# NTSB CEN16LA313: Liming Louis L HPL 1 High Wing Para, N9095U, Mt. Orab, OH, August 4, 2016 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: August 4, 2016, 07:45 local (11:45 UTC) - Place: Mt. Orab, OH - Coordinates: 39.058055, -83.910835 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.0581&lon=-83.9108&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Maneuvering: Loss of engine power (partial)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report November 5, 2018 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 93794 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN16LA313 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/93794/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=93794 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN16LA313 ## Probable cause A partial loss of engine power due to a missing throttle cable fastener. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Misc hardware: fasteners](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071430): Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware · Not specified (probable cause); cases with it: [Liming Louis L HPL-1 HIGH WING-PARA, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071430/cases.md?model=05610TW), [All aircraft, 58 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071430/cases.md) - [Engine (reciprocating)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058500): Aircraft › Aircraft power plant · Not specified (probable cause); cases with it: [Liming Louis L HPL-1 HIGH WING-PARA, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058500/cases.md?model=05610TW), [All aircraft, 497 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058500/cases.md) - [Terrain: rough terrain](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021015): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome (probable cause); cases with it: [Liming Louis L HPL-1 HIGH WING-PARA, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021015/cases.md?model=05610TW), [All aircraft, 442 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021015/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Maneuvering: Loss of engine power (partial)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342) (defining event); cases with it: [Liming Louis L HPL-1 HIGH WING-PARA, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342/sequence.md?model=05610TW), [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: [Liming Louis L HPL-1 HIGH WING-PARA, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=05610TW), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The private pilot was conducting a local personal flight. About 15 minutes into the flight, the engine power suddenly decreased to idle, and the pilot conducted a forced landing to a field. The airplane impacted a small stand of trees before coming to rest, resulting in substantial damage to the left wing and right wing strut. Examination of the engine revealed that the engine-to-carburetor throttle cable was disconnected. No impact damage was found in the area of the throttle cable disconnect. It is likely that the fastener that connected the throttle cable to the carburetor loosened and fell out during the flight, causing the engine to go to the idle power setting. The fastener was not found, and maintenance logbooks or records were not recovered. ## Factual narrative On August 5, 2016, about 0745 eastern daylight time, an Liming Louis L HPL-1 experimental airplane, N9095U, registered to the pilot/owner, sustained substantial damage during a forced landing after a partial loss of engine power near Mt. Orab, Ohio. The private pilot, who was the sole occupant, was not injured. The personal local flight was being conducted under the provisions of Federal Code of Regulations Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed throughout the area and a flight plan was not filed. The flight originated at 0730 from the Brown County Airport (GEO), Georgetown, Ohio. After takeoff from GEO, the pilot flew to the north for about 9 miles and began circling a private residence at 1,500 feet AGL. Suddenly, the engine power went to idle. The pilot checked to make sure that he had not bumped the idle control with his left knee and attempted to increase the engine RPM. The engine RPM did not increase and the pilot chose a grassy field to land, while the engine remained at idle. Upon initial touchdown in the rough vegetated field, the airplane's speed was relatively high. The airplane became airborne and the left wing struck a small stand of trees. The airplane then spun around about 360 degrees and struck the ground before coming to a stop. Substantial damage was incurred to the left wing and right wing strut. The pilot exited without injury. Inspection of the airplane revealed that the engine throttle cable had become disconnected from the carburetor during the flight, which is consistent with the pilot report of the engine going to idle power. There was no impact damage found in the area near the disconnected throttle cable. No maintenance logbooks or records were recovered. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N9095U](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N9095U), registered now, S/N HPL-1, built 2001 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: LIMING LOUIS L HPL 1 HIGH WING PARA (NO SERIES) - Registry model: [Liming Louis L HPL-1 HIGH WING-PARA](https://openairdocs.org/model/liming-louis-l-hpl-1-high-wing-para) (registry code 05610TW) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental A&C65 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-a-c65-series) (registry code 17003, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: HPL-1 - Year built: 2001 - Airframe hours: 400 - Engines: Continental A-65 65 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Continuous airworthiness, May 1, 2016 - Departed: GEO, Georgetown, OH - Destination: GEO, Georgetown, OH - Equipment: None ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 42; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; seat: single; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 220 total, 60 in this make and model, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 95 °F, dew point 86 °F - Altimeter: 29.92 inHg ## 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 20160804014019A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20160804014019A), Aug 4, 2016: Liming Louis L HPL-1 HIGH WING-PARA, Mt Orab, OH, Substantial damage. The aircraft departed Brown County Airport (kgeo) on 8/4/2016 at approximately 7:30 p.m. EDT. Prior to departure the pilot fueled the aircraft with M94. The… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 13, 2018, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=93794. 4.3 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 3.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40463948&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Memorandum for Record - FAA Inspector Statement of Accident Site Findings (item 2, .PDF, 410 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40463949&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Memorandum%20for%20Record%20-%20FAA%20Inspector%20Statement%20of%20Accident%20Site%20Findings-Master.PDF - Photo Array (item 3, .PDF, 4 photos, 565 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40463950&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.