# NTSB CEN11LA539: Hurley Richard A Cavalier SA102.5, N115RH, Salem, IA, July 29, 2011 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: July 29, 2011, 10:30 local (15:30 UTC) - Place: Salem, IA - Coordinates: 40.783054, -91.125274 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.7831&lon=-91.1253&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Enroute-descent: Loss of engine power (partial)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious - Status: Completed, report March 8, 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): 81376 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN11LA539 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/81376/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=81376 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN11LA539 ## Probable cause The partial loss of engine power due to the formation of carburetor ice. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [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: [Hurley Richard A CAVALIER SA102.5, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03031030/cases.md?model=05613LJ), [All aircraft, 435 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03031030/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: [Hurley Richard A CAVALIER SA102.5, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057322/cases.md?model=05613LJ), [All aircraft, 195 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057322/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Enroute-descent: Loss of engine power (partial)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342) (defining event); cases with it: [Hurley Richard A CAVALIER SA102.5, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342/sequence.md?model=05613LJ), [All aircraft, 1,858 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342/sequence.md) - [Emergency descent: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Hurley Richard A CAVALIER SA102.5, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=05613LJ), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis About 25 minutes prior to reaching the intended refueling destination, the pilot noticed a drop in engine rpm. The pilot applied carburetor heat, the engine rpm increased, and he turned the carburetor heat off. All other engine instruments and indications appeared normal. During the descent, the engine rpm dropped again, and the pilot attempted to resolve the problem by again applying carburetor heat, changing throttle positions, and switching fuel tanks; however, he was unsuccessful. Unable to maintain altitude, the pilot performed a forced landing to a cornfield. During postaccident examination of the airplane, fuel was noted in the airframe fuel tanks, and mechanical continuity was established throughout the engine. The airplane was operating in conditions conducive to serious carburetor icing at glide power at the time of the accident. It is possible that, when the engine lost partial power during the descent, the carburetor heat was not effective, because the engine was operating at a low power setting and was not producing sufficient heat to melt the ice. ## Factual narrative On July 29, 2011, at 1030 central daylight time, a Hurley Cavalier SA 102.5 experimental amateur-built airplane, N115RH, sustained substantial damage when it impacted terrain near Salem, Iowa. The commercial pilot, who was the sole occupant and registered owner, sustained serious injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and a flight plan was not filed for the 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The flight departed Oshkosh, Wisconsin, approximately 0830, and was destined for the Mount Pleasant Municipal Airport (MPZ), Mount Pleasant, Iowa. Approximately 25 minutes prior to reaching the intended refueling destination, the pilot noticed a drop in engine RPMs. The pilot applied carburetor heat and the engine RPMs increased. At that time, all other engine instruments and indications appeared normal. During the descent to MPZ, the engine RPMs dropped again, and the pilot attempted to resolve the problem by applying carburetor heat, changing throttle positions, and switching fuel tanks; however, he was unsuccessful. Unable to maintain altitude, the pilot initiated a forced landing to a cornfield. A postaccident examination of the airplane showed both wings spars were bent and the fuselage was buckled. Fuel was noted in the airframe fuel tanks and the carburetor was separated from the engine. Mechanical continuity was established throughout the engine. No anomalies were noted with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operations. At 1035, the MPZ automated weather observing system (AWOS), located approximately 5 miles north of the accident site, reported the wind from 060 degrees at 5 knots, visibility 10 statute miles, scattered clouds at 1,700 feet, temperature 81 degrees Fahrenheit, dew point 73 degrees Fahrenheit, and an altimeter setting of 30.05 inches of Mercury. According to the Federal Aviation Administration's Special Airworthiness Information Bulletin CE-09-35 Carburetor Icing Prevention chart, with the temperature and dew point, 81 degrees Fahrenheit and 73 degrees Fahrenheit respectively, conditions were conducive for serious carburetor ice at glide power. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N115RH](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N115RH-2011-11-09), registration cancelled 2011-11-09, S/N 81002LF3, built 1985 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: HURLEY RICHARD A CAVALIER SA102.5 - Registry model: [Hurley Richard A CAVALIER SA102.5](https://openairdocs.org/model/hurley-richard-a-cavalier-sa102-5) (registry code 05613LJ) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-290 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-290-series) (registry code 41506, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 81002LF3 - Airframe hours: 624 - Engines: LYCOMING O-290-D2 135 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Kirby Gary G - Registered owner: Kirby Gary G - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Condition, November 23, 2010 - Departed: OSH, Oshkosh, WI - Destination: MPZ, Mount Pleasant, IA ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 75; injuries: serious; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review June 2, 2011; seat: left; flight hours: 4,811 total, 115 in this make and model, 4,800 as pilot in command, 16 in the last 90 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 60° at 5 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 2,500 ft broken - Temperature: 81 °F, dew point 73 °F - Altimeter: 30.04 inHg - Observed at: MPZ ## 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 20110729016819A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20110729016819A), Jul 29, 2011: Hurley Richard A CAVALIER SA102.5, Salem, IA, Destroyed. The pilot stated he was descending into the Mt. Pleasant (mpz) airport, and at about 2000 feet, the engine began to run rough. The pilot said he actuated the… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on January 23, 2012, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=81376. 542 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 422 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40352927&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Record of Conversation - FAA Inspector (item 2, .PDF, 49 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40352928&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation%20-%20FAA%20Inspector-Master.PDF - FAA Carburetor Ice Chart (item 3, .PDF, 71 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40360743&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=FAA%20Carburetor%20Ice%20Chart%0D%0A-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.