# NTSB CEN12LA239: Gerner Evans WE-1, N5936, Kimball, NE, March 22, 2012 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: March 22, 2012, 16:00 local (22:00 UTC) - Place: Kimball, NE - Coordinates: 41.188056, -103.677223 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.1881&lon=-103.6772&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Initial climb: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report August 29, 2013 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA - Lincoln, NE - FSDO - SAIBs cited in the narratives: [SAIB CE-09-35](https://openairdocs.org/saib/CE-09-35) (OpenAirDocs) - NTSB case key (mKey): 83371 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN12LA239 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/83371/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=83371 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN12LA239 ## Probable cause The loss of engine power for reasons that could not be determined because a postaccident examination of the airplane and engine was not performed. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Not determined](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000): Not determined › Not determined · Unknown/Not determined (probable cause); cases with it: [Gerner EVANS WE-1, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md?model=0562058), [All aircraft, 2,247 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/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 (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) (defining event); cases with it: [Gerner EVANS WE-1, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=0562058), [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that the airplane's engine lost power about 50 feet above the ground after takeoff. He attempted to return to the airport, but the airplane impacted the ground. The airplane was powered by a converted Volkswagen automobile engine, which used a Harley Davidson motorcycle carburetor and did not have provisions for carburetor heat. The temperature and dew point at the time of the accident were 17 degrees Celsius and 0 degrees Celsius, respectively. According to carburetor probability icing charts, the airplane was operating in a region conducive to the formation of carburetor ice at glide or cruise power settings; however, the airplane was operating at a takeoff power setting. Due to the late reporting of the accident, no on-scene examination was performed. The pilot did not provide any additional information, so it could not be determined what caused the loss of engine power. ## Factual narrative On March 22, 2012, about 1600 mountain daylight time, an amateur-built Gerner WE-1 (Evans Volksplane), N5936, experienced a loss of engine power after takeoff and executed a forced landing. The pilot, who was the sole occupant, received minor injuries. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing during the forced landing. The aircraft was registered to and operated by the private 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 operated on a flight plan. The local flight was originating at the time of the accident. The pilot reported that the airplane's engine lost power about 50 feet above the ground after takeoff. He attempted to return to the airport but impacted the ground causing extensive damage to the airplane. The airplane was powered by a converted Volkswagen automobile engine. The engine used a Harley Davidson motorcycle carburetor and did not have provisions for carburetor heat. The temperature and dew point at the time of the accident were 17 degrees Celsius and 0 degrees Celsius. According to Federal Aviation Administration Special Airworthiness Information Bulletin CE-09-35, these measurements indicated that the airplane was operating in a region conducive for the formation of carburetor ice during glide or cruise power settings. The accident was not reported to the Federal Aviation Administration or the NTSB until approximately three weeks after the accident had occurred. As a result, no on-scene examination of the airplane was performed. The pilot indicated that he would examine the airplane and was asked to provide any evidence that would explain the loss of engine power. As of the completion of this report, he had not provided any additional information. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N5936](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5936-2018-03-08), registration cancelled 2018-03-08, S/N V1601, built 1972 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: GERNER EVANS WE-1 - Registry model: [Gerner EVANS WE-1](https://openairdocs.org/model/gerner-evans-we-1) (registry code 0562058) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Volkswagen CONVERSION](https://openairdocs.org/engine/volkswagen-conversion) (registry code 63501, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: V1601 - Airframe hours: 1000 - Engines: VOLKSWAGEN CONVERSION 36 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Condition, October 20, 2011 - Departed: IBM, Kimball, NE - Destination: IBM, Kimball, NE - Airport: IBM, Kimball Municipal Airport, runway 28, 6,199 × 75 ft, concrete ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 85; injuries: minor; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: sport pilot; seat: single; flight hours: 5,000 total, 17 in the last 90 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 50° at 9 knots, gusting 18 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 63 °F, dew point 32 °F - Altimeter: 29.88 inHg - Observed at: IBM ## 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 20120322005649A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20120322005649A), Mar 22, 2012: Gerner GERNER-EVANS WE-1, Kimball, NE, Substantial damage. 03/22/2012: [privacy data omitted] advised that he had taken off at the Kimball airport (ibm) for local flight. During climb out, at approximately 50 feet AGL,… ## Other investigations on N5936 (1) 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. - [NTSB MKC73DCJ39](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MKC73DCJ39), May 31, 1973: Gernr Evans WE-1 (N5936), Kimball, NE, substantial damage ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 26, 2013, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=83371. 843 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 626 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40394025&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Record of conversation with pilot (item 2, .PDF, 53 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40394026&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20conversation%20with%20pilot-Master.PDF - FAA SAIB CEN-09-35 (item 3, .PDF, 111 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40394027&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=FAA%20SAIB%20CEN-09-35-Master.PDF - Memorandum For The Record (item 4, .PDF, 52 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40395880&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Memorandum%20For%20The%20Record-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.