# NTSB CEN10LA281: Cessna 140, N76287, Atchison, KS, May 29, 2010 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: May 29, 2010, 10:30 local (15:30 UTC) - Place: Atchison, KS - Coordinates: 39.559658, -95.129821 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.5597&lon=-95.1298&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Takeoff: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report August 12, 2010 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 76178 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN10LA281 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/76178/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=76178 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN10LA281 ## Probable cause The loss of engine power for undetermined reasons. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Aircraft](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01050000): Aircraft › Aircraft power plant · Not specified (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 140, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01050000/cases.md?model=2071602), [All aircraft, 151 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01050000/cases.md) - [Temp/humidity/pressure: conducive to carburetor icing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03031030): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Not specified; cases with it: [Cessna 140, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03031030/cases.md?model=2071602), [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: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 140, 9 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=2071602), [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md) - [Landing: Collision during takeoff/land](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490); cases with it: [Cessna 140, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490/sequence.md?model=2071602), [All aircraft, 1,309 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490/sequence.md) ## Analysis During takeoff the airplane's engine suddenly lost power. The pilot applied carburetor heat and switched fuel tanks; however, the engine did not restart. The pilot elected to conduct a forced landing along a road. During the forced landing, the airplane sustained structural damage. An examination of the airplane and engine was conducted; however, no abnormalities were found with either the airframe or engine that could account for the loss of engine power. While weather conditions for carburetor icing were noted as “moderate or serious icing - cruise or descent power range” at the time of the accident, the investigation was unable to determine the cause of the power loss. ## Factual narrative On May 29, 2010, about 1030 central daylight time, a single-engine Cessna 140 airplane, N76287, received substantial damage after a forced landing following a loss of engine power shortly after takeoff from the Amelia Earhart Airport (K59), Atchison, Kansas. The commercial rated pilot, sole occupant, was not injured. The airplane was registered to and operated by a private individual. Day visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed for the 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. In a telephone interview with the pilot, he stated that he had just departed K59, when the engine “just quit.” He stated that he applied carburetor heat, and switched (fuel) tanks, to no avail. He then elected to conduct a force landing on a nearby road. During the hard landing the airplane’s landing gear collapsed, and the airplane impacted and came to rest in a ditch. An examination of the airplane was conducted by a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector. The inspector reported that fuel was visible in the left wing fuel tank; however, the amount of fuel in right wing fuel tank could not be verified, due to the way the airplane was sitting without its landing gear. Fuel sumped from each tank appeared clean and free of contaminates. Additionally, fuel was found in the engine’s carburetor. The engine was rotated by hand and continuity thought the engine was verified. Both left and right magneto’s appeared to function properly. A review of the information found on a Carburetor Icing Probability Chart; and given the atmospheric conditions prevailing during take-off, revealed that the airplane was operating within the "moderate or serious icing - cruise or descent power" range. A reason for the loss of engine power was not determined. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N76287](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N76287-2011-04-27), registration cancelled 2011-04-27, S/N 10701, built 1946 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 140 - Registry model: [Cessna 140](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-140) (registry code 2071602) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental C85 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-c85-series) (registry code 17008, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 10701 - Airframe hours: 3603 - Engines: CONT MOTOR C85 SERIES 85 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, May 10, 2009 - Departed: K59, Atchison, KS - Destination: KLXT, Lee's Summit, MO - Flight plan: Unknown - Airport: K59, Amelia Earhart Airport, runway 16, 3,000 × 48 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 66; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; seat: left; flight hours: 1,379 total, 610 in this make and model, 1,379 as pilot in command, 26 in the last 90 days, 3 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 149° at 6 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 81 °F, dew point 55 °F - Altimeter: 29.93 inHg - Observed at: KSTJ, 16 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 20100529035099A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20100529035099A), May 29, 2010: Cessna 140, Atchison, KS, Substantial damage. Aircraft N76287 departed Atchison, KS (K59) enroute to lee's summit, MO. Shortly after take-off, the engine power dropped to idle, then quit. The aircraft made… ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on July 9, 2010, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=76178. 866 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 724 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40331964&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Weather Reports and Records (item 2, .PDF, 33 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40331967&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Weather%20Reports%20and%20Records-Master.PDF - Other Pertinent Forms and Reports (item 3, .PDF, 17 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40331966&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Other%20Pertinent%20Forms%20and%20Reports-Master.PDF - Photo: Damaged C140 (item 4, .PDF, 92 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40331968&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%3A%20Damaged%20C140-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.