# NTSB CEN12LA049: Brochetti Louis Pietenpol Aircamper, N486LB, Vienna, OH, October 29, 2011 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: October 29, 2011, 16:46 local (20:46 UTC) - Place: Vienna, OH - Coordinates: 41.20972, -80.683052 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.2097&lon=-80.6831&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Initial climb: Loss of engine power (partial)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious - Status: Completed, report June 12, 2013 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA- Cleveland FSDO - SAIBs cited in the narratives: [SAIB CE-09-35](https://openairdocs.org/saib/CE-09-35) (OpenAirDocs) - NTSB case key (mKey): 82222 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN12LA049 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/82222/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN12LA049 ## Probable cause The loss of engine power during climb after takeoff 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 · Not specified (probable cause); cases with it: [Brochetti Louis PIETENPOL AIRCAMPER, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058500/cases.md?model=704031N), [All aircraft, 497 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058500/cases.md) - [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: [Brochetti Louis PIETENPOL AIRCAMPER, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03031030/cases.md?model=704031N), [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) (defining event); cases with it: [Brochetti Louis PIETENPOL AIRCAMPER, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342/sequence.md?model=704031N), [All aircraft, 1,858 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342/sequence.md) ## Analysis The experimental amateur-built airplane impacted trees and terrain after a loss of engine power during takeoff. The pilot reported that the initial takeoff roll was normal and described the subsequent loss of power during the climb as gradual and continuing. Although postaccident examination of the airplane revealed that one of the engine's spark plug wire terminals was not attached to its respective spark plug, the pilot’s description of a gradual power loss during the climb was not consistent with a spark plug wire detachment, which would have resulted in a rapid loss of power. According to a Federal Aviation Administration carburetor icing chart, the temperature and dew point at the time of the accident were conducive to carburetor icing. The pilot attributed the loss of engine power to carburetor ice. Based on the available evidence, it is likely that the spark plug wire became dislodged from the spark plug during the impact sequence, and the loss of engine power was a result of carburetor icing. ## Factual narrative On October 29, 2011, about 1646 eastern daylight time, an experimental amateur-built Brochetti Pietenpol Aircamper, N486LB, impacted trees and terrain following a loss of engine power on takeoff. The airplane was departing from the Smith-Stewart Field Airport (79OH), Vienna, Ohio. The pilot received serious injuries. The airplane sustained substantial damage to it's wings and fuselage. The aircraft was registered to and operated by the pilot under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the flight, which was not on a flight plan. The flight was originating at the time of the accident and the intended destination was the Warren Airport (62D), Warren, Ohio. The pilot reported that the airplane had not been flown in the previous three to four weeks and that it had rained on the morning of the accident flight. He stated that he performed a preflight inspection of the airplane and found no anomalies. During the preflight inspection fuel was drained from each of the fuel tanks but was not collected for visual inspection. The pilot stated that the engine start and taxi were normal. He reported that the airplane lifted off during takeoff as expected but then would not climb as expected. The airplane subsequently impacted trees at the end of the runway. At 1651, the recorded temperature and dew point at the Youngstown-Warren Regional Airport, about 4 miles north of the accident site, were 5 degrees Celsius, and 0 degrees Celsius, respectively. According to Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Special Airworthiness Information Bulletin (SAIB) CE-09-35, the temperature and dew point were in the range for serious carburetor icing potential. In his report, the pilot surmised that carburetor icing or contaminated fuel may have contributed to the loss of engine power. Postaccident examination of the airplane by FAA inspectors revealed that one of the engine's spark plug wire terminals was not attached to its respective spark plug. No other evidence of mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation were found. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N486LB](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N486LB-2017-10-06), registration cancelled 2017-10-06, S/N 2, built 1990 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: BROCHETTI LOUIS PIETENPOL AIRCAMPER - Registry model: [Brochetti Louis PIETENPOL AIRCAMPER](https://openairdocs.org/model/brochetti-louis-pietenpol-aircamper) (registry code 704031N) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental A&C75 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-a-c75-series) (registry code 17005, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 2 - Airframe hours: 419 - Engines: CONT MOTOR C75 75 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Condition, October 10, 2011 - Departed: 79OH, Vienna, OH - Destination: 62D, Warren, OH - Airport: 79OH, Smith-Stewart Field Airport, runway 18, 1,800 × 100 ft, grass/turf ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 54; injuries: serious; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review April 28, 2010; seat: rear; flight hours: 646 total, 20 in this make and model, 584 as pilot in command, 25 in the last 90 days, 8 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 60° at 4 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 41 °F, dew point 32 °F - Altimeter: 30.04 inHg - Observed at: YNG, 4 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 20111029026969A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20111029026969A), Oct 29, 2011: Brochetti Louis PIETENPOL AIRCAMPER, Vienna, OH, Destroyed. Witnesses report that the pilot[privacy data omitted] (above) performed an uneventful run-up, taxi and take-off. One witness reported that during roll-out, the… 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.