, on a local flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. The pilot reported that there was a fly-in at the private airstrip and he decided to take a friend for a flight “around the patch.” After he preflighted the airplane, he started the engine and waited for about 10 minutes for the oil temperature to rise. He taxied out and did a run-up prior to departure. During takeoff, he added power slowly to full power, got the tail up, and slowly rotated. He reported that the airplane "felt slow." He tried to land, but he was too fast and there was “not enough room.” He pulled the carburetor heat on, but the engine lost partial power and the airplane “started to sink.” He banked to the left to avoid trees. He reported losing altitude, and then the airplane experienced a “stall spin to the left.” The airplane impacted a mature corn field. The pilot shut off the airplane’s magnetos and fuel, and exited the airplane with the passenger. A Federal Aviation Administration airworthiness inspector examined the airplane. The inspection revealed that the magnetos and fuel selector were turned off. The fuel tank was ruptured. The primer was in and locked. The carburetor heat was out (on). The propeller was bent aft. The airplane was equipped with a seat belt and shoulder harness for the rear seat. The front seat was equipped with a seat belt, but no shoulder harness, although there was a hard attachment point for a shoulder harness. The flight controls exhibited cable continuity to the ailerons, elevator, and rudder. The inspection of the 65-horsepower Continental A-65-8 engine revealed that the carburetor was broken in half, top to bottom. The carburetor air box was crushed from impact forces. The spark plugs were clean and clear. The left and right magnetos produced spark. The engine was rotated and it exhibited continuity in the drive train, and there was compression on all four cylinders. At 1553, the observed weather at the Minneapolis-St Paul International Airport (MSP), located about 12 miles northwest of the accident site, was: Wind 320 degrees at 7 knots, visibility 10 miles, few clouds at 2,100 feet, broken ceiling at 3,400 feet, temperature 11 degrees Celsius (C), dew point 6 degrees C, altimeter 29.81 inches of Mercury. The Transport Canada Carburetor Icing chart indicated that “Serious Icing – Any Power” conditions existed with a temperature of 11 degrees C and a temperature dew point of 6 degrees C. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N70585](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N70585-2018-03-16), registration cancelled 2018-03-16, S/N 17594, built 1946 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER J3C-65 - Registry model: [Piper J3C-65](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-j3c-65) (registry code 7100510) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental A&C65 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-a-c65-series) (registry code 17003, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 17594 - Airframe hours: 2068 - Engines: Continental A-65-8 65 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Brian B Doyle - Registered owner: Brian B Doyle - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, May 7, 2009 - Departed: Rosemount, MN - Destination: Rosemount, MN - Airport: Jensen Airfield ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 35; injuries: minor; commercial, airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1; last flight review July 1, 2009; seat: rear; flight hours: 2,120 total, 60 in this make and model, 14 in the last 90 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 330° at 7 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 3,400 ft broken - Temperature: 52 °F, dew point 43 °F - Altimeter: 29.80 inHg - Observed at: MSP, 12 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 20091003050369A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20091003050369A), Oct 3, 2009: Piper J3C-65, Rosemount, MN, Substantial damage. On 10/03/2009, at 1547 cdst, a Piper J3C-65 registration number N70585, owned by [privacy data omitted] and operated by [privacy data omitted] experienced a… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on March 25, 2010, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=74849. 3.7 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 447 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40327392&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - FAA Interview of Pilot (item 2, .PDF, 34 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40327393&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=FAA%20Interview%20of%20Pilot-Master.PDF - Transport Canada Carburetor Icing Chart (item 3, .PDF, 3.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40327394&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Transport%20Canada%20Carburetor%20Icing%20Chart-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.