# NTSB CEN18LA131: Cessna 180, N2485C, Grove, OK, March 31, 2018 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: March 31, 2018, 08:15 local (13:15 UTC) - Place: Grove, OK - Coordinates: 36.608055, -94.728057 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.6081&lon=-94.7281&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Enroute: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor, 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report March 18, 2019 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - SAIBs cited in the narratives: [SAIB CE-09-35](https://openairdocs.org/saib/CE-09-35) (OpenAirDocs) - NTSB case key (mKey): 96958 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN18LA131 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/96958/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=96958 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN18LA131 ## Probable cause A total loss of engine power due to carburetor ice accumulation. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s failure to apply carburetor heat immediately following the loss of engine power. ## 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 · Effect on equipment (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 180, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03031030/cases.md?model=2072602), [All aircraft, 435 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03031030/cases.md) - [Ice/rain protection system: intake anti-ice, deice](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023020): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Not used/operated (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 180, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023020/cases.md?model=2072602), [All aircraft, 108 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023020/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: use of equip/system](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 180, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015/cases.md?model=2072602), [All aircraft, 1,391 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015/cases.md) - [Ice/rain protection system: intake anti-ice, deice](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023020): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Related operating info (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 180, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023020/cases.md?model=2072602), [All aircraft, 108 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023020/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 (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 180, 9 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=2072602), [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md) - [Enroute: Fuel related](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/190); cases with it: [Cessna 180, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/190/sequence.md?model=2072602), [All aircraft, 361 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/190/sequence.md) - [Enroute: Other weather encounter](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400); cases with it: [Cessna 180, 16 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400/sequence.md?model=2072602), [All aircraft, 1,127 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Cessna 180, 54 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=2072602), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The airline transport pilot reported that, while in cruise flight, the engine "coughed once, then died." The pilot attempted to restore power without success, then performed a forced landing to a rodeo arena. The pilot also stated that he did not apply carburetor heat following the loss of engine power. A postaccident examination of the airframe and engine revealed no evidence of mechanical malfunction or failures that would have precluded normal operation. A review of the recorded weather information in the area indicated that the atmospheric conditions at the time of the accident were conducive to the accumulation of serious icing at any power setting. The total loss of engine power was likely due to an accumulation of carburetor ice. Had the pilot immediately applied carburetor heat, it is possible that it would have cleared the ice and restored engine power. ## Factual narrative On March 31, 2018, about 0815 central daylight time, a Cessna 180 airplane, N2485C, was substantially damaged during a forced landing near Grove, Oklahoma. The airline transport pilot was not injured and the passenger sustained minor injuries. The flight was conducted under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) flight plan had been filed for the flight. The flight departed Circle S Farms Airport (AR91), Lowell, Arkansas, about 0800, and was en route to Grove Municipal Airport (KGMJ), Grove, Oklahoma. According to the pilot, he departed AR91 and was en route to KGMJ to purchase fuel. While en route the engine quit producing power. During a forced landing to a rodeo arena, both wings, the empennage, and the fuselage were substantially damaged. An examination of the airplane, including the engine and fuel system, revealed no mechanical anomalies that would have precluded normal operation. The closest routine aviation weather report, taken at 0815, recorded a temperature of 54°F and a dewpoint temperature of 41°F. A review of the carburetor icing probability chart, located in the Federal Aviation Administration's Special Airworthiness Information Bulletin CE-09-35, dated June 30, 2009, revealed that the airplane was operating in an area favorable for the formation of serious carburetor icing at any power setting. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N2485C](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N2485C-2021-09-15), registration cancelled 2021-09-15, S/N 30785 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 180 - Registry model: [Cessna 180](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-180) (registry code 2072602) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental O-470 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-o-470-series) (registry code 17026, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 30785 - Year built: 1954 - Airframe hours: 2777.3 - Engines: Continental O470-J 225 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: February 15, 2018 - Departed: AR91, Lowell, AR - Destination: KGMJ, Grove, OK - Equipment: Stall warning system, Onboard weather, Handheld GPS ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 49; injuries: none; airline transport, flight engineer, commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; last flight review December 19, 2017; seat: left; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 21,327 total, 124.3 in this make and model, 11,250 as pilot in command, 112.1 in the last 90 days, 41.2 in the last 30 days, 0.2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 170° at 7 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 54 °F, dew point 41 °F - Altimeter: 30.06 inHg - Observed at: KGMJ ## 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 20180331010439A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20180331010439A), Mar 31, 2018: Cessna 180, Grove, OK, Substantial damage. N2485C departed AR91 at approximately 0800 on March 31, 2018 enroute to Grove Oklahoma (kgmj) to get fuel. As the aircraft was approaching the airport 3 miles… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on April 24, 2018, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=96958. 391 KB in all. - Record of Conversation - FAA (item 1, .PDF, 56 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40462388&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation%20-%20FAA-Master.PDF - Statement of Party Representatives to NTSB Investigation (item 2, .PDF, 266 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40462391&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Statement%20of%20Party%20Representatives%20to%20NTSB%20Investigation-Master.PDF - FAA-SAIB CE-09-035 Carburetor Icing Probability Chart (item 3, .PDF, 68 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40462392&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=FAA-SAIB%20CE-09-035%20Carburetor%20Icing%20Probability%20Chart-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.