# NTSB CEN17LA171: John Goodman Air Camper, N23RT, Oronogo, MO, March 21, 2017 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: March 21, 2017, 17:00 local (22:00 UTC) - Place: Oronogo, MO - Coordinates: 37.188331, -94.470275 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.1883&lon=-94.4703&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Initial climb: Loss of engine power (partial)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious - Status: Completed, report April 13, 2020 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: Continental Motors, FAA FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 95079 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN17LA171 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/95079/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=95079 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN17LA171 ## Probable cause A detached throttle cable support block, which resulted in the pilot’s inability to control the throttle and the subsequent stall while maneuvering for an emergency landing. ## 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: [Goodman John W GN1 AIRCAMPER, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071430/cases.md?model=05635SC), [All aircraft, 58 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071430/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: airspeed](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Attain/maintain not possible (probable cause); cases with it: [Goodman John W GN1 AIRCAMPER, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010/cases.md?model=05635SC), [All aircraft, 1,681 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010/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 (partial)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342) (defining event); cases with it: [Goodman John W GN1 AIRCAMPER, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342/sequence.md?model=05635SC), [All aircraft, 1,858 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342/sequence.md) - [Initial climb: Aerodynamic stall/spin](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241); cases with it: [Goodman John W GN1 AIRCAMPER, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241/sequence.md?model=05635SC), [All aircraft, 1,529 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241/sequence.md) - [Emergency descent: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440); cases with it: [Goodman John W GN1 AIRCAMPER, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=05635SC), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md) ## Analysis The private pilot of the airplane departed from a grass runway. He stated that after takeoff, the engine was losing power, so he turned to return to the runway. The engine continued to lose power, and as the pilot attempted to line up for landing, the airplane lost airspeed, stalled, and then contacted low trees near the end of the runway, and the right wing contacted the ground. Examination of the wreckage revealed that a wooden throttle cable support block that had been glued to the aircraft structure was found detached. The detachment area did not appear to show signs of impact damage. No other anomalies were noted with the engine, airframe, or fuel distribution system. It is likely that the throttle cable support block came loose in flight, which resulted in the pilot's inability to control the engine throttle and the subsequent stall while maneuvering for an emergency landing. ## Factual narrative On March 21, 2017, about 1700 central daylight time, an Air Camper airplane, N23RT, registered to the pilot/owner, sustained substantial damage when it impacted the ground following a partial loss of engine power near Oronogo, Missouri. The private pilot sustained serious injuries. The airplane was registered to and operated by the pilot and was being conducted under the provisions of Title 14 Code Federal of Regulations Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and a flight plane was not filed. The flight was originating from a private airstrip at the time of the accident. The airplane was taking off to the north from a private grass runway located on the property of the aircraft owner. The pilot stated that after takeoff, he noticed that he was losing power from the engine and made a turn to the south in an attempt to make it back to the airport. The engine continued to lose power and as the pilot attempted to make a turn to line up for landing, the aircraft lost airspeed and stalled. The aircraft contacted low trees about 330 ft from the end of the runway, then continued in a northwest direction before colliding with small trees. The right wing contacted the ground in a nose down attitude about 240 ft from the end of the runway. During the examination of the wreckage, a wooden throttle cable support block that had been glued to the aircraft structure was found detached. The detachment area did not appear to be related to impact damage. No other anomalies were noted with the engine, airframe, or fuel distribution system. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N23RT](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N23RT-2020-02-28), registration cancelled 2020-02-28, S/N 102, built 2017 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: John Goodman Air Camper - Registry model: [Goodman John W GN1 AIRCAMPER](https://openairdocs.org/model/goodman-john-w-gn1-aircamper) (registry code 05635SC) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental O-200A](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-o-200a) (registry code 17404, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 002 - Year built: 2017 - Airframe hours: 3 - Engines: Continental O-200 100 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Continuous airworthiness, March 9, 2017, 3 hours before - Departed: Oronogo, MO - Destination: Oronogo, MO - Equipment: None ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 72; injuries: serious; private; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: unknown; seat: rear; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 3,772 total, 3 in this make and model, 3 in the last 90 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 220° at 8 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 84 °F, dew point 57 °F - Altimeter: 29.90 inHg - Observed at: JLN, 15 nm away ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on December 31, 2019, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=95079. 993 KB in all. - Pilot Statement CEN17LA171 (item 1, .PDF, 94 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40479522&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%20Statement%20CEN17LA171-Master.PDF - Memorandum for the Record Engine Examination Findings CEN17LA171 (item 2, .PDF, 184 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40479523&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Memorandum%20for%20the%20Record%20Engine%20Examination%20Findings%20CEN17LA171-Master.PDF - Photo Array CEN17LA171 (item 3, .PDF, 715 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40479524&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%20Array%20CEN17LA171-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.