# NTSB CEN13LA201: Piper PA23-250, N6222M, Winsted, MN, March 16, 2013 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: March 15, 2013, 19:10 local (Mar 16, 2013, 00:10 UTC) - Place: Winsted, MN - Coordinates: 44.95, -94.066947 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=44.9500&lon=-94.0669&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Approach-IFR initial approach: Loss of engine power (partial)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 6 uninjured - Status: Completed, report November 13, 2014 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA-Minneapolis FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 86475 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN13LA201 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/86475/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=86475 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN13LA201 ## Probable cause The obstruction of the right engine’s induction air system by ice, which resulted in a loss of engine power. ## 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: [Piper PA-23-250, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03031030/cases.md?model=7102308), [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 · Damaged/degraded (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-23-250, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057322/cases.md?model=7102308), [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. - [Approach-IFR initial approach: Loss of engine power (partial)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-23-250, 9 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342/sequence.md?model=7102308), [All aircraft, 1,858 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342/sequence.md) - [Landing: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Piper PA-23-250, 16 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=7102308), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that the twin-engine airplane's right engine lost power following a descent in icing conditions. The pilot's attempts to restart the engine were unsuccessful, and the pilot chose to land at an alternate airport. The airplane subsequently landed short of the runway. Postaccident examination of the airplane revealed icing on both engines' induction air intakes and air filters. The right engine induction air filter was 100 percent obstructed, and the left engine induction air filter was about 35 percent obstructed. No further engine anomalies were found. Based on the available evidence, it is likely that the icing of the right engine's induction air system resulted in a lack of airflow in the system, which prevented combustion and led to the subsequent loss of engine power. ## Factual narrative On March 15, 2013, about 1910 central daylight time, a Piper PA23-250, N6222M, impacted terrain during a forced landing following a loss of engine power on the right engine. There were no injuries to the pilot or five passengers. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage during the forced landing. The aircraft was registered to West Metro Aviation LLC and operated by Tri-State Drilling under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a business flight. Instrument meteorological conditions prevailed for the flight, which operated on an instrument flight rules (IFR) flight plan. The flight originated from the Jamestown Regional Airport (JMS), Jamestown, North Dakota, at 1809, and was en route to the Buffalo Municipal Airport (CFE), Buffalo, Minnesota. The pilot reported that the takeoff, climb and cruise portions of the flight were uneventful. As the airplane descended from 9,000 feet above mean sea level (msl) it entered clouds at 7,500 feet msl, and at 7,000 feet msl it began to rain. The pilot reported that the outside air temperatures were about 50 degrees. He reported that when the airplane was between 5,000 feet msl and 3,300 feet msl moderate to severe icing was experienced and he activated the airframe de-icing system 4 to 6 time before descending below the clouds at 3,300 feet msl. He stated that he could not see through the windshield due to a thick covering of ice but that he had good visibility to each side. He reported that moments after he cancelled his IFR flight plan the right engine lost power. He attempted to restart the engine, including switching fuel tanks, activating the alternate air system, and using both hot and cold start procedures to no avail. At this point the pilot attempted to fly to an alternate airport to land. Due to the ice accumulation on the airframe, the airplane landed short of the intended alternate airport. Examination of the airplane after the accident revealed icing of the induction air intake and air filter of both engines. The right induction air filter was 100 percent obstructed and the left induction air filter was about 35 percent obstructed. No further anomalies were found with respect to either engine. The engine had an electronic engine monitor installed. The unit was retained for possible download of any recorded data. It was found that the unit did not have recording capability. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N6222M](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N6222M-2018-02-21), registration cancelled 2018-02-21, S/N 27-7754104, built 1977 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA23-250 - Registry model: [Piper PA-23-250](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-23-250) (registry code 7102308) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming IO-540 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-540-series) (registry code 41530, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 27-7754104 - Airframe hours: 8554 - Engines: Lycoming IO-540-C4B5 260 horsepower reciprocating; Lycoming IO-540-C4B5 260 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Business, Part 91 - Operator: Tri-State Drilling - Registered owner: West Metro Aviation LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, February 15, 2013 - Departed: JMS, Jamestown, ND - Destination: CFE, Buffalo, MN - Flight plan: IFR - Airport: 10D, Winsted Muni ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 54; injuries: none; commercial, airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine sea, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; last flight review February 18, 2013; seat: left; flight hours: 24,900 total, 1,500 in this make and model, 24,550 as pilot in command, 45 in the last 90 days, 19 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Dusk - Wind: 10° at 8 knots, gusting 14 - Visibility: 4 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 1,500 ft broken - Temperature: 28 °F, dew point 27 °F - Altimeter: 29.86 inHg - Observed at: CFE, 20 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 20130315003859A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20130315003859A), Mar 15, 2013: Piper PA-23-250, Winsted, MN, Substantial damage. Pilot was flying from jamestown, ND. (Kjms) to buffalo, MN (kcfe). On the approach for the GPS rwy 36, he switched to the inboard fuel tanks. Shortly… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 1, 2014, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=86475. 958 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 905 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40417182&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Record of Conversation - FAA Inspector (item 2, .PDF, 53 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40417183&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation%20-%20FAA%20Inspector-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.