# NTSB CEN17LA295: Steele Acro Sport II, N896JC, Loudonville, OH, July 30, 2017 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: July 30, 2017, 17:00 local (21:00 UTC) - Place: Loudonville, OH - Coordinates: 40.632778, -82.17694 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.6328&lon=-82.1769&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: 1 minor, 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report March 19, 2018 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 95721 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN17LA295 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/95721/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=95721 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN17LA295 ## Probable cause A partial loss of engine power due to carburetor icing. ## 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 · Contributed to outcome (probable cause); cases with it: [Steele John J ACRO SPORT II, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03031030/cases.md?model=05646CD), [All aircraft, 435 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03031030/cases.md) - [Terrain: rough terrain](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021015): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome; cases with it: [Steele John J ACRO SPORT II, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021015/cases.md?model=05646CD), [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. - [Enroute: Loss of engine power (partial)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342) (defining event); cases with it: [Steele John J ACRO SPORT II, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342/sequence.md?model=05646CD), [All aircraft, 1,858 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342/sequence.md) - [Emergency descent: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440); cases with it: [Steele John J ACRO SPORT II, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=05646CD), [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: [Steele John J ACRO SPORT II, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md?model=05646CD), [All aircraft, 2,287 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md) ## Analysis The airline transport pilot flew his experimental, amateur-built biplane on a cross-country flight with multiple legs and refueling stops. About 1 hour, 15 minutes into the flight and 15 miles from his destination, the pilot initiated a descent from 3,500 ft to 2,500 ft. When the pilot added power to level off, the engine began to run rough and experienced a partial loss of power. The pilot said that he immediately applied carburetor heat but observed no improvement in engine operation. The engine continued to lose power and "sputter." During the subsequent forced landing, the airplane touched down on unsuitable terrain at the edge of a soybean field, decelerated rapidly, and nosed over. A postaccident examination of the wreckage revealed no preimpact anomalies that would have precluded normal operation of the engine. Nearby weather was conducive to serious icing at descent power about the time of the engine power loss. Although the pilot reported that he applied carburetor heat, it is likely that, at the time of application, the ice had already accumulated in the carburetor to the extent that the carburetor heat was insufficient to melt the ice and restore full engine power. ## Factual narrative On July 30, 2017, about 1700 eastern daylight time, an experimental amateur-built Steele Acro Sport II biplane, N896JC, nosed over during a forced landing following a partial loss of engine power near Loudonville, Ohio. The airline transport pilot reported he was uninjured and his passenger received minor injuries. The airplane sustained substantial wing damage during the nose over. The airplane was registered to and operated by the pilot as a 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. Day visual meteorological conditions prevailed in the area of the accident site about the time of the accident, and the flight was not operated on a flight plan. The flight originated from the Smith Field Airport (SMD), near Fort Wayne, Indiana, and was destined for the Holmes County Airport (10G), near Millersburg, Ohio. The pilot's accident report indicated the purpose of the flight was to return to Brunswick, Maine, from Oshkosh, Wisconsin after it had been recently restored. The return flight was conducted through multiple legs and refueling stops, the last one being SMD. According to operations personnel at SMD, the airplane had landed at SMD and was serviced with 15.8 gallons of 100 low lead, self-serve fuel at 1543. The airplane departed SMD with a total of 18 gallons of fuel. About 15 miles from the 10G and 1:15 hours into the flight, the pilot initiated a descent from 3,500 ft to 2,500 ft. When the pilot added power to level off, the engine began to run rough. The pilot said that he immediately applied carburetor heat and he observed no engine operation improvement. The engine continued to lose power and "sputter." The pilot selected a field for a forced landing. However, during the descent, the "undulating" features of the field were noticed. The pilot elected to land the airplane upslope, it rolled a short distance, regained flight at the crest of a hill, and touched down at the edge of a soy bean field. The airplane decelerated rapidly and nosed over. Inspectors from the Federal Aviation Administration conducted a postaccident examination of the wreckage. Examination of the engine and fuel system revealed no preimpact anomalies that would have precluded operation of the