# NTSB CEN11LA530: Christiansen Don E Do RV-4, N114DC, Fort Worth, TX, July 28, 2011 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: July 28, 2011, 16:50 local (21:50 UTC) - Place: Fort Worth, TX - Coordinates: 32.558887, -97.304725 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.5589&lon=-97.3047&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Enroute-cruise: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious, 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report March 8, 2012 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Adminstration - NTSB case key (mKey): 81322 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN11LA530 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/81322/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=81322 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN11LA530 ## Probable cause A total loss of engine power due to carburetor icing. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Engine (reciprocating)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058500): Aircraft › Aircraft power plant · Failure (probable cause); cases with it: [Christiansen Don E Do RV-4, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058500/cases.md?model=05608DY), [All aircraft, 497 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058500/cases.md) - [Engine fuel and control: fuel control/carburetor](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057322): Aircraft › Aircraft power plant · Capability exceeded (probable cause); cases with it: [Christiansen Don E Do RV-4, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057322/cases.md?model=05608DY), [All aircraft, 195 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057322/cases.md) - [Temp/humidity/pressure: conducive to carburetor icing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03031030): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Ability to respond/compensate; cases with it: [Christiansen Don E Do RV-4, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03031030/cases.md?model=05608DY), [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. - [Enroute-cruise: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) (defining event); cases with it: [Christiansen Don E Do RV-4, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=05608DY), [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md) - [Emergency descent: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440); cases with it: [Christiansen Don E Do RV-4, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=05608DY), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot said that the engine began to run rough after he leveled off from a descent, and shortly thereafter, it rolled back to idle power. The pilot established a glide to the nearest airport and attempted to troubleshoot the cause of the loss of power, but power was not restored, and he made a forced landing to a cornfield short of the runway. A postaccident examination of the carburetor and a test run of the engine revealed no evidence of pre-mishap mechanical deficiencies. The weather conditions at the time of the power loss were conducive to carburetor icing at glide and cruise power. The airplane was not equipped with carburetor heat. ## Factual narrative On July 28, 2011, at 1650 central daylight time, N114DC, a Vans RV-4, sustained substantial damage during a forced landing near the Fort Worth Spinks Airport (FWS), Fort Worth, Texas. The airline transport pilot was seriously injured and the passenger was not injured. The airplane was registered to and operated by the pilot. A visual flight rules flight plan was filed for the flight that originated in Houston, Texas, about 1445. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the personal flight conducted under 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. In a written statement, the pilot said that he initiated a descent from 8,500 feet to 4,000 feet to clear the Class B airspace around Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport. Upon reaching 4,000 feet, the engine began to run rough and rolled back to idle power. The pilot declared an emergency, established a best glide speed and headed toward Spinks Airport, which was 8.8 miles away. The pilot then tried to trouble shoot the power loss, but was unsuccessful. The airplane was not equipped with carburetor heat. When the airplane reached an altitude of 1,000 feet, the engine lost total power and the pilot landed short of the runway in a corn field. The airplane's left main wheel struck vegetation, which caused the airplane to tip on to its nose striking the spinner. Postaccident examination of the airplane by a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector revealed the firewall was bent. The inspector removed the spark plugs, established engine continuity, and confirmed the fuel tanks were half-full of fuel. The carburetor was removed and inspected by an FAA approved maintenance facility. No anomalies were noted with the unit and it was placed back on the engine. The engine was then test-run and produced rated horsepower. No mechanical deficiencies were noted that would have precluded the engine from operating normally at the time of the power loss. Weather at FWS at 1640 was reported as wind from 130 degrees at 6 knots, visibility 10 miles, clouds scattered at 9,000 feet, temperature 40 degrees Celsius, dewpoint 15 degrees Celsius, and a barometric pressure setting of 29.78 inches of Mercury. According to the Department of Transportation/FAA Carburetor Icing Probability Chart, the weather conditions at the time of the power loss were conducive to carburetor icing at glide and cruise power. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N114DC](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N114DC), registered now, S/N 057, built 1990 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CHRISTIANSEN DON E DO RV-4 - Registry model: [Christiansen Don E Do RV-4](https://openairdocs.org/model/christiansen-don-e-do-rv-4) (registry code 05608DY) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 057 - Engines: LYCOMING O-320 SERIES 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Departed: KSGR, Sugar Land, TX - Destination: FWS, Fort Worth, TX - Flight plan: IFR - Airport: FWS, Fort Worth Spinks Airport ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 60; injuries: serious; airline transport, flight instructor; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review January 26, 2011; seat: front; flight hours: 3,100 total, 180 in this make and model, 3,020 as pilot in command, 45 in the last 90 days, 13 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 130° at 6 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Temperature: 104 °F, dew point 59 °F - Altimeter: 29.78 inHg - Observed at: FWS ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on January 19, 2012, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=81322. 2.3 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 2.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40361177&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Record of Conversation- FAA Inspector (item 2, .PDF, 68 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40361179&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation-%20FAA%20Inspector-Master.PDF - Email Response from the Pilot Regarding Engine Run and Carburetor Exam (item 3, .PDF, 14 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40361182&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Email%20Response%20from%20the%20Pilot%20Regarding%20Engine%20Run%20and%20Carburetor%20Exam-Redacted.PDF - DOT/FAA Carburetor Icing Probability Chart (item 4, .PDF, 218 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40361393&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=DOT%2FFAA%20Carburetor%20Icing%20Probability%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.