# NTSB CEN20LA063: Piel CP301, N4120, Paulding, OH, January 17, 2020 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report - Date: January 17, 2020, 15:33 local (20:33 UTC) - Place: Paulding, OH - Coordinates: 41.136112, -84.441665 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.1361&lon=-84.4417&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Initial climb: Fuel contamination](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/193) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 3 - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA Flight Standards - NTSB case key (mKey): 100833 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN20LA063 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/100833/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=100833 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN20LA063 ## Probable cause The pilot’s failure to maintain control of the airplane following the loss of engine power. The loss of engine power was the result of fuel starvation due to the degraded fuel tank and fuel contamination. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Fluids: fuel](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010): Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware · Fluid condition (probable cause); cases with it: [Piel Emeraude CP 301, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md?model=05601XT), [All aircraft, 1,695 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piel Emeraude CP 301, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=05601XT), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Fuel system: fuel storage](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022810): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Damaged/degraded (probable cause); cases with it: [Piel Emeraude CP 301, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022810/cases.md?model=05601XT), [All aircraft, 60 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022810/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Initial climb: Fuel contamination](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/193) (defining event); cases with it: [Piel Emeraude CP 301, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/193/sequence.md?model=05601XT), [All aircraft, 225 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/193/sequence.md) - [Emergency descent: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240); cases with it: [Piel Emeraude CP 301, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=05601XT), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that after takeoff, about 250 ft above ground level, the engine backfired three times and lost power. He attempted to return to the airport and completed a 180° turn toward the runway. He did not recall any events following that turn. A witness heard the engine pop and sputter and then saw the airplane fall to the ground. The airplane was fragmented into many pieces when it hit the ground. A postaccident examination did not reveal any anomalies with the engine that would have precluded normal operations. Examination of the fuel tank screen contained debris consistent with fiberglass from the fuel tank. It is likely that the fuel tank was degrading and this debris from the fuel tank clogged the fuel tank screen and resulted in a loss of engine power due to fuel starvation. The damage to the airplane and the witness statement is consistent with a stall. It is likely that during the turn back toward the runway the pilot did not maintain the proper airspeed and he exceeded the airplane’s critical angle of attack which resulted in an aerodynamic stall. ## Factual narrative On January 17, 2020, about 1533 eastern standard time, a Piel Emeraude CP-301, N4120, was destroyed when it was involved in an accident near Paulding, Ohio. The pilot was seriously injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The pilot reported that after takeoff he climbed to about 250 ft above ground level and then the engine backfired three times and lost power. He entered a turn to attempt to return to the airport and after completing a 180° turn, he thought that he would be able to make it to the runway. He did not recall any events following that turn. A witness reported that after takeoff, he heard a “pop” or “sputter”, and the airplane immediately entered a left turn. He heard two more “pops” before the airplane “fell right to the ground.” He subsequently responded to the accident site to assist the pilot. Postaccident examination of the airplane did not reveal any anomalies with the engine that would have precluded normal operations. The airplane appeared to have sufficient fuel and engine oil at the time of the accident. The pilot reported that 20 gallons of fuel were onboard at the time. During a post-recovery examination debris was observed in the fuel tank screen. The debris appeared to be fiberglass from the fuel tank which may have started to degrade. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N4120](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4120-2022-12-03), registration cancelled 2022-12-03, S/N 81926, built 1980 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIEL CP301 - Registry model: [Piel Emeraude CP-301](https://openairdocs.org/model/piel-emeraude-cp-301) (registry code 05601YP) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-290 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-290-series) (registry code 41506, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 81926 - Year built: 1980 - Airframe hours: 98 - Engines: Lycoming O-290-D 125 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Condition, July 12, 2019, 28 hours before - Departed: 53OH, Paulding, OH - Destination: 53OH, Paulding, OH - Airport: 53OH, Charloe, runway 09, 3,400 × 100 ft ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 35; injuries: serious; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 286 total, 8 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 120° at 8 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 28 °F, dew point 18 °F - Altimeter: 30.63 inHg - Observed at: DFI, 12 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 20200117003619A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20200117003619A), Jan 17, 2020: Piel Emeraude CP-301, Oakwood, OH, Destroyed. A non certificated person operated an experimental aircraft (Piel Emeraude CP-301, sn 81926) from a grass strip at 53OH near Oakwood Ohio. On takeoff at… ## Docket (8 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on September 9, 2021, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=100833. 27.0 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 9 pages, 5.9 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12011997&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Accident%20Rpt%20--%20CEN20LA063_redacted-Rel.pdf - Witness statements (item 2, PDF, 4 pages, 610 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12012651&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Witness%20Statements_redacted-Rel.pdf - Accident site diagram (item 3, PDF, 2 pages, 473 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12013153&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Accident%20Diagram_redacted-Rel.pdf - Accident photos (item 4, PDF, 2 pages, 288 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12015422&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Accident%20Photos%20--%20CEN20LA063-Rel.pdf - Supplemental pilot statement (item 5, PDF, 1 page, 157 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12391418&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=ROC%20--%20Dustin%20Dobblearre%20--%2011Dec2020-Rel.pdf - Maintenance records -- airframe (item 6, PDF, 18 pages, 1.5 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12394181&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Airframe%20Log_redacted-Rel.pdf - Maintenance records -- engine (item 7, PDF, 8 pages, 15.9 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12393497&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Engine%20Log_redacted-Rel.pdf - Airplane operating limitations (item 8, PDF, 2 pages, 2.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12394171&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Operating%20Limitations_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.