engine. At 1852, the recorded weather about 19 miles and 306° degrees from the accident site at the Mansfield Lahm Regional Airport (MFD), near Mansfield, Ohio, was: Wind 340° at 8 kts; visibility 10 statute miles; sky condition clear; temperature 26° C; dew point 14° C; altimeter 30.17 inches of mercury. At 1752, the recorded weather at MFD was: Wind 360° at 9 kts; visibility 10 statute miles; sky condition clear; temperature 27° C; dew point 13° C; altimeter 30.17 inches of mercury. At 1652, the recorded weather at MFD was: Wind 340° at 11 kts; visibility 10 statute miles; sky condition clear; temperature 28° C; dew point 15° C; altimeter 30.17 inches of mercury. The recorded MFD temperature and dew point data were plotted on a carburetor icing chart. The charted datashowed that the weather was conducive to serious icing at descent power near the time of the engine power loss. The Pilot's Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge, in part, stated: When conditions are conducive to carburetor icing during flight, periodic checks should be made to detect its presence. If detected, full carburetor heat should be applied immediately, and it should be left in the ON position until you are certain that all the ice has been removed. If ice is present, applying partial heat or leaving heat on for an insufficient time might aggravate the situation. In extreme cases of carburetor icing, even after the ice has been removed, full carburetor heat should be used to prevent further ice formation. A carburetor temperature gauge, if installed, is very useful in determining when to use carburetor heat. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N896JC](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N896JC-2019-11-04), registration cancelled 2019-11-04, S/N 689 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: STEELE ACRO SPORT II - Registry model: [Steele John J ACRO SPORT II](https://openairdocs.org/model/steele-john-j-acro-sport-ii) (registry code 05646CD) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming O-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-360-series) (registry code 41575, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 689 - Year built: 1986 - Engines: LYCOMING O-360-A3A 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Condition, July 7, 2017 - Departed: SMD, FORT WAYNE, IN - Destination: 10G, MILLERSBURG, OH ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 51; injuries: minor; flight engineer, airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; last flight review June 19, 2017; seat: rear; restraint: 5-point; flight hours: 14,500 total, 24.2 in this make and model, 4,000 as pilot in command, 141.8 in the last 90 days, 80 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 340° at 11 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 82 °F, dew point 59 °F - Altimeter: 30.17 inHg - Observed at: KMFD, 19 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 20170730015639A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20170730015639A), Jul 30, 2017: Steele John J ACRO SPORT II, Loudonville, OH, Substantial damage. My adult son [privacy data omitted] and I were returning from oshkosh Wisconsin to brunswick Maine on Sunday, August 30, 2017. We were flying my recently… ## Other investigations on N896JC (2) 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 ERA09LA021](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA09LA021), Oct 15, 2008: Steele John J Acro Sport (N896JC), Madison, NH, substantial damage. Probable cause: The loss of engine power due to carburetor icing as a result of the pilot's failure to apply carburetor heat - [NTSB NYC90DFJ01](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC90DFJ01), Jan 3, 1990: Steele Acrosport II (N896JC), Penn Yan, NY, substantial damage. Probable cause: FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL DURING THE TAKEOFF GROUND RUN. HIS LACK OF EXPERIENCE & THE SNOWBANK WERE RELATED FACTORS. ## Docket (6 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on November 6, 2017, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=95721. 5.6 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 4.8 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40457736&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Memorandum for Record – Communication Summary Insp. Yerace, CLE FSDO (item 2, .PDF, 66 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40457737&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Memorandum%20for%20Record%20%E2%80%93%20Communication%20Summary%20Insp.%20Yerace,%20CLE%20FSDO-Master.PDF - Witness Statement - Fueling (item 3, .PDF, 64 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40457738&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Witness%20Statement%20-%20Fueling-Master.PDF - Weather Reports and Records (item 4, .PDF, 48 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40457739&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Weather%20Reports%20and%20Records-Master.PDF - Miscellaneous Information - Carb Icing Chart (item 5, .PDF, 169 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40457740&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Miscellaneous%20Information%20-%20Carb%20Icing%20Chart-Master.PDF - Miscellaneous Information - Pilot's Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge Excerpt (item 6, .PDF, 387 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40457741&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Miscellaneous%20Information%20-%20Pilot%27s%20Handbook%20of%20Aeronautical%20Knowledge%20Excerpt-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.