# NTSB CEN13LA118: Piper PA-24-250, N8053P, Mc Allen, TX, December 31, 2012 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: December 31, 2012, 09:40 local (15:40 UTC) - Place: Mc Allen, TX - Coordinates: 26.172222, -98.236389 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=26.1722&lon=-98.2364&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: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report June 12, 2013 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA Flight Standards District Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 85916 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN13LA118 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/85916/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=85916 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN13LA118 ## Probable cause A 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 · Contributed to outcome (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-24-250, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03031030/cases.md?model=7102404), [All aircraft, 435 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03031030/cases.md) - [Engine (reciprocating)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058500): Aircraft › Aircraft power plant · Not specified (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-24-250, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058500/cases.md?model=7102404), [All aircraft, 497 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058500/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: [Piper PA-24-250, 23 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=7102404), [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md) - [Emergency descent: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Piper PA-24-250, 55 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=7102404), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis After taking off and climbing to about 1,200 feet above the ground, the airplane’s engine began to run rough and lost power. The pilot turned back toward the airport, but the airplane impacted terrain 200 feet short of the runway. The left main and nose landing gears separated from the airplane, the right wing was crushed, and the fuselage was buckled. Postaccident examination of the engine and related systems revealed no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or anomalies that would have precluded normal operation. According to a Federal Aviation Administration carburetor icing chart, conditions were conducive to carburetor icing at the time of the accident. ## Factual narrative On December 31, 2012, about 0940 central standard time, a Piper PA-24-250, N8053P, impacted terrain short of runway 31 at Mc Allen Miller International Airport (KMFE), Mc Allen, Texas. The pilot, the sole occupant on board, was not injured. The airplane was substantially damaged. The airplane 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 at the time of the accident, and no flight plan had been filed. The local flight originated from KMFE approximately 0935, and was destined for Weslaco, Texas (5T6). According to the pilot’s accident report, after taking off and climbing to 1,200 feet, the engine began running rough and losing power. He initiated a turn back towards the airport, but the airplane impacted terrain 200 feet short of runway 31. The left main and nose landing gears separated from the airplane, and the right wing was crushed and the fuselage was buckled. The engine was later examined by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector. According to the inspector’s report, no anomalies were noted with the ignition system. All spark plugs were dry, consistent with a lean mixture, and the intake system appeared normal. All pistons and valves moved with crankshaft movement. There was ample fuel (100LL) in all four tanks. Using the electric fuel pump, fuel pressure was at the top of the green arc on the fuel pressure gauge at any tank position selected. Fuel flow was observed to the carburetor and intake from all four tank positions. Operation of the engine driven fuel pump could not be verified. The carburetor finger screen was clean. It took about 3 to 4 seconds to restore fuel flow to the carburetor when the fuel selector was switched from "off" to a tank position (using the electric pump). A Carburetor Icing Probability Chart was examined. Using the temperature (21 degrees C.) and dew point (16 degrees C.) that prevailed, the chart indicated moderate icing at cruise power and serious icing at descent power. Dew point compression was 5 degrees C., which equates to a relative humidity of about 69 per cent. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N8053P](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8053P-2017-10-24), registration cancelled 2017-10-24, S/N 24-3299, built 1962 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA-24-250 - Registry model: [Piper PA-24-250](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-24-250) (registry code 7102404) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-540 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-540-series) (registry code 41532, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 24-3299 - Airframe hours: 3392 - Engines: Lycoming O-540-A1D5 250 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: John M.. Pate - Registered owner: John M.. Pate - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, January 26, 2012, 32 hours before - Departed: KMFE, Mc Allen, TX - Destination: 5T6, Weslaco, TX - Airport: KMFE, Mc Allen Miller International, runway 31, 7,120 × 150 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 43; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; last flight review March 30, 2011; seat: left; flight hours: 481 total, 43 in this make and model, 416 as pilot in command, 30 in the last 90 days, 13 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 160° at 10 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 70 °F, dew point 61 °F - Altimeter: 30.04 inHg - Observed at: KMFE ## 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 20121231028689A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20121231028689A), Dec 31, 2012: Piper PA-24-250, Mcallen, TX, Substantial damage. Aircraft departed from runway 13 at Mcallen, TX (kmfe) at 0935 local. Pilot reported approximately 3 minutes later that the engine lost power and requested to… ## Other investigations on N8053P (2) 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 OAK72FVW01](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/OAK72FVW01), Jul 11, 1971: Piper PA-24 (N8053P), Beatty, NV, destroyed - [NTSB MIA65F0017](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA65F0017), Mar 12, 1965: Piper PA-24 (N8053P), Ft Meyers, FL, substantial damage ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on April 23, 2013, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=85916. 741 KB in all. - NTSB Form 6120.1-2, Pilot-Operator Aircraft Accident Report (item 1, .PDF, 124 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40387534&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=NTSB%20Form%206120.1-2,%20Pilot-Operator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report-Redacted.PDF - E-Mail from FAA Inspector (item 2, .PDF, 15 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40387535&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=E-Mail%20from%20FAA%20Inspector-Redacted.PDF - Carburetor Icing Probability Chart (item 3, .PDF, 601 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40391381&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Carburetor%20Icing%20Probability%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.