# NTSB CEN19LA071: Piper PA24, N6497P, Beechwood, WI, January 18, 2019 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report - Date: January 18, 2019, 15:30 local (21:30 UTC) - Place: Beechwood, WI - Coordinates: 45.606388, -88.109169 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=45.6064&lon=-88.1092&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Enroute-cruise: Loss of engine power (partial)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 3 - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 98893 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN19LA071 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/98893/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=98893 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN19LA071 ## Probable cause A partial loss of engine power for reasons that could not be determined based on the available information. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Engine (reciprocating)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058500): Aircraft › Aircraft power plant · Unknown/Not determined (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-24-250, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058500/cases.md?model=7102404), [All aircraft, 497 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058500/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Enroute-cruise: Loss of engine power (partial)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-24-250, 8 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342/sequence.md?model=7102404), [All aircraft, 1,858 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342/sequence.md) ## Analysis About 25 minutes into the cross-country flight, the pilot experienced a loss of engine power. After attempting different carburetor heat settings, switching fuel tanks, and adjusting the mixture settings, the engine continued to run, but was not producing enough power to maintain altitude. The pilot performed a forced landing to a field with the landing gear retracted, resulting in substantial damage to the fuselage. Whether the atmospheric conditions were conducive to the development of carburetor ice could not be determined, as the dew point depression was not within the chart’s matrix. Examination of the engine did not reveal any anomalies, but impact damage precluded thorough examination of the carburetor control rigging. Based on the available information, the reason for the loss of engine power could not be determined. ## Factual narrative On January 18, 2019, about 1530 central standard time, a Piper PA24, N6497P, sustained substantial damage when it was involved in an accident near Beechwood, Wisconsin. The private pilot sustained minor injuries. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Federal Code of Regulations Part 91 personal flight. After 25 minutes of uneventful cross-country flight, the pilot noticed that the carburetor temperature gauge was in the “yellow” range. The gauge continued to move into the “red” range, which would indicate freezing. The engine began to lose power and the pilot pulled the carburetor heat knob to the full “ON’ position, set the fuel mixture to full, and turned on the electric fuel pump. There was no change in engine power, so the pilot checked the magnetos and switched fuel tanks from left to right. After pushing the carburetor heat knob in, the engine seemed to run smoother, but there was no increase in power. He pulled the carburetor heat “ON’ again, but the engine still ran poorly. By this time, the airplane had descended to 2,000 ft. The pilot trimmed the airplane for 100 mph. The engine remained running, but there was still no increase in power. The pilot pulled the carburetor heat “ON’ again, with no increase in engine power. The airplane was descending about 700 ft per minute and passing through 1,200 ft. The pilot made a distress call and announced that he was making an emergency landing. He configured the airplane for a gear-up landing in a field, during which the airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage. According to the carburetor icing probability chart, given a temperature of -7°C and a dew point of -14°C, it could not be determined if the airplane’s carburetor could have been susceptible to icing, because the dew point depression was not within the chart’s matrix. Damage to the carburetor assembly precluded determination of proper rigging; however, examination of the engine and fuel system revealed no anomalies. The carburetor heat control was found in the forward, “OFF” position. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N6497P](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N6497P-2022-05-09), registration cancelled 2022-05-09, S/N 24-1617, built 1959 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Piper PA24 (250) - Registry model: [Piper PA-24-250](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-24-250) (registry code 7102404) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-540 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-540-series) (registry code 41532, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 24-1617 - Year built: 1959 - Airframe hours: 6772 - Engines: Lycoming O-540 SERIES 250 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: None - Last inspection: Annual, October 1, 2018 - Departed: OCQ, Oconto, WI - Destination: BUU, Burlington, WI - Equipment: None ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 64; injuries: minor; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review September 11, 2018; seat: left; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 198 total, 18 in this make and model, 109 as pilot in command, 39 in the last 90 days, 9 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 30° at 5 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 7,500 ft overcast - Temperature: 19 °F, dew point 7 °F - Altimeter: 30.21 inHg - Icing: Unknown - Observed at: SBM, 10 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 20190118000279A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20190118000279A), Jan 18, 2019: Piper PA-24-250, Beechwood, WI, Substantial damage. On January 18, 2019 a holder of private pilot certificate was pilot in command of an aircraft accident involving N6497P a 1959 Piper commanche (PA-24-250). The… ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on September 9, 2021, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=98893. 17.9 MB in all. - NTSB form 6120 pilot operator report CEN19LA071 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 6.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=11670132&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=NTSB%20Form%206120%20Pilot%20Operator%20Report%20CEN19LA071_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Memorandum for the record carburetor icing probability carburetor icing probability and carburetor airbox evaluation CEN19LA071 (item 2, PDF, 3 pages, 3.6 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=11669293&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Memorandum%20for%20the%20Record%20Carburetor%20Icing%20Probability%20Carburetor%20Icing%20Probability%20and%20Carburetor%20Airbox%20Evaluation%20CEN19LA071_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Sherrif report CEN19LA071 (item 3, PDF, 8 pages, 4.7 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=11670663&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Sherrif%20Report%20CEN19LA071_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Photo array CEN19LA071 (item 4, PDF, 3 pages, 3.4 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=11670349&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%20Array%20CEN19LA071_Redacted-Rel.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.