# NTSB CEN20LA343: Piper PA18, N2510H, Brandon, MN, August 15, 2020 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report - Date: August 15, 2020, 13:07 local (18:07 UTC) - Place: Brandon, MN - Coordinates: 45.965278, -95.598609 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=45.9653&lon=-95.5986&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Takeoff: Loss of engine power (partial)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 2 minor - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 3 - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA FSDO - SAIBs cited in the narratives: [SAIB CE-09-35](https://openairdocs.org/saib/CE-09-35) (OpenAirDocs) - NTSB case key (mKey): 101807 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN20LA343 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/101807/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=101807 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN20LA343 ## Probable cause The partial loss of engine power during takeoff 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: [Piper PA-18-150, 15 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03031030/cases.md?model=7101828), [All aircraft, 435 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03031030/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Takeoff: Other weather encounter](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400); cases with it: [Piper PA-18-150, 26 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400/sequence.md?model=7101828), [All aircraft, 1,127 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400/sequence.md) - [Takeoff: Loss of engine power (partial)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-18-150, 13 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342/sequence.md?model=7101828), [All aircraft, 1,858 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot landed to the south, taxied to the end of the runway, and took off to the north from his private grass airstrip. During the takeoff, the engine lost then regained power shortly after the airplane became airborne. The pilot elected to continue the takeoff due to the remaining runway available. While maneuvering toward an open field and away from obstacles, the airplane struck a 4-foot-high steel fence post. The airplane spun, traveled about 150 feet and came to rest. A postimpact fire ensued as both occupants exited with minor injuries. Flight control continuity was confirmed to all flight control surfaces. Due to the severe postimpact fire, engine drive continuity could not be confirmed, but engine control continuity was confirmed. Weather conditions at the time of the accident were conducive to serious carburetor icing at glide power. Since the pilot had taxied at a low power setting prior to taking off and reported that the airplane lost then regained engine power, the momentary loss of engine power was most likely due to carburetor icing. ## Factual narrative On August 15, 2020, about 1307 central daylight time, a Piper PA18, N2510H, was destroyed when it was involved in an accident near Brandon, Minnesota. The pilot and one passenger sustained minor injuries. The airplane was being operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 91 personal flight. According to the pilot, he had landed to the south and turned around to take off to the north from his private grass runway. He reported that the engine lost power shortly after the airplane became airborne. He contemplated landing on the remaining runway as he thought that the engine regained power. Due to the length of runway, he elected to continue the takeoff, but because of the obstacles at the departure end of the runway, he turned the airplane toward a wheat field. While maneuvering toward the field, the landing gear struck a 4-foot-high steel post attached to a fence in the field. The airplane came to rest upright in the field. After the occupants exited, a postcrash fire consumed the airplane. Examination of the accident site revealed that the airplane struck the steel post about 4-ft above the ground. The airplane came to rest about 150 ft from the impact with the post. Evidence at the site showed that the airplane rotated about 90° to the right before it struck the ground. Although a postimpact fire consumed most of the airplane, all flight control continuities were confirmed. Engine control continuity was established. Due to the extensive fire damage, the engine could not be rotated, and a detailed examination was not possible. According to the carburetor icing probability chart in Federal Aviation Administration Special Airworthiness Information Bulletin CE-09-35, with a temperature of 18ºC and a dew point of 2ºC (+16 dew point depression), the airplane was operating within the range of serious icing in glide power. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N2510H](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N2510H), registered now, S/N 18-7909197, built 1979 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Piper PA18 (150) - Registry model: [Piper PA-18-150](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-18-150) (registry code 7101828) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 18-7909197 - Year built: 1979 - Engines: Lycoming O-320 SERIES 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Fire: On-Ground - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: Brandon, MN - Destination: Brandon, MN - Airport: None, Private, runway 35, 3,000 × 50 ft, grass/turf - Equipment: Stall warning system ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 53; injuries: minor; airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; last flight review May 19, 2020; seat: front; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 20,000 total, 800 in this make and model, 25 in the last 90 days, 10 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 200° at 8 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 73 °F, dew point 61 °F - Altimeter: 30.04 inHg - Observed at: AXN, 7 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 20200815013159A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20200815013159A), Aug 15, 2020: Piper PA-18-150, Brandon, MN, Destroyed. During the take-off roll the pilot noticed the engine lost power and initiated a gentle right turn, in an effort to avoid trees and houses off the end of the… ## Docket (5 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on May 9, 2022, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=101807. 1.9 MB in all. - Memorradum for the record pilot statement summary CEN20LA343 (item 1, PDF, 1 page, 145 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12181263&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Memorradum%20for%20the%20Record%20Pilot%20Statement%20Summary%20CEN20LA343_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Memorandum for the record FAA inspector summary of reported findings CEN20LA343 (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 881 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12180614&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Memorandum%20for%20the%20Record%20FAA%20Inspector%20Summary%20of%20Reported%20Findings%20CEN20LA343_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Memorandum for the record carburetor icing probability CEN20LA343 (item 3, PDF, 1 page, 250 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12181253&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Memorandum%20for%20the%20Record%20Carburetor%20Icing%20Probability%20CEN20LA343_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Douglas county sherrif report CEN20LA343 (item 4, PDF, 2 pages, 73 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12180476&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Douglas%20County%20Sherrif%20Report%20CEN20LA343_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Photo array CEN20LA343 (item 5, PDF, 2 pages, 583 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12181101&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%20Array%20CEN20LA343-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.