# NTSB CEN11LA183: Piper PA-28-161, N536PU, Minneapolis, MN, February 12, 2011 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: February 12, 2011, 14:00 local (20:00 UTC) - Place: Minneapolis, MN - Coordinates: 45.061943, -93.353889 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=45.0619&lon=-93.3539&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing: Collision during takeoff/land](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 3 uninjured - Status: Completed, report February 23, 2012 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - SAIBs cited in the narratives: [SAIB CE-09-35](https://openairdocs.org/saib/CE-09-35) (OpenAirDocs) - NTSB case key (mKey): 78344 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN11LA183 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/78344/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=78344 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN11LA183 ## Probable cause The pilot's loss of directional control during the landing. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Performance/control parameters: directional control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-161, 27 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=7102803), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-161, 40 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=7102803), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Temp/humidity/pressure: conducive to carburetor icing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03031030): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Contributed to outcome (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) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Initial climb: Loss of engine power (partial)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-161, 13 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342/sequence.md?model=7102803), [All aircraft, 1,858 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342/sequence.md) - [Landing: Collision during takeoff/land](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-161, 9 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490/sequence.md?model=7102803), [All aircraft, 1,309 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that the airplane’s engine started to run rough upon takeoff and that he had trouble gaining altitude. He returned to the airport and performed a landing with the rough-running engine. After landing, the airplane veered to the left, the main landing gear impacted a snowbank, and the airplane impacted a runway light. A postaccident examination of the wreckage did not reveal any preimpact anomalies with the airframe. According to the operator, the accident engine was torn down and no anomalies were found. The airport's temperature and dew point were plotted on a carburetor icing chart and their intersection fell in the “serious icing (cruise power)” range. ## Factual narrative On February 12, 2011, about 1400 central standard time, a Piper PA-28-161 single-engine airplane, N536PU, sustained substantial damage when it exited the runway and impacted snow and terrain during a precautionary landing on runway 14L (3,263 feet by 75 feet, asphalt) at the Crystal Airport (MIC), near Minneapolis, Minnesota. The pilot reported that the airplane had a rough running engine during climbout and circled around for the precautionary landing. The pilot and two passengers were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was on file for the 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The local flight had departed from MIC about 1350. The pilot reported that the airplane’s engine started to run rough upon takeoff and that he had trouble gaining altitude. He performed the checklist for engine power loss and his switching fuel tanks did not make a difference in the engine roughness. He stated that he reduced the throttle “slightly” and the engine increased its power. The engine began to run rough again and he called the tower for a landing clearance. He was given a clearance and performed a “standard landing procedure.” After landing the airplane veered to the left and the main landing gear impacted a snowbank and snow. The airplane impacted a runway light. The right wing sustained substantial damage on impact with the snowbank. A Federal Aviation Administration inspector examined and took pictures of the wreckage. The examination and review of the pictures did not reveal any airframe preimpact anomalies. According to the operator, the accident engine was torn down and no anomalies were detected. At 1253, the recorded weather at MIC was: Wind 190 degrees at 7 knots; visibility 10 statute miles; sky condition scattered 5,500 feet, overcast 7,500 feet; temperature 2 degrees C; dew point -3 degrees C; altimeter 29.80 inches of mercury. The airport's temperature and dew point were plotted on the carburetor icing chart listed in Special Airworthiness Information Bulletin CE-09-35. Their intersection fell in the “serious icing (cruise power)” range. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N536PU](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N536PU), registered now, S/N 2841321, built 1992 (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: 2841321 - Airframe hours: 9730.5 - Engines: LYCOMING O-320-D3G 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Metro Aircraft Co - Registered owner: Metro Aircraft Co - Last inspection: 100 hour, January 20, 2011 - Departed: MIC, Minneapolis, MN - Destination: MIC, Minneapolis, MN - Airport: MIC, Crystal Airport, runway 14L, 3,263 × 75 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 37; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; seat: left; flight hours: 65 total, 65 in this make and model, 14 as pilot in command, 6 in the last 90 days, 4 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 190° at 7 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 7,600 ft overcast - Temperature: 36 °F, dew point 27 °F - Altimeter: 29.79 inHg - Observed at: MIC ## 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 20110212004499A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20110212004499A), Feb 12, 2011: Piper PA-28-161, Minneapolis, MN, Substantial damage. On 02/14/2011 [privacy data omitted] was involved in an accident in a PA-28-161, N536PU, at mic airport on 02/12/2011. The aircraft had been relocated from the… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on December 22, 2011, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=78344. 1.7 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 1.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40347949&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Miscellaneous - Carburetor Icing Chart (item 2, .PDF, 87 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40359948&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Miscellaneous%20-%20Carburetor%20Icing%20Chart-Master.PDF - Miscellaneous - Operator's Engine Teardown Findings (item 3, .PDF, 265 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40359828&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Miscellaneous%20-%20Operator%27s%20Engine%20Teardown%20Findings-Redacted.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.