# NTSB CEN15LA391: Ference John W Thatcher CX4A, N443JF, Hebron, OH, August 31, 2015 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: August 31, 2015, 18:05 local (22:05 UTC) - Place: Hebron, OH - Coordinates: 39.961112, -82.540832 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.9611&lon=-82.5408&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Takeoff: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report October 3, 2016 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA - SAIBs cited in the narratives: [SAIB CE-09-35](https://openairdocs.org/saib/CE-09-35) (OpenAirDocs) - NTSB case key (mKey): 91894 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN15LA391 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/91894/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=91894 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN15LA391 ## Probable cause The loss of engine power for reasons that could not be determined because a 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: [Ference John W THATCHER CX4A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md?model=05632PH), [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: Unknown or undetermined](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/000); cases with it: [Ference John W THATCHER CX4A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/000/sequence.md?model=05632PH), [All aircraft, 1,703 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/000/sequence.md) - [Takeoff: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) (defining event); cases with it: [Ference John W THATCHER CX4A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=05632PH), [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md) ## Analysis The private pilot was taking off for a personal local flight. The pilot reported that, shortly after takeoff, the engine lost power. The pilot restarted the engine, but it then lost power again. The airplane subsequently descended into a cornfield and came to rest upright. An examination of the airframe revealed that the engine control cables were routed close to the left rudder pedal; however, it could not be determined if the control cables' location caused them to move and contributed to the loss of engine power. Weather conditions at the time of the accident were conducive to the formation of serious carburetor icing at glide power. However, the airplane was taking off, and the engine would not have been at glide power; therefore, it is not likely that carburetor ice caused the loss of engine power. The reason for the loss of engine power could not be determined. ## Factual narrative On August 31, 2015, about 1805 eastern daylight time, a kit-built Thatcher CX4A airplane, N443JF, impacted terrain following a loss of engine power after departing the Buckeye Airport (9OA5), Hebron, Ohio. The pilot received minor injuries and the airplane was substantially damaged. 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 was originating at the time of the accident.The pilot reported to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Inspector, that shortly after takeoff, when the airplane was approximately 50 feet above ground level, the engine lost power. The pilot restarted the engine, but the engine again lost power. The airplane descended into a cornfield and came to rest in the upright position. The responding FAA inspectors noted substantial damage was sustained to the airplane's fuselage, wings, and right horizontal stabilizer. An examination of the airplane and engine FAA inspectors did not find any preimpact anomalies which would have precluded normal operation. The inspector noted that the engine control cables were routed close to the left rudder pedal. The engine's carburetor had recently been changed and the accident flight was the first flight since the maintenance. However, it could not determine if the control cables' location played a factor in the loss of engine power. The nearest weather reporting facility was located at the Newark-Heath Airport, Newark, Ohio. At 1754, it recorded a wind from 240° at 4 knots, temperature 82° F, and dew point 68° F. A review of the carburetor icing probability chart located in the FAA Special Airworthiness Information Bulletin CE-09-35, Carburetor Icing Prevention, found that the airplane was operating in an area conducive to the formation of serious icing at glide power. The pilot did not submit an NTSB Form 6120, but stated he did not think that the location of the engine control cable contributed to the loss of engine power. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N443JF](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N443JF-2015-12-11), registration cancelled 2015-12-11, S/N 355, built 2013 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: FERENCE JOHN W THATCHER CX4A - Registry model: [Ference John W THATCHER CX4A](https://openairdocs.org/model/ference-john-w-thatcher-cx4a) (registry code 05632PH) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Revmaster 2300](https://openairdocs.org/engine/revmaster-2300) (registry code 52551, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 355 - Year built: 2013 - Engines: Revmaster 2300 85 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: December 30, 2013, 30 hours before - Departed: 9OA5, Hebron, OH - Destination: 9OA5, Hebron, OH - Airport: 9OA5, Buckeye, runway 19, 2,764 × 25 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 85; injuries: serious; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; seat: single ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 240° at 4 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 82 °F, dew point 68 °F - Altimeter: 30.05 inHg - Observed at: KVTA, 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 20150831014669A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20150831014669A), Aug 31, 2015: Ference John W THATCHER CX4A, Hebron, OH, Substantial damage. The aircraft took off runway 19, and at approximately 50 ft above ground level the engine quit. The pilot attempted a restart and the engine momentarily… ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 29, 2016, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=91894. 1.2 MB in all. - Record of Conversation - FAA (item 1, .PDF, 54 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40441880&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation%20-%20FAA-Master.PDF - Response from Pilot (item 2, .PDF, 39 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40441881&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Response%20from%20Pilot-Master.PDF - Carburetor Icing Probability Chart (item 3, .PDF, 314 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40441882&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Carburetor%20Icing%20Probability%20Chart-Master.PDF - Photo Array (Courtesy of FAA) (item 4, .PDF, 2 photos, 820 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40441883&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%20Array%20(Courtesy%20of%20FAA)-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.