# NTSB CEN16LA239: Piper J3F 65, N29042, Strasburg, CO, June 27, 2016 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: June 26, 2016, 19:50 local (Jun 27, 2016, 00:50 UTC) - Place: Strasburg, CO - Coordinates: 39.73611, -104.328613 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.7361&lon=-104.3286&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Initial climb: Fuel related](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/190) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report April 13, 2020 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 93510 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN16LA239 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/93510/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=93510 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN16LA239 ## Probable cause A partial loss of engine power due to carburetor ice accumulation. ## 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: [Piper J3F-65, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03031030/cases.md?model=7100536), [All aircraft, 435 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03031030/cases.md) - [Ice/rain protection system: intake anti-ice, deice](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023020): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Not used/operated (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper J3F-65, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023020/cases.md?model=7100536), [All aircraft, 108 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023020/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Initial climb: Fuel related](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/190) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper J3F-65, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/190/sequence.md?model=7100536), [All aircraft, 361 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/190/sequence.md) - [Emergency descent: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440); cases with it: [Piper J3F-65, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=7100536), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md) - [Landing: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096); cases with it: [Piper J3F-65, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md?model=7100536), [All aircraft, 2,287 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md) ## Analysis The private pilot reported that he departed an airport with full gas and headed east to another airport to perform a touch-and-go landing. After the touch-and-go landing, the engine "never really seemed to perform" on climbout. He attempted to restore power without success, and the airplane began descending. The pilot conducted a forced landing to a field, where the airplane nosed over and sustained substantial damage to the left wing and fuselage. The weather conditions at the time of the accident were conducive to serious carburetor icing at a descent power setting. The loss of engine power likely occurred due to the accumulation of carburetor ice during the descent. The formation of ice would reduce rpm but might not result in rough engine operation. Thus, the reduction in rpm could have gone unnoticed given the typical engine power setting changes when the airplane was on approach for the touch and go. ## Factual narrative On June 26, 2016, about 1950 central daylight time (CDT), a Piper J3F-65 airplane, N29042, experienced a partial loss of engine power on climb out from Comanche Airfield LLC Airport (CO38) in Strasburg, Colorado. The pilot conducted a forced landing into a wheat field where during the landing the airplane nosed over. The airline transport pilot, the sole occupant, suffered minor injuries. The airplane sustained substantial damage to left-wing strut and fuselage longerons. The airplane was registered to and operated by the pilot under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the flight, which was not on a flight plan. The pilot reported he departed from Front Range Airport (FTG), in Watkins, Colorado, about 1900 with full (11 gallons) gas. After takeoff from FTG, he departed the traffic area to the east. He lined up for runway 17 at CO38 and conducted a touch and go landing. During climb out, the pilot reported "the airplane made enough power to clear an interstate roadway and some powerlines, but never really seemed to perform." The pilot stated he advanced the throttle to full power; however, the airplane started to descend. He checked the mixture and magnetos but neither stopped the descent. The airplane "settled into a wheat field," nosed over and came to rest inverted. The routine aviation weather report at FTG, taken at 1854, about the time of takeoff, recorded a temperature of 27ºC and a dewpoint temperature of 10ºC. Per the "Carburettor icing-probability chart" in an article on carburetor icing published by Flight Safety Australia, dated November-December 2004, revealed that the airplane was operating in an area favorable for the formation of serious icing at a descent power setting. Further, the article stated that if ice forms in the carburetor of a fixed-pitch propeller aircraft, the restriction to the induction airflow would reduce power and force a drop in rpm. According to the FAA Pilot's Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge, under certain conditions, carburetor ice can build unnoticed until power is added. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N29042](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N29042), registered now, S/N 6013, built 1940 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER J3F 65 (65) - Registry model: [Piper J3F-65](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-j3f-65) (registry code 7100536) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Franklin 4AC176B series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/franklin-4ac176b-series) (registry code 27006, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 6013 - Year built: 1940 - Engines: Continental Motors C-85-RF 85 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, June 10, 2015 - Departed: CO38, Strasburg, CO - Destination: FTG, Denver, CO ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 51; injuries: minor; airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: sport pilot; last flight review February 29, 2016; seat: rear; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 10,000 total, 300 in this make and model, 2,000 as pilot in command, 15 in the last 90 days, 5 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 180° at 8 knots, gusting 16 - Visibility: 30 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 9,000 ft broken - Temperature: 81 °F, dew point 50 °F - Altimeter: 30.20 inHg - Observed at: FTG ## 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 20160626009969A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20160626009969A), Jun 26, 2016: Piper J3F-65, Strasburg, CO, Substantial damage. On 06/26/2016 at approximately 19:52H MDT, N29042, a Piper J3F-65 aircraft sustained substantial damage after settling in a wheat field approximately 10 miles… ## Other investigations on N29042 (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 SEA01LA103](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA01LA103), May 21, 2001: Piper J3F-65 (N29042), Brush Prairie, WA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The first pilot's failure to maintain aircraft control during a high-speed taxi maneuver. Tall grass adjacent to the runway was a factor. ## Docket (6 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on November 20, 2019, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=93510. 3.9 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 1.8 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40478173&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - FAA Inspector Statement (item 2, .PDF, 74 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40478174&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=FAA%20Inspector%20Statement-Master.PDF - Accident Site Photographs (item 3, .PDF, 3 photos, 459 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40478175&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Accident%20Site%20Photographs-Master.PDF - Australian Carburetor Icing Article/Chart (item 4, .PDF, 263 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40478176&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Australian%20Carburetor%20Icing%20Article%2FChart-Master.PDF - Carburetor Icing Excerpt from FAA Pilot's Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge (item 5, .PDF, 1.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40478177&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Carburetor%20Icing%20Excerpt%20from%20FAA%20Pilot%27s%20Handbook%20of%20Aeronautical%20Knowledge-Master.PDF - Release of Aircraft Wreckage, NTSB Form 6120.15 (item 6, .PDF, 53 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40478178&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Release%20of%20Aircraft%20Wreckage,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.15-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.