# NTSB CEN13LA193: Piper J3C-65, N88313, Seguin, TX, March 13, 2013 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: March 13, 2013, 13:40 local (18:40 UTC) - Place: Seguin, TX - Coordinates: 29.570278, -97.966941 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.5703&lon=-97.9669&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 March 24, 2014 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA FSDO - SAIBs cited in the narratives: [SAIB CE-09-35](https://openairdocs.org/saib/CE-09-35) (OpenAirDocs) - NTSB case key (mKey): 86429 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN13LA193 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/86429/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=86429 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN13LA193 ## Probable cause The partial loss of engine power for reasons that could not be undetermined because an examination of the engine did not reveal any malfunctions or failures that would preclude 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: [Piper J3C-65, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md?model=7100510), [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. - [Takeoff: Fuel related](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/190); cases with it: [Piper J3C-65, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/190/sequence.md?model=7100510), [All aircraft, 361 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/190/sequence.md) - [Takeoff: Loss of engine power (partial)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper J3C-65, 10 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342/sequence.md?model=7100510), [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: [Piper J3C-65, 17 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=7100510), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Piper J3C-65, 54 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=7100510), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The flight instructor and student pilot planned on departing from a private grass airfield and fly to another airfield, in order to refuel the airplane before practicing landings. The instructor reported that the airplane had 3 gallons of fuel onboard. Shortly after takeoff, when the airplane was about 200 feet in the air, the flight instructor realized engine power was decreasing. The instructor reported that the throttle was already at full power and with obstacles ahead, he elected to turn back to the departure runway. The instructor made a 150-degree turn, but was unable to recover from the turn, and the left wing impacted terrain. The instructor added that the engine may have had carburetor icing, though he did not apply carburetor heat. An automated weather station located about 13 miles west of the accident site, reported, temperature 72 degrees F, and a dew point of 36 degrees F. A review of the carburetor icing probability chart, indicated that the airplane was operating in an area that was associated with a risk of carburetor ice formation, at glide and cruise power. A visual examination of the airplane revealed that the carburetor and gascolator were broken off during the impact, and the fuel tank was empty. No malfunctions or failures were noted that would have precluded normal operation. A reason for the loss of power was not determined. ## Factual narrative On March 13, 2013, about 1340 central daylight time, a Piper J3C-65 airplane, N88313, experienced a loss of engine power shortly after takeoff. The flight instructor and student pilot received minor injuries. The airplane was substantially damaged. The airplane was registered to and operated by the Freeman Heritage Collection, LLC, Kingsbury, Texas, under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as an instructional flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the flight that operated without a flight plan. The flight was originating from the Old Kingsbury Aerodrome (85TE), Seguin, Texas at the time of the accident. According to the flight instructor, they planned on flying to a nearby airport to get fuel, and then return to 85TE for some practice landings. However, shortly after takeoff, as the airplane reached about 200 feet, the instructor noticed that engine power was decreasing. He attempted to advance the throttle, but it was already at full forward. The area ahead was not suitable for a forced landing, so he elected to return to the airfield. The instructor made about a 150-degree turn, but was not able to recover from the turn and the left wing impacted terrain. The instructor reported that they hit the ground hard. The instructor added that engine may have had carburetor icing and that he did not apply carburetor heat. According to the responding Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector, the flight instructor reported that they departed the airfield, with three gallons of gas in the airplane. Examination of the airplane by FAA revealed that the airplane's wings and fuselage were bent and the main landing gear had flattened out. The gascolator and carburetor were broken, and no fuel was found in the airplane's fuel tank. At 1351, the automated weather station at New Braunfels Regional Airport, (KBAZ), located about 13 miles west of the accident site, reported, temperature 72 degrees F, and a dew point of 36 degrees F. The carburetor icing probability chart included in Federal Aviation Administration Special Airworthiness Information Bulletin No. CE-09-35, Carburetor Icing Prevention, indicated that the airplane was operating in an area that was associated with a risk of carburetor ice formation, at glide and cruise power settings. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N88313](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N88313), registered now, S/N 15931 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER J3C-65 - Registry model: [Piper J3C-65](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-j3c-65) (registry code 7100510) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 15931 - Engines: Continential A65 reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Freeman Heritage Collection LLC - Registered owner: Freeman Heritage Collection LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: 85TE, Seguin, TX - Destination: 85TE, Seguin, TX - Flight plan: Unknown - Airport: 85TE, Old Kingsbury, runway 14, 2,600 × 150 ft, grass/turf ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Flight instructor; age 70; injuries: minor; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; seat: front; restraint: lap only; flight hours: 14,660 total, 1,387 in this make and model, 56 in the last 90 days, 18.2 in the last 30 days - Student pilot; injuries: minor; seat: rear; restraint: lap only; flight hours: 27.2 total, 27.2 in this make and model, 1 as pilot in command ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 72 °F, dew point 36 °F - Altimeter: 30.37 inHg - Observed at: KBAZ, 15 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 20130313004679A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20130313004679A), Mar 13, 2013: Piper J3C-65, Seguin, TX, Substantial damage. Instructor and student pilot at the controls took off on training flight enroute to local airport for fuel (pilot reported he had 3 gallons of fuel onboard).… ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on February 3, 2014, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=86429. 1.0 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 802 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40407319&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Reports from Federal Agencies (memo) (item 2, .PDF, 67 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40407320&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Reports%20from%20Federal%20Agencies%20(memo)-Master.PDF - Weather Reports and Records (item 3, .PDF, 68 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40407321&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Weather%20Reports%20and%20Records-Master.PDF - Carb ice diagram (item 4, .PDF, 91 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40407322&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Carb%20ice%20diagram-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.