# NTSB CEN16LA025: Champion 7ECA, N9105L, Sheridan, AR, October 30, 2015 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: October 30, 2015, 17:15 local (22:15 UTC) - Place: Sheridan, AR - Coordinates: 34.327499, -92.351387 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.3275&lon=-92.3514&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Initial climb: Loss of engine power (partial)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report August 1, 2016 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA - Little Rock FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 92273 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN16LA025 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/92273/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=92273 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN16LA025 ## Probable cause The partial 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: [Champion 7ECA, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03031030/cases.md?model=21101NN), [All aircraft, 435 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03031030/cases.md) - [Object/animal/substance: tree(s)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022020): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome; cases with it: [Champion 7ECA, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022020/cases.md?model=21101NN), [All aircraft, 933 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022020/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Initial climb: Loss of engine power (partial)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342) (defining event); cases with it: [Champion 7ECA, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342/sequence.md?model=21101NN), [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: [Champion 7ECA, 20 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=21101NN), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The commercial pilot was taking off for a personal local flight. The pilot reported that, shortly after takeoff and as the airplane reached about 700 ft above ground level, the engine began to gradually lose power. He attempted to return to the departure airport, but the airplane was unable to maintain altitude. He subsequently chose to perform an off-airport landing, during which the airplane struck trees. Postaccident examination of the engine revealed no preimpact anomalies. A subsequent test run was performed, and no operational defects were noted. The weather conditions were conducive for moderate icing at cruise power and serious icing at descent power, and the pilot's description of a gradual and continual loss of engine power is consistent with the effects of carburetor icing. Therefore, it is likely that the engine lost power due to carburetor icing. ## Factual narrative On October 30, 2015, about 1715 central daylight time, a Champion 7ECA, N9105L, sustained substantial damage when it struck trees and the ground during a forced landing near Sheridan, Arkansas. The airplane was climbing after takeoff from runway 1 at the Sheridan Municipal Airport (9M8) when the power loss occurred. The pilot and passenger were not injured. The aircraft was registered to and operated by the pilot under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the flight, which was not on a flight plan. The local flight was originating at the time of the accident. The pilot reported that he performed a run-up prior to takeoff and all engine indications were normal. He departed on runway 1 and continued the climb to 700 feet above ground level (agl) when the engine began to lose power. He initiated a 180 degree turn back toward the airport and the engine power continued to deteriorate. The engine power continued to deteriorate and the pilot was not able to maintain level flight and he elected to perform an off- airport landing. The airplane contacted pine trees about 40 feet above the ground during the forced landing. The trees pushed the airplane rearward and the airplane fell to the ground nose first. Postaccident examination revealed no debris or obstruction of the fuel lines or fuel tank vent. Operation of the engine controls was normal. No anomalies could be found with respect to the engine. A test run of the engine was performed with no defects in operation noted. The recorded weather conditions at the Grider Field Airport, Pine Bluff, Kansas, about 22 miles southeast of the accident site included a temperature of 20 degrees Celsius, and a dew point of 11 degrees Celsius. The recorded temperature and dew point were in a range of susceptibility for moderate icing at cruise power and serious icing at descent power. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N9105L](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N9105L-2016-07-11), registration cancelled 2016-07-11, S/N 792-71, built 1970 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CHAMPION 7ECA (NO SERIES) - Registry model: [Champion 7ECA](https://openairdocs.org/model/champion-7eca) (registry code 21101NN) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-235 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-235-series) (registry code 41505, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 792-71 - Year built: 1970 - Airframe hours: 2329 - Engines: Lycoming O-235-C1 115 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, September 30, 2015 - Departed: 9M8, Sheridan, AR - Destination: 9M8, Sheridan, AR - Airport: 9M8, Sheridan Muni, runway 01, 3,202 × 75 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 56; injuries: none; airline transport, commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land, single-engine sea; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; seat: front ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 120° at 11 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 68 °F, dew point 52 °F - Altimeter: 29.96 inHg - Observed at: PBF, 22 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 20151030023899A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20151030023899A), Oct 30, 2015: Champion 7ECA, Sheridan, AR, Substantial damage. On October 30 2015, at 1715 CST, a 1970 Champion (citabria), N9105L. The PIC, on a part 91 personal flight after take-off from Sheridan airport 9M8 runway 01… ## Other investigations on N9105L (1) 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. - [NTSB OAK78DVD22](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/OAK78DVD22), Mar 20, 1978: Citabria 7ECA (N9105L), Concord, CA, substantial damage ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on April 12, 2016, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=92273. 677 KB in all. - Pilot Statement (item 1, .PDF, 406 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40438757&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%20Statement-Master.PDF - Airplane Maintenance Record Excerpt (item 2, .PDF, 115 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40438758&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Airplane%20Maintenance%20Record%20Excerpt-Master.PDF - Carburetor Icing Probability Chart (item 3, .PDF, 156 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40438759&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Carburetor%20Icing%20Probability%20Chart-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.