# NTSB CEN15LA237: Piper PA-22, N118U, St. Charles, MO, May 19, 2015 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: May 19, 2015, 18:30 local (23:30 UTC) - Place: St. Charles, MO - Coordinates: 38.93222, -90.431114 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.9322&lon=-90.4311&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Approach-VFR pattern base: Loss of engine power (partial)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report September 12, 2016 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 91205 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN15LA237 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/91205/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=91205 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN15LA237 ## Probable cause A loss of engine power for reasons that could not be determined because postaccident examination of the airframe and engine did not reveal any anomalies that would have precluded 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 PA-22, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md?model=7102202), [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. - [Approach-VFR pattern base: Loss of engine power (partial)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-22, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342/sequence.md?model=7102202), [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: [Piper PA-22, 9 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=7102202), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot stated that, while approaching the airport to land, he turned on the boost pump, reduced the throttle, and applied carburetor heat. While on downwind, he reduced the engine power to idle and lowered the flaps. While on the base leg, he advanced the throttle; however, the engine stayed at idle power. He turned off the carburetor heat, adjusted the throttle, and cycled the boost pump but was unable to regain engine power and elected to perform a forced landing to a plowed field. The airplane contacted a ditch at the end of the field, crossed over a road, and came to rest in another field, resulting in substantial damage. A postaccident examination of the airplane revealed that the fuel level in the right wing tank was "low" and the left wing fuel tank was about half full of fuel. A test run of the engine revealed no anomalies. The temperature and dew point conditions were conducive to the formation of serious carburetor icing at glide power; however, the pilot reported that he had applied carburetor heat during the descent and that it was on when the engine would not regain power. ## Factual narrative On May 19, 2015, at 1830 central daylight time, a Piper PA-22 airplane, N118U, collided with the terrain during an off airport landing following a loss of engine power while on approach to land at the St. Charles County Smartt Airport (SET), St. Charles, Missouri. The private pilot and passenger were not injured. The airplane was substantially damaged. The aircraft was registered to a private individual and was operated under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the flight, which not operated on a flight plan. The flight originated from the Tuscola Airport (K96), Tuscola, Illinois, at 1720. The pilot reported that he switched from the right fuel tank, which contained about 7 gallons of fuel, to the left fuel tank, which contained about 12 gallons of fuel, when he was about 15 miles from the destination airport. While approaching the airport, he turned on the fuel boost pump, reduced the throttle to 20 inches of manifold pressure, applied carburetor heat, and began the descent to traffic pattern altitude. While on downwind, he reduced the engine power to idle and applied flaps. On base leg, he advanced the throttle; however, the engine stayed at idle power. He turned off the carburetor heat, adjusted the throttle, and cycled the boost pump, but was unable to gain engine power. Unable to make it to the runway, the pilot chose a plowed field in which to land. The airplane contacted a ditch at the end of the field, crossed over a road, and came to rest in another field. The right main gear collapsed resulting in substantial damage to the fuselage and right main wing struts. A postaccident examination of the engine was conducted under the supervision of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). The inspector reported the fuel level in the right fuel tank was low and the left tank was about ½ full. The bent propeller was replaced with a serviceable one. The engine was started and it ran normally. The temperature and dewpoint reported at SET at the time of the accident were 63 degrees Fahrenheit and 46 degrees Fahrenheit respectively. According to the FAA SAID CE-09-35 "Carburetor Icing Prevention" chart, serious carburetor icing could be expected at glide power. However, the pilot reported that he had applied carburetor heat during the descent and that it was on when the engine would not regain power. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N118U](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N118U), registered now, S/N 22-3988 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA-22 - Registry model: [Piper PA-22](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-22) (registry code 7102202) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 22-3988 - Year built: 1956 - Airframe hours: 3586.2 - Engines: LYCOMING 0-320-A4A 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, May 19, 2015 - Departed: SET, St. Charles, MO - Destination: SET, St. Charles, MO - Airport: SET, St Charles County Smartt, runway 36, 3,800 × 75 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 50; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review June 28, 2014; seat: left; restraint: lap only; flight hours: 256 total, 209 in this make and model, 223 as pilot in command, 2 in the last 90 days, 1 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/dark - Wind: 10° at 9 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 63 °F, dew point 46 °F - Altimeter: 30.18 inHg - Observed at: SET ## 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 20150519007509A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20150519007509A), May 19, 2015: Piper PA-22, St Charles, MO, Substantial damage. Pilot was on left base to the airport with boost pump and carb heat on. Upon entering base he applied power to enter final and there was no engine response. He… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on July 27, 2016, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=91205. 2.0 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 1.9 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40442651&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Record of Conversations (item 2, .PDF, 98 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40442652&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversations-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.