# NTSB CEN16LA166: Cessna 172, N7614X, Brimfield, IL, April 23, 2016 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: April 23, 2016, 13:00 local (18:00 UTC) - Place: Brimfield, IL - Coordinates: 40.837223, -89.889724 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.8372&lon=-89.8897&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Enroute-cruise: Fuel related](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/190) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 2 minor - Status: Completed, report October 6, 2016 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA FSDO - SAIBs cited in the narratives: [SAIB CE-09-35](https://openairdocs.org/saib/CE-09-35) (OpenAirDocs) - NTSB case key (mKey): 93062 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN16LA166 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/93062/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=93062 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN16LA166 ## Probable cause A loss of engine power for reasons that could not be determined, as postaccident examination of the 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: [Cessna 172B, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md?model=2072406), [All aircraft, 2,247 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md) - [Engine (reciprocating)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058500): Aircraft › Aircraft power plant · Related operating info (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172B, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058500/cases.md?model=2072406), [All aircraft, 497 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058500/cases.md) - [Temp/humidity/pressure: conducive to carburetor icing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03031030): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Not specified; cases with it: [Cessna 172B, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03031030/cases.md?model=2072406), [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-cruise: Fuel related](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/190) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 172B, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/190/sequence.md?model=2072406), [All aircraft, 361 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/190/sequence.md) - [Enroute-cruise: Loss of engine power (partial)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342); cases with it: [Cessna 172B, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342/sequence.md?model=2072406), [All aircraft, 1,858 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342/sequence.md) - [Emergency descent: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440); cases with it: [Cessna 172B, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=2072406), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md) ## Analysis During a local flight, the pilot noticed a "miss" in the engine, and observed a gradual loss of power. The pilot advanced the throttle, verified the positions of the mixture control and fuel selector, and briefly applied carburetor heat; however, the engine did not respond, and the pilot turned the carburetor heat control off. The pilot elected to perform a forced landing to a nearby field. Examination of the airplane did not reveal any anomalies. Although the airplane was operating in an area that was conducive to the serious risk of carburetor ice accumulation at a glide power setting, the engine was operating at a cruise power setting at the time of the loss of power. However, had the carburetor accumulated ice, the pilot's brief activation of the carburetor heat would have been insufficient to remedy the situation. ## Factual narrative On April 23, 2016, about 1300 central daylight time, a Cessna 172B airplane, N7614X, conducted a forced landing near Brimfield, Illinois. The private rated pilot and passenger were not injured, and the airplane was substantially damaged during the accident. 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. Day visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The pilot reported that during cruise flight, the engine developed a noticeable "miss"; the engine rpms then slowly decreased. The pilot advanced the throttle, with limited effect. He then preformed a magneto check, verified the fuel valve, and mixture control positions. Followed by applying carburetor heat on, then off, without the engine responding. The pilot then selected a field for the forced landing. During the forced landings the airplanes nose gear dug into the dirt, and the airplane nosed over, coming to rest inverted. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the wings and fuselage during the accident. An inspection of the engine by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector did not reveal any abnormalities. The automated weather observation facility station, located at the General Downing - Peoria International Airport, Peoria, Illinois at 1254, recorded: wind from 050 degrees at 7 knots, 10 miles visibility, a clear sky, temperature 63 degrees Fahrenheit (F), dew point 42 F, and a barometric pressure of 30.15 inches of mercury. The automated weather observation facility station located at the Galesburg Municipal Airport Galesburg, Illinois recorded at 1315, a temperature of 63 degrees (F), and a dew point of 44 F. The carburetor icing probability chart included in Federal Aviation Administration Special Airworthiness Information Bulletin No. CE-09-35, Carburetor Icing Prevention, indicated that the airplane was operating in an area that was associated with a serious risk of carburetor ice accumulation at glide power settings. In December 2013, the NTSB issued Safety Alert (SA-029) "Engine power loss due to Carburetor Icing", which emphasized that recognizing weather conditions and applying simple procedures can prevent accidents. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N7614X](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N7614X-2018-05-31), registration cancelled 2018-05-31, S/N 17248114, built 1960 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 172 (B) - Registry model: [Cessna 172B](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172b) (registry code 2072406) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental 0-300 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-0-300-series) (registry code 17022, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 17248114 - Year built: 1960 - Engines: CONT MOTOR 0-300 SER 145 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, August 19, 2015 - Departed: KCTK, Canton, IL - Destination: 2C6, Yates City, IL ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 50; injuries: minor; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; last flight review August 4, 2015; seat: left; restraint: lap only; flight hours: 94 total, 33.2 in this make and model, 55.2 as pilot in command, 1 in the last 90 days, 1 in the last 30 days, 0.4 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 40° at 7 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 63 °F, dew point 43 °F - Altimeter: 30.14 inHg - Observed at: KPIA ## 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 20160423003909A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20160423003909A), Apr 23, 2016: Cessna 172B, Brimfield, IL, Substantial damage. Aircraft slowly lost power and pilot made an emergency landing in a field. After the aircraft contacted the ground on an uphill slope it collapsed the nose… ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 23, 2016, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=93062. 1.0 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 664 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40441583&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Weather Reports and Records (item 2, .PDF, 45 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40441584&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Weather%20Reports%20and%20Records-Master.PDF - Carburetor Ice Diagram (item 3, .PDF, 66 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40441585&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Carburetor%20Ice%20Diagram-Master.PDF - Photo - Accident Airplane (item 4, .PDF, 1 photo, 249 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40441586&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%20-%20Accident%20Airplane-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.