# NTSB CEN14LA136: Mahon Paul D Capella XS, N239PM, Houston, TX, February 9, 2014 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: February 9, 2014, 12:45 local (18:45 UTC) - Place: Houston, TX - Coordinates: 30.061666, -95.55278 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.0617&lon=-95.5528&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Enroute-climb to cruise: Loss of engine power (partial)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious, 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report October 27, 2014 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA Flight Standards District Office - SAIBs cited in the narratives: [SAIB CE-09-35](https://openairdocs.org/saib/CE-09-35) (OpenAirDocs) - NTSB case key (mKey): 88795 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN14LA136 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/88795/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=88795 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN14LA136 ## Probable cause The 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 · Effect on equipment (probable cause); cases with it: [Mahon Paul D CAPELLA SX, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03031030/cases.md?model=05630WJ), [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. - [Enroute-climb to cruise: Loss of engine power (partial)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342) (defining event); cases with it: [Mahon Paul D CAPELLA SX, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342/sequence.md?model=05630WJ), [All aircraft, 1,858 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Mahon Paul D CAPELLA SX, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=05630WJ), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096); cases with it: [Mahon Paul D CAPELLA SX, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md?model=05630WJ), [All aircraft, 2,287 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot and passenger reported that the engine lost power shortly after takeoff. During the forced landing to a field, the landing gear hit a berm, and the airplane nosed over, which resulted in substantial damage to the right wing, fuselage, and empennage. An examination of the airframe, engine, and related systems revealed no anomalies that would have precluded normal operation. The atmospheric conditions at the time of the accident were favorable for the formation of serious carburetor icing at cruise power. It is likely that carburetor ice accumulated during the taxi, which resulted in the loss of engine power. ## Factual narrative On February 9, 2014, about 1245 central standard time, a Capella XS experimental amateur-built airplane, N239PM, was substantially damaged during a forced landing 1/2 mile southwest of David Wayne Hooks Memorial Airport (KDWH), Houston, Texas. The private pilot was seriously injured and the passenger was not injured. The airplane was registered to and operated by a private individual under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the flight which operated without a flight plan. The local flight originated from KDWH at 1240. According to the private pilot and the passenger (who also owned the airplane) the engine lost power shortly after takeoff. They attempted to return to the airport but were unable to maintain altitude. They elected to perform a forced landing to a field. During the forced landing, the landing gear hit a berm and the airplane nosed over. The right wing separated and the fuselage and empennage were substantially damaged. An examination of the airframe, engine, and related systems revealed no anomalies. The temperature and dew point recorded at the time of the accident were 14 degrees Celsius and 12 degrees Celsius, respectively. A review of the carburetor icing probability chart, located in the Federal Aviation Administration's Special Airworthiness Information Bulletin CE-09-35, dated 6/30/2009, revealed that the airplane was operating in conditions favorable for the formation of serious carburetor icing at cruise power. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N239PM](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N239PM), registered now, S/N 239, built 2011 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: MAHON PAUL D CAPELLA XS - Registry model: [Mahon Paul D CAPELLA SX](https://openairdocs.org/model/mahon-paul-d-capella-sx) (registry code 05630WJ) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Rotax SEE BOMBADIER](https://openairdocs.org/engine/rotax-see-bombadier) (registry code 55555, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 239 - Year built: 2011 - Airframe hours: 470 - Engines: Rotax 582 65 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Condition, August 14, 2013 - Departed: KDWH, Houston, TX - Destination: KDWH, Houston, TX ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 69; injuries: serious; private; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 0 total, 0 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 200° at 4 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 1,100 ft overcast - Temperature: 57 °F, dew point 54 °F - Altimeter: 30.09 inHg - Observed at: KDWH, 5 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 20140209003659A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20140209003659A), Feb 9, 2014: Mahon Paul D CAPELLA SX, Spring, TX, Destroyed. Aircraft lost power after takeoff from dwh at approximately 700 feet. With reduced RPM the PIC did a 180 degree turn back towards dwh airport. Aircraft was… ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on April 25, 2014, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=88795. 1.2 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=40411558&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Airplane Owner & Passenger Statement (item 2, .PDF, 130 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40411559&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Airplane%20Owner%20%26%20Passenger%20Statement-Redacted.PDF - FAA Record of Conversation – Lanhorne (item 3, .PDF, 95 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40411560&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=FAA%20Record%20of%20Conversation%20%E2%80%93%20Lanhorne-Redacted.PDF - FAA Inspector Statement (item 4, .PDF, 170 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40411561&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=FAA%20Inspector%20Statement-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.