CEN13LA502

NTSB accident investigation · Anderas Tiger Moth R80 · New Franken, WI · August 24, 2013

Accident · Minor injuriesLimited investigationFinal report
Date
August 24, 2013, 12:00 local (17:00 UTC)
Place
New Franken, WI
Injuries
1 minor
Damage
Substantial damage
Phase of flight
Initial climb
Aircraft
N927TMAnderas Tiger Moth R80
Defining event
Initial climb: Loss of engine power (total)
Weather
Visual (VMC) · Day
Status
Completed · report August 7, 2014
Report
Approved by Office Director
NTSB office
Central Region
Parties
Federal Aviation Administration
FAA report
20130824015549A
Case key
87856

From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.

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Probable cause

The loss of engine power during initial climb for reasons that could not be determined because postaccident examination did not reveal any anomalies that would have precluded normal operation.

Findings · 1

NTSB’s coded findings. Those marked are part of the probable cause; the rest are factors or other findings. Under each, the cases with the same finding.

Not determinedNot determined › Not determined · Unknown/Not determinedAnderas Per TIGER MOTH R80: 1 caseAll aircraft: 2,247 casesProbable cause

Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event is the one that best describes the accident. Under each, the cases with the same event anywhere in their sequence.

Analysis

The pilot reported that a new engine had been installed on the amateur-built airplane in accordance with the manufacturer's recommendations and that an engine test run and taxi tests were performed. The airplane was serviced with fuel before its first local flight following the new engine installation. Shortly after takeoff, the airplane lost engine power at 200 feet above ground level. The pilot performed a forced landing to a field, during which the landing gear separated from the airplane, and the airplane sustained substantial wing and fuselage damage. The local temperature and dew point were favorable for serious carburetor icing at glide power; however, the engine was operating at a high power setting. A postaccident examination revealed that the fuel filters were clean. An examination of the engine did not reveal any anomalies that would have precluded normal operation.

Factual narrative

On August 24, 2013, about 1200 central daylight time, an experimental amateur-built Anderas Tiger Moth R80 airplane, N927TM, impacted terrain during a forced landing following a loss of engine power near New Franken, Wisconsin. The commercial pilot, who was the sole occupant, received minor injuries. The airplanes fuselage and wings sustained substantial damage. 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. Day visual flight rules (VFR) conditions prevailed for the flight, which did not operate on a VFR flight plan. The local flight was originating from the Nicolet Airport, near Green Bay, Wisconsin, at the time of the accident.The pilot reported that a new engine was installed on the airplane in accordance with the manufacturer's recommendations. He indicated that it was a Rotec R2800 engine and its serial number was 1080105. The engine was test run and taxi tests were performed. The airplane was serviced with fuel before its first local flight in the airport pattern following the new engine installation. The pilot took off and at 200 feet above ground level, the airplane lost engine power. The pilot turned the airplane to the right and selected a field to land on. The airplanes landing gear impacted tall grass and the landing gear separated from the airplane. The pilot said that the "airplane disintegrated around" him. At 1153, the recorded weather at the Austin Straubel International Airport (GRB), near Green Bay, Wisconsin, was: Wind 190 degrees at 7 knots; visibility 10 statute miles; sky condition clear; temperature 25 degrees C; dew point 16 degrees C; altimeter 30.25 inches of mercury. The temperature and dew point at GRB was entered on a carburetor icing probability chart and the chart revealed that the weather conditions were favorable for serious icing at glide power. During a telephone interview, the pilot indicated that the airplane was torn down and he subsequently examined it. The fuel filters were found to be clean and an examination of the engine did not reveal any anomalies.

Aircraft

Registration
N927TM
Reported as
Anderas Tiger Moth R80
Category
Airplane, amateur-built
Serial number
TM19
Airframe hours
51
Engine
Rotec 2800, 110 horsepower, reciprocating
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Personal · Part 91
Operator
Pilot
Registered owner
Pilot
Airworthiness certificate
Special, Experimental (Special)
Last inspection
Condition · August 24, 2013
Departed
88WI · Green Bay, WI
Destination
88WI · Green Bay, WI
Airport
88WI · Nicolet, runway 21, 2,200 × 100 ft

Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

Role
Pilot
Age
60
Injuries
Minor
Certificate
Commercial
Airplane ratings
Multi-engine land, Single-engine sea, Single-engine land
Instrument ratings
Airplane
Medical
Class 2, With waivers/limitations
Seat
Rear
Restraint
3-point
Flight hours
3,000 total · 45 in this make and model · 2,800 as pilot in command · 30 in the last 90 days · 10 in the last 30 days · 0 in the last 24 hours

Weather

Conditions
Visual (VMC) · Day
Wind
190° at 7 knots
Visibility
10 statute miles
Lowest ceiling
None
Temperature
77 °F, dew point 61 °F
Altimeter
30.25 inHg
Observed at
KGRB, 12 nm away

Docket · 3

The files NTSB released with the investigation on May 7, 2014, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 354 KB in all.

FAA reports on this event · 1

The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.