# NTSB CEN16LA287: Stinson 108, N8019K, Dodge Center, MN, July 22, 2016 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: July 22, 2016, 12:00 local (17:00 UTC) - Place: Dodge Center, MN - Coordinates: 44.017776, -92.83139 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=44.0178&lon=-92.8314&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Enroute: Loss of engine power (partial)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 2 minor, 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report September 10, 2018 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - NTSB case key (mKey): 93692 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN16LA287 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/93692/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=93692 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN16LA287 ## Probable cause A partial loss of engine power due to carburetor ice. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Engine fuel and control: fuel control/carburetor](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057322): Aircraft › Aircraft power plant · Not used/operated (probable cause); cases with it: [Stinson 108-2, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057322/cases.md?model=9230406), [All aircraft, 195 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057322/cases.md) - [Temp/humidity/pressure: conducive to carburetor icing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03031030): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Stinson 108-2, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03031030/cases.md?model=9230406), [All aircraft, 435 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03031030/cases.md) - [Action: lack of action](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041030): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Stinson 108-2, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041030/cases.md?model=9230406), [All aircraft, 792 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041030/cases.md) - [Terrain](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021000): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome; cases with it: [Stinson 108-2, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021000/cases.md?model=9230406), [All aircraft, 267 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021000/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Enroute: Loss of engine power (partial)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342) (defining event); cases with it: [Stinson 108-2, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342/sequence.md?model=9230406), [All aircraft, 1,858 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342/sequence.md) - [Landing: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440); cases with it: [Stinson 108-2, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=9230406), [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: [Stinson 108-2, 8 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md?model=9230406), [All aircraft, 2,287 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md) ## Analysis The commercial pilot reported that, about 30 minutes into the cross-country flight, while cruising at 1,000 ft above ground level, the engine began to lose power, decreasing from about 2,350 rpm to about 2,100 rpm. The pilot pulled the carburetor heat to the on position for a few seconds, then pushed it back in to turn it off. The pilot then diverted to a nearby airport; however, the engine continued to lose power and the pilot chose to land in a field next a road. During the landing, the airplane nosed over and came to rest inverted. Examination of the airplane did not reveal any mechanical anomalies that could have resulted in the loss of engine power. Given the temperature and dew point in the area about the time of the accident, the airplane was operating in conditions conducive to the development of light carburetor icing at cruise or descent power. It is likely that the loss of engine power was the result of carburetor ice, and the pilot's brief application of carburetor heat was insufficient to clear the ice from the carburetor, which resulted in a further loss of engine power. ## Factual narrative On July 22, 2016, about 1200 central standard time, a Stinson 108-2 single engine airplane, N8019K, registered to a private individual, sustained substantial damage during a forced landing after a loss of engine power near the Dodge Center Airport (TOB), Dodge Center, Minnesota. Of the 3 occupants on board, the private pilot and one passenger sustained minor injuries and one passenger was not injured. The personal cross country flight was being under the provisions of Federal Code of Regulations Part 91. No flight plan was filed and visual meteorological conditions prevailed in the vicinity of the accident. The flight originated from Mankato Municipal Airport (MKT), Mankato, Minnesota about 1130 and was enroute to Oshkosh, Wisconsin. According to the pilot, the airplane had stopped at MKT for fuel and took off with no problems. After about 30 minutes of flight and cruising at 1,000 AGL, the engine was developing power at a steady 2,350 RPMs when the engine started to lose power to about 2,100 RPMs. The pilot pulled the carburetor heat ON for a few seconds and then pushed it back. The pilot started to look for a place to land and diverted to the Dodge Center Airport. The power remained at 2,100 RPMs for about 10 miles while flying to the airport and then began to lose more power. At this point, the pilot initiated maneuvers to land on a road about 1 mile from Dodge Center. The airplane landed in a field and rolled over. All three occupants exited the airplane through the cabin doors. Examination of the airplane wreckage by an FAA inspector at the accident site did not reveal any anomalies. The reported weather observation METAR at Dodge Center (TOB) about the time of the accident was: METAR KTOB 221654Z AUTO 11004KT 10SM SCT013 SCT040 31/24 A3005 RMK AO2 According to the Icing Probability Chart (included in the docket), with a temperature of 31 degrees and dew point of 24 degrees, the aircraft engine was operating in conditions susceptible to light carburetor icing at cruise or descent power. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N8019K](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N8019K), registered now, S/N 108-3019, built 1947 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: STINSON 108 (2) - Registry model: [Stinson 108-2](https://openairdocs.org/model/stinson-108-2) (registry code 9230406) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Franklin 6A4165 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/franklin-6a4165-series) (registry code 27025, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 108-3019 - Year built: 1947 - Engines: FRANKLIN 6A4165 SERIES 165 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: MKT, Mankato, MN - Destination: OSH, Oshkosh, WI - Airport: TOB, Dodge Center Airport - Equipment: None ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 75; injuries: minor; commercial, private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: helicopter; medical: class 2; seat: right; flight hours: 1,000 total, 100 in this make and model, 20 in the last 90 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 110° at 4 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 4,200 ft broken - Temperature: 88 °F, dew point 75 °F - Altimeter: 30.04 inHg - Observed at: TOB, 1 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 20160722011419A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20160722011419A), Jul 22, 2016: Stinson 108-2, Dodge Center, MN, Substantial damage. The aircraft took off from mankato airport after refueling. While enroute the airplane's engine started losing power. The pilot attempted to trouble shoot, but… ## Other investigations on N8019K (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 UNK65X1436](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/UNK65X1436), Feb 19, 1965: Stinson 108-2 (N8019K), Columbus, GA, substantial damage ## Docket (5 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on July 5, 2018, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=93692. 960 KB in all. - Memorandum for the Record - FAA Inspector Statement (item 1, .PDF, 139 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40464803&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Memorandum%20for%20the%20Record%20-%20FAA%20Inspector%20Statement-Master.PDF - Memorandum for the Record - Weather Information and Carburetor Icing Probability (item 2, .PDF, 139 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40464806&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Memorandum%20for%20the%20Record%20-%20Weather%20Information%20and%20Carburetor%20Icing%20Probability-Master.PDF - Carburetor Icing Probability Chart (item 3, .PDF, 259 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40464805&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Carburetor%20Icing%20Probability%20Chart-Master.PDF - Weather Information (item 4, .PDF, 78 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40464807&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Weather%20Information-Master.PDF - Photo Array (item 5, .PDF, 3 photos, 345 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40464808&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%20Array-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.