# NTSB CEN12LA306: Taylorcraft BC12-D, N43635, Marion, AR, May 15, 2012 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: May 15, 2012, 14:40 local (19:40 UTC) - Place: Marion, AR - Coordinates: 35.275001, -90.5 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.2750&lon=-90.5000&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Maneuvering: Loss of engine power (partial)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 2 minor - Status: Completed, report May 9, 2013 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA Flight Standards District Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 83687 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN12LA306 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/83687/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=83687 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN12LA306 ## Probable cause The partial loss of engine power for reasons that could not be determined because examination of the engine did not reveal any anomalies that would have precluded normal operation. ## 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: [Taylorcraft BC12-D, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md?model=8850316), [All aircraft, 2,247 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md) - [Temp/humidity/pressure: conducive to carburetor icing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03031030): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on operation; cases with it: [Taylorcraft BC12-D, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03031030/cases.md?model=8850316), [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. - [Maneuvering: Loss of engine power (partial)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342) (defining event); cases with it: [Taylorcraft BC12-D, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342/sequence.md?model=8850316), [All aircraft, 1,858 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342/sequence.md) - [Emergency descent: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440); cases with it: [Taylorcraft BC12-D, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=8850316), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md) - [Landing: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Taylorcraft BC12-D, 21 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=8850316), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The engine lost power about 10 minutes into the flight. The flight instructor assumed control of the airplane and configured it for a forced landing in a soybean field. The engine power resumed then was lost again. The instructor attempted to make a steep turn back toward the soybean field. He did not realize how low the airplane was, and the airplane collided with the ground. Both the instructor and student said they had not used carburetor heat. According to the local weather report, the temperature and dew point were 79 degrees and 55 degrees Fahrenheit, respectively. According to the “Carburetor Icing Probability Chart,” this temperature/dew point combination would be in the “serious icing (glide power)” range. An examination of the airplane did not reveal any anomalies with the engine. Although there is a possibility carburetor icing occurred, it could not be determined if the airplane had been operated in conditions that resulted in the formation of carburetor icing. ## Factual narrative On May 15, 2012, about 1440 central daylight time, the pilot of a Taylorcraft BC12-D, N43635, made a forced landing in a field about 1 mile north of Marion, Arkansas, after the engine lost partial power. The flight instructor and student pilot both sustained minor injuries. The airplane was substantially damaged. The airplane was registered to and operated by the student pilot under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 91 as an instructional flight. Visual meteorological conditions (VMC) prevailed at the time of the accident, and no flight plan had been filed. The local flight originated from General Dewitt Spain Airport (M01), Memphis, Tennessee, approximately 1430. According to the flight instructor's accident report and corroborated by a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector, the engine lost power about 10 minutes into the flight. The flight instructor assumed control of the airplane and configured it for a forced landing in a soybean field. He checked the magnetos and pumped the throttle but to no avail. When he was established on an approach to the field, the engine resumed developing power. After initiating a slow climb and turn back towards M01, the engine lost power again. The instructor, seated in the right seat, attempted to make a steep turn back towards the soybean field. He did not realize how low the airplane was and the airplane collided with the ground. The impact sheared off the left main wheel, and the outboard 4 to 5 feet of the right wing leading edge was crushed. In addition, the propeller was bent, and the engine cowling was pushed into the carburetor when the nose struck the ground. The airplane then fell back onto its tail wheel. The header tank was found to be about one-third full with auto gas and the propeller turned freely. No anomolies were noted with the engine or airframe. The instructor and student told the FAA inspector that they had not used carburetor heat. According to the Automated Weather Observation System (AWOS) observation at West Memphis Municipal Airport (AWM), located about 8 miles northeast of the accident site, the temperature and dew point were 79 degrees and 55 degrees Fahrenheit, respectively. According to the “Carburetor Icing Probability Chart,” this temperature/dew point combination would be in the “serious icing (glide power)” range. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N43635](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N43635-2023-02-04), registration cancelled 2023-02-04, S/N 7294, built 1946 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: TAYLORCRAFT BC12-D - Registry model: [Taylorcraft BC12-D](https://openairdocs.org/model/taylorcraft-bc12-d) (registry code 8850316) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental A&C65 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-a-c65-series) (registry code 17003, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 7294 - Airframe hours: 2059 - Engines: Continental A-65-8 65 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Steven Jones - Registered owner: Steven Jones - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, May 5, 2012, 7 hours before - Departed: M01, Memphis, TN - Destination: M01, Memphis, TN ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Flight instructor; age 72; injuries: minor; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review May 15, 2012; seat: right; flight hours: 1,700 total, 82 in this make and model, 4 in the last 90 days, 4 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours - Student pilot; age 27; injuries: minor; seat: left; flight hours: 7 total, 3 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 140° at 3 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 6,500 ft broken - Temperature: 79 °F, dew point 55 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: KAWM, 8 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 20120515009149A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20120515009149A), May 15, 2012: Taylorcraft BC-12D, Marion, AR, Substantial damage. On may 15, 2012, at 14:50 CDT a Taylorcraft BC-12D, N43635 impacted a soybean field while conducting an emergency landing approximately 2 miles north of… ## Docket (5 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on March 20, 2013, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=83687. 2.8 MB in all. - NTSB Form 6120.1-2, Pilot-Operator Aircraft Accident Report (item 1, .PDF, 2.5 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40384338&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=NTSB%20Form%206120.1-2,%20Pilot-Operator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report-Redacted.PDF - Flight Instructor's Statement (item 2, .PDF, 161 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40371654&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Flight%20Instructor%27s%20Statement-Redacted.PDF - E-Mail from FAA Inspector (item 3, .PDF, 19 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40384339&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=E-Mail%20from%20FAA%20Inspector-Redacted.PDF - Weather Reports and Records (item 4, .PDF, 49 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40371735&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Weather%20Reports%20and%20Records-Master.PDF - Carburetor Icing Probablity Chart (item 5, .PDF, 72 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40371734&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Carburetor%20Icing%20Probablity%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.