# NTSB CEN19LA216: Rutan Varieze, N112EZ, Kaneville, IL, July 8, 2019 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report - Date: July 8, 2019, 16:00 local (21:00 UTC) - Place: Kaneville, IL - Coordinates: 41.86861, -88.579719 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.8686&lon=-88.5797&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Enroute-descent: Fuel related](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/190) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 3 - 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): 99810 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN19LA216 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/99810/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=99810 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN19LA216 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to use carburetor heat while operating at low power settings in conditions conducive to the development of carburetor ice, and the subsequent total 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 · Effect on equipment (probable cause); cases with it: [Knight-Wilcox VARIEZE, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03031030/cases.md?model=05609Y3), [All aircraft, 435 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03031030/cases.md) - [Object/animal/substance: ground vehicle](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022025): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome (probable cause); cases with it: [Knight-Wilcox VARIEZE, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022025/cases.md?model=05609Y3), [All aircraft, 132 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022025/cases.md) - [Action: lack of action](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041030): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Knight-Wilcox VARIEZE, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041030/cases.md?model=05609Y3), [All aircraft, 792 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041030/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Enroute-descent: Fuel related](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/190) (defining event); cases with it: [Knight-Wilcox VARIEZE, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/190/sequence.md?model=05609Y3), [All aircraft, 361 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/190/sequence.md) - [Emergency descent: Attempted remediation/recovery](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060); cases with it: [Knight-Wilcox VARIEZE, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md?model=05609Y3), [All aircraft, 1,422 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md) - [Emergency descent: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440); cases with it: [Knight-Wilcox VARIEZE, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=05609Y3), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md) ## Analysis The commercial pilot of the experimental airplane reported that he was unable to enter the destination airport airspace, so he remained outside of the airspace at a reduced power setting. After adjusting the mixture control, the engine experienced a complete loss of power and the propeller stopped rotating. About 1,600 ft above ground level (agl), the pilot initiated a steep dive to increase airspeed and attempt to get the propeller to windmill and the engine to restart; however, the propeller would not rotate, so he pulled out of the dive about 300 ft agl and aligned with traffic on an interstate for a forced landing. During the landing, the right wing contacted a truck and the airplane sustained substantial damage to the wings and fuselage. A postaccident engine test run revealed no anomalies, and the test was unable to determine why the propeller would not windmill above the published speed. The atmospheric conditions at the time of the accident were conducive to the accumulation of carburetor icing at glide and cruise power settings. The pilot did not use the carburetor heat during the reduced engine power operation; therefore, it is likely that the carburetor accumulated ice, which resulted in the total loss of engine power. ## Factual narrative On July 8, 2019, at 1600 central daylight time, a Knight-Wilcox Varieze experimental airplane, N112EZ, made a forced landing to an interstate and collided with a vehicle near Kaneville, Illinois. The pilot sustained minor injuries and the airplane sustained substantial damage. The vehicle occupant was uninjured. The airplane was registered to and operated by the pilot under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions existed near the accident site and a visual flight rules (VFR) flight plan was not filed. The flight departed Waukegan National Airport (UGN), Waukegan, Illinois, at 1537, and was en route to Aurora Municipal Airport (ARR), Aurora, Illinois. After the accident the pilot stated that he was descending toward the destination airport and contacted the ARR air traffic control (ATC) tower. The controller advised the pilot that the ARR airspace was operating under instrument flight rules (IFR) due to low visibility and haze. The pilot remained north of the ARR airspace and requested a special VFR clearance, which was denied by ATC due to an inbound IFR flight. He stated that while holding outside of ARR airspace with a reduced power setting, about 1,900 rpm, and the carburetor heat off, he reduced the mixture control about one inch of travel and the engine experienced a total loss of power and the propeller completely stopped rotating. While about 1,600 ft above ground level (agl), the pilot initiated a steep dive to increase airspeed and allow