# NTSB CEN16LA305: Gilchrist PA14EXP, N18PG, Sparta, MI, August 4, 2016 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: August 4, 2016, 19:20 local (23:20 UTC) - Place: Sparta, MI - Coordinates: 43.127498, -85.679168 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=43.1275&lon=-85.6792&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Initial climb: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 2 minor - Status: Completed, report March 6, 2017 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA - Grand Rapids FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 93765 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN16LA305 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/93765/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=93765 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN16LA305 ## Probable cause A total loss of engine power for reasons that could not be determined, since postaccident examination revealed no malfunctions or 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: [Gordon Gilchrist PA14 EXP, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md?model=05635BK), [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. - [Initial climb: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) (defining event); cases with it: [Gordon Gilchrist PA14 EXP, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=05635BK), [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md) - [Landing: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Gordon Gilchrist PA14 EXP, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=05635BK), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis Shortly after takeoff, the experimental amateur-built airplane experienced a total loss of engine power, and the private pilot conducted a forced landing to a field. During the landing, the airplane's landing gear impacted a fence, resulting in substantial damage. A postaccident examination and test run of the engine revealed no malfunctions or anomalies that would have precluded normal operation. Although the atmospheric conditions present at the time of the accident were conducive to the formation of moderate carburetor icing at cruise power settings and serious carburetor icing at descent power settings, the airplane was operating at takeoff power; therefore, the investigation could not conclude that the loss of power was the result of carburetor ice accumulation. Based on the available evidence, the reason for the loss of engine power could not be determined. ## Factual narrative On August 4, 2016, about 2030 eastern daylight time, an amateur-built PA14EXP airplane, N18PG, sustained substantial damage when it struck a fence and nosed over during a forced landing following a loss of engine power during initial climb after takeoff. The pilot and passenger received minor injuries. The airplane was registered to and operated by the pilot under the provisions of 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 local flight was originating the Paul C Miller-Sparta Airport, near Sparta, Michigan, at the time of the accident. The pilot reported that he performed a pre-flight inspection of the airplane and a run-up prior to takeoff. All checks were normal. He stated that the takeoff was normal until reaching about 300 feet above ground level when the engine lost all power. He stated that the engine was still rotating. He checked the fuel selector, which was on "both", and attempted to pump the throttle which had no effect. He then executed a forced landing to an adjacent field, but stuck a fence with the landing gear. The airplane came to a rest on the ground past the fence. The airplane was an amateur-built version of a Piper PA-14 airplane. It was powered by a reciprocating carburetor equipped Aerosport O-375 engine bearing serial number 1547-SPE. The engine was rated to produce 205 horsepower. According to the pilot report the engine had accumulated 45.5 hours total time in service at the time of the accident. The engine was examined by Federal Aviation Administration inspectors while still mounted in the airframe. All engine controls were still attached and functioning normally. The carburetor was broken at the flange mount. All fuel hoses were intact and unrestricted. The fuel strainers and screens were clean. The engine was rotated and compression was noted on all cylinders. Six quarts of oil was present in the engine. The battery was connected and ignition spark was checked. Spark was observed, but the inspector noted that the spark "seemed weak". No anomalies were noted. Subsequently, the airplane owner had the engine removed and sent to an engine rebuilder where it was placed in an engine test cell and was run for about 5-6 hours. During the testing the engine was run with the electronic magnetos that were installed at the time of the accident, but a surrogate carburetor was used since the one that was installed at the time of the accident had broken during the accident sequence. No anomalies were noted during the engine test run. At 2053. the weather conditions reported at the Grand Rapids International Airport included a temperature of 28 degrees Celsius and a dew point of 18 degrees Celsius. According to a carburetor icing probability chart, the reported temperature and dew point were in a range for moderate carburetor icing at cruise power settings and serious carburetor icing at descent power settings. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N18PG](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N18PG), registered now, S/N 2016-1 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: GILCHRIST PA14EXP - Registry model: [Gordon Gilchrist PA14 EXP](https://openairdocs.org/model/gordon-gilchrist-pa14-exp) (registry code 05635BK) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Aerosport O-375-A2A](https://openairdocs.org/engine/aerosport-o-375-a2a) (registry code 01399, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 2016-1 - Year built: 2016 - Airframe hours: 45.5 - Engines: Aero Sport Power O-375-AZA 200 hp reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Condition, July 10, 2016 - Departed: 8D4, Sparta, MI - Destination: 8D4, Sparta, MI - Airport: 8D4, Paul C Miller-Sparta, runway 25, 4,032 × 75 ft, asphalt - Equipment: ADS-B, Electronic primary flight display ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 52; injuries: minor; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land, single-engine sea; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; seat: left; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 906 total, 275 in this make and model, 90 in the last 90 days, 54 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 170° at 5 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Temperature: 82 °F, dew point 64 °F - Altimeter: 29.87 inHg - Observed at: GRR, 16 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 20160804018369A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20160804018369A), Aug 4, 2016: Gordon Gilchrist PA14 EXP, Sparta, MI, Substantial damage. On August 4, 2016 about 2020 eastern daylight time, an experimental amateur built PA-14EXP amphibious aircraft, N18PH, sustained substantial damage when it… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on January 10, 2017, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=93765. 877 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 589 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40448115&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Carburetor Icing Chart (item 2, .PDF, 156 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40448116&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Carburetor%20Icing%20Chart-Master.PDF - Summary of Engine Examination Findings (item 3, .PDF, 132 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40448117&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Summary%20of%20Engine%20Examination%20Findings-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.