# NTSB CEN13LA068: Boeing A75L3, N56226, San Antonio, TX, November 20, 2012 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: November 20, 2012, 17:00 local (23:00 UTC) - Place: San Antonio, TX - Coordinates: 29.284721, -98.498054 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.2847&lon=-98.4981&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Takeoff: Loss of engine power (partial)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor, 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report January 13, 2014 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA - San Antonio FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 85648 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN13LA068 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/85648/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=85648 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN13LA068 ## Probable cause A partial loss of engine power during takeoff, likely due to the accumulation 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 · Contributed to outcome (probable cause); cases with it: [Boeing A75L3, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03031030/cases.md?model=1380102), [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. - [Takeoff: Loss of engine power (partial)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342) (defining event); cases with it: [Boeing A75L3, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342/sequence.md?model=1380102), [All aircraft, 1,858 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342/sequence.md) - [Takeoff-rejected takeoff: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Boeing A75L3, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=1380102), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot stated that an uneventful landing was performed on the grass runway and the airplane was turned around at the end of the runway for a takeoff in the opposite direction. The pilot reported that the winds were calm at this time. After liftoff, at about 15 feet above the ground, the pilot recognized that the airplane was not producing adequate power and was not accelerating and he landed the airplane. The airplane touched down near the departure end of runway, went off the end of the runway and struck trees. A witness stated that the airplane landed, made a 180 degree turn at the end of the runway and departed in the opposite direction. The witness said that he saw the airplane become airborne and when it was about 20 to 30 feet above the ground it leveled off and appeared to lose power. On-scene examination of the airplane did not reveal any anomalies that would account for the loss of engine power. The temperature an dew point recorded at the time of the accident were in the range of susceptibility for moderate carburetor icing at cruise power setting and serious icing at descent power setting. It is not known if the pilot used carburetor heat during the the landing before the accident, however, the carburetor heat control was found in the off position during postaccident examination. Based on the available information it is likely that the airplane's engine experienced carburetor icing which reduced the available power output of the engine. ## Factual narrative On November 20, 2012, about 1700 central standard time, a Boeing A75L3, N56226, was damaged when it overran the end of the runway and struck trees after an aborted takeoff from runway 35 at the Horizon Airport (74R), San Antonio, Texas. The pilot reported a loss of engine power which precipitated the aborted takeoff. The pilot and passenger were not injured. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the upper left wing spars. The aircraft was registered to an individual and operated by the commercial 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 flight originated from the Stinson Municipal Airport (SSF) about 1650. The pilot stated that the flight began at SSF and an uneventful landing was performed on runway 16 at 74R. The airplane was turned around at the end of the runway for a takeoff from runway 34. The pilot reported that the winds were calm at this time. After liftoff, at about 15 feet above the ground, the pilot recognized that the airplane was not producing adequate power and was not accelerating and he landed the airplane. The airplane touched down near the departure end of runway, went off the end of the runway and struck trees. A witness stated that the airplane landed on runway 16, made a 180 degree turn at the end of the runway and departed from runway 34. The witness said that he saw the airplane become airborne and when it was about 20 to 30 feet above the ground it leveled off and appeared to lose power. On-scene examination of the airplane by a Federal Aviation Administration Airworthiness Inspector did not reveal any anomalies that would account for the loss of engine power. The engine was able to be rotated by hand and the intake and exhaust valves functioned normally. The engine oil level was normal and no oil was found in the engine's exhaust. Fuel was present in the fuel tank. The fuel shutoff valve was found in a partially closed position but fuel flowed freely through the fuel strainer and the flow did not decrease until the valve was turned much closer to the off position. The throttle control was found at idle, the mixture control in the full rich position, and the carburetor heat control in the off position. The temperature an dew point recorded at a station about 3 miles from the accident site were 24 degrees Celsius, and 14 degrees Celsius, respectively. According to a carburetor icing probability chart, the recorded temperature and dew point were in the range of susceptibility for moderate carburetor icing at cruise power setting and serious icing at descent power setting. The pilot's statement did not mention if carburetor heat was used during the previous landing, or during the accident takeoff. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N56226](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N56226), registered now, S/N 75-888, built 1941 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: BOEING A75L3 - Registry model: [Boeing A75L3](https://openairdocs.org/model/boeing-a75l3) (registry code 1380102) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming R680](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-r680) (registry code 41540, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 75-888 - Engines: LYCOMING R680 215 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, August 20, 2012 - Departed: SSF, San Antonio, TX - Destination: SSF, San Antonio, TX - Airport: 74R, Horizon, runway 34, 2,250 × 100 ft, grass/turf ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 60; injuries: none; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review April 4, 2012; seat: rear; flight hours: 6,000 total, 110 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 170° at 3 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 75 °F, dew point 57 °F - Altimeter: 30.12 inHg - Observed at: SSF, 3 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 20121120026809A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20121120026809A), Nov 20, 2012: Boeing A75L3, San Antonio, TX, Substantial damage. Pilot believes that the aircraft lost power on takeoff. The aircraft had become airborne approximately 20'. Pilot attempted to land in the remaining runway,… ## Other investigations on N56226 (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 OAK69F0069](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/OAK69F0069), Jul 19, 1968: Boeing A75L-3 (N56226), Knights Lndg, CA, destroyed, 1 fatal ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on November 19, 2013, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=85648. 68 KB in all. - FAA record of conversation with pilot (item 1, .PDF, 23 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40401852&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=FAA%20record%20of%20conversation%20with%20pilot-Redacted.PDF - FAA record of conversation with passenger (item 2, .PDF, 23 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40401853&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=FAA%20record%20of%20conversation%20with%20passenger-Redacted.PDF - FAA record of conversation with witness (item 3, .PDF, 22 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40401854&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=FAA%20record%20of%20conversation%20with%20witness-Redacted.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.