# NTSB CEN12LA288: Donald K Stovall Pietenpol Aircamper, N728MK, Rose Hill, KS, May 9, 2012 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: May 9, 2012, 12:00 local (17:00 UTC) - Place: Rose Hill, KS - Coordinates: 37.539886, -97.250915 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.5399&lon=-97.2509&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: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report August 13, 2013 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: Wichita FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 83600 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN12LA288 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/83600/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=83600 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN12LA288 ## Probable cause The loss of engine power due to carburetor icing. ## 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: [Donald K Stovall PIETENPOL AIRCAMPER, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03031030/cases.md?model=05631G3), [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 · Not specified (probable cause); cases with it: [Donald K Stovall PIETENPOL AIRCAMPER, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057322/cases.md?model=05631G3), [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-cruise: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) (defining event); cases with it: [Donald K Stovall PIETENPOL AIRCAMPER, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=05631G3), [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md) - [Landing: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Donald K Stovall PIETENPOL AIRCAMPER, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=05631G3), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The amateur-built airplane's engine lost power after takeoff, and the pilot performed an off-airport landing. The airplane struck trees during the landing. A postaccident examination revealed no evidence of mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. The temperature and dew point about the time of the accident were favorable for carburetor icing. Further, the Ford Model A engine that was installed on the airplane is noted for its susceptibility to the formation of carburetor ice. Additionally, the pilot reported his belief that the carburetor heat system of the airplane was ineffective at flight speeds and that the loss of power was due to the formation of carburetor ice. ## Factual narrative On May 9, 2012, about 1200 central daylight time, an amateur-built Stovall Pietenpol Aircamper, N728MK, collided with trees during a forced landing following a loss of engine power near Rose Hill, Kansas. The pilot was not injured. The airplane sustained substantial damage to both wings. The aircraft was registered to an individual and operated by the pilot under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the flight, which was not on a flight plan. The local flight was originating from Cook Airfield, Rose Hill, Kansas at the time of the accident. The pilot reported that the airplane's engine was run on the ground, at various power settings, for about 30 minutes. The airplane was then taxi tested for 45 minutes to 1 hour. On the first takeoff of the airplane, when it had reached an altitude about 400 feet above ground level, the engine power began to deteriorate. The engine power continued to decrease and an off-airport landing was made. The airplane struck trees during the landing. The temperature and dew point at the time of the accident were 20 degrees Celsius and 6 degrees Celsius. According to Federal Aviation Administration Special Airworthiness Information Bulletin CEN-09-35, these measurements indicated that the airplane was operating in a range susceptible to the formation of carburetor ice. The airplane was powered by a converted Ford Model A automobile engine. As installed on automobiles, the Model A engine was noted for its susceptibility to the formation of carburetor ice and heat tubes were installed to alleviate this problem. The pilot reported that he believed that the loss of power was due to the formation of carburetor ice. Although the airplane had provisions for carburetor heat that was effective during ground operations, the pilot believed the ram air introduced by flight conditions prevented the system from working effectively at flight speeds. A postaccident examination of the airframe and engine revealed no evidence of mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N728MK](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N728MK), registered now, S/N DKS 001, built 2011 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Donald K Stovall Pietenpol Aircamper - Registry model: [Donald K Stovall PIETENPOL AIRCAMPER](https://openairdocs.org/model/donald-k-stovall-pietenpol-aircamper) (registry code 05631G3) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Ford CONVERSION](https://openairdocs.org/engine/ford-conversion) (registry code 26701, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: DKS 001 - Airframe hours: 0 - Engines: Ford Model A 50 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Condition, May 8, 2012, 0 hours before - Departed: K50, Rose Hill, KS - Destination: K50, Rose Hill, KS - Airport: K50, Cook Airfield, runway 01, 1,600 × 50 ft, grass/turf ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 61; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: sport pilot; last flight review January 14, 2012; seat: rear; flight hours: 25,000 total, 0 in this make and model, 24,000 as pilot in command, 0 in the last 90 days, 0 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 70° at 7 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 68 °F, dew point 43 °F - Altimeter: 30.11 inHg - Observed at: IAB, 5 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 20120509029269A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20120509029269A), May 9, 2012: Donald K Stovall PIETENPOL AIRCAMPER, Rose Hill, KS, Substantial damage. Pilot reported that shortly after take off the engine began losing RPM. He then attempted to return to Cook Airfield(K50). The aircraft was unable to make it… ## Other investigations on N728MK (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 CEN27LA017](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN27LA017), Oct 13, 2026: Donald K Stovall Pietenpol Aircamper (N728MK), Syracuse, KS, investigation ongoing ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 11, 2013, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=83600. 1.2 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 930 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40394133&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - FAA Inspector's report (item 2, .PDF, 161 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40394161&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=FAA%20Inspector%27s%20report-Redacted.PDF - FAA SAIB CEN-09-35 (item 3, .PDF, 111 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40394164&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=FAA%20SAIB%20CEN-09-35-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.