the propeller to rotate and the engine to restart. During the maneuver, he added carburetor heat but the propeller would not rotate so he pulled out of the dive about 300 ft agl and determined the interstate was the best place for a forced landing. After aligning with the west bound lane, he glided the airplane over several cars and maneuvered for an opening between vehicles where he could land the airplane. During the landing the right wing contacted a pickup truck in the far right lane, the airplane veered right, the landing gear collapsed, and the pilot was unable to maintain directional control. The airplane rotated 360° and came to rest in the grass median – see figure 1. Figure 1 – Airplane in grass median (Courtesy of Chicago WGN9) The weather conditions reported about the time of the accident included outside air temperature of 83° F, dew point 52° F, and about 34% relative humidity. The carburetor icing probability chart included in the airplane flight manual and the Federal Aviation Administration Special Airworthiness Information Bulletin No. CE-09-35, Carburetor Icing Prevention, indicated that the airplane was operating in an area that was associated with a risk of carburetor ice accumulation at glide and cruise power settings. The pilot was using the Foreflight application on his tablet to record the flight data. According to the data provided, during the steep dive the airplane reached an airspeed about 189 mph.According to the Varieze airplane flight manual, the propeller minimum wind-milling speed is 70 mph. If the propeller is stopped, the propeller restart speed in a steep dive is 150 mph. The responding Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector reported that the airplane was recovered to a local hangar where an engine functional test run was conducted. The functional test run was successful and no engine anomalies were noted. The test was unable to determine why the propeller would not rotate during the steep dive. Additionally, the pilot reported that two days before the accident while flying the airplane in cruise flight, the carburetor accumulated ice and the engine ran rough. He stated that after applying carburetor heat the engine stumbled but returned to full power after the carburetor ice was cleared. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N112EZ](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N112EZ-2019-12-19), registration cancelled 2019-12-19, S/N 43, built 1982 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Rutan VARIEZE (No Series) - Registry model: [Knight-Wilcox VARIEZE](https://openairdocs.org/model/knight-wilcox-varieze) (registry code 05609Y3) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental C85-12](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-c85-12) (registry code 17124, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 43 - Year built: 1982 - Airframe hours: 141.2 - Engines: Continental C85-12 85 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Condition, September 25, 2018 - Departed: UGN, Chicago/Waukegan, IL - Destination: ARR, Chicago/Aurora, IL - Airport: ARR, Aurora Muni - Equipment: Onboard weather, ADS-B, Electronic flight bag or handheld device, Electronic primary flight display ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 46; injuries: minor; airline transport, commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land, single-engine sea; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; last flight review November 17, 2018; seat: front; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 11,028 total, 14 in this make and model, 8,924 as pilot in command, 95 in the last 90 days, 39 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Temperature: 82 °F, dew point 52 °F - Altimeter: 30.04 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 20190708009499A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20190708009499A), Jul 8, 2019: Knight-Wilcox VARIEZE, Sugar Grove, IL, Destroyed. The aircraft departed waukegan (kugn) airport for Aurora (karr) airport. Karr was reporting IFR conditions due to haze and smoke. The pilot decided to hold… ## Docket (7 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 28, 2019, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=99810. 11.6 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 6.6 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40477243&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Record of Conversation - Pilot (item 2, .PDF, 64 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40477244&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation%20-%20Pilot-Master.PDF - FAA Engine Run Email (item 3, .PDF, 130 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40477245&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=FAA%20Engine%20Run%20Email-Master.PDF - Photos (item 4, .PDF, 7 photos, 2.7 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40477246&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photos-Master.PDF - Varieze Airplane Flight Manual Excerpts (item 5, .PDF, 1.4 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40477247&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Varieze%20Airplane%20Flight%20Manual%20Excerpts-Master.PDF - Foreflight Tabular Data (item 6, XLSX, 102 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40477248&FileExtension=xlsx&FileName=Foreflight%20Tabular%20Data-Master - National Weather Service Historical Observations (item 7, .PDF, 589 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40477249&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=National%20Weather%20Service%20Historical%20Observations-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.