# NTSB CEN21LA002: Cessna 182, N9901E, Byers, CO, October 3, 2020

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report
- Date: October 3, 2020, 14:15 local (20:15 UTC)
- Place: Byers, CO
- Coordinates: 39.713593, -104.19384 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.7136&lon=-104.1938&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Approach-VFR go-around: Loss of engine power (partial)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Investigation class: Class 3
- NTSB office: Central Region
- Parties: FAA FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 102081
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN21LA002
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/102081/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=102081
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN21LA002

## Probable cause

A partial loss of engine power for undetermined reasons.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Not determined](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000): Not determined › Not determined · Unknown/Not determined (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 182P, 10 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md?model=2075816), [All aircraft, 2,247 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Approach-VFR go-around: Loss of engine power (partial)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 182P, 8 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342/sequence.md?model=2075816), [All aircraft, 1,858 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342/sequence.md)
- [Emergency descent: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440); cases with it: [Cessna 182P, 18 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=2075816), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md)
- [Landing: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096); cases with it: [Cessna 182P, 16 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md?model=2075816), [All aircraft, 2,287 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot reported the engine did not provide full power when he attempted to execute a go-around. The airplane subsequently descended into a corn field and nosed over. The fuselage, and empennage both sustained substantial damage. The pilot stated that he applied carburetor heat in accordance with the pilot’s operating handbook. Postaccident airframe and engine examinations did not reveal any anomalies consistent with an inability to produce rated power. The propeller damage was consistent with some level of engine power at impact; however, an exact level of power could not be estimated from the available evidence. Although the possibility of carburetor icing existed at the time of the accident, the pilot stated that he applied carburetor heat in accordance with the pilot’s operating handbook.

## Factual narrative

On October 3, 2020, about 1415 mountain daylight time, a Cessna 182P airplane, N9901E, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Byers, Colorado. The pilot and passenger were not injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The pilot reported that the takeoff and initial portion of the flight were routine. He proceeded to a nearby airport and entered the traffic pattern for landing. On final approach, about 400 ft above ground level, he attempted to execute a go-around; however, the engine did not provide full power. The airplane subsequently descended into a corn field and nosed over. The fuselage, and empennage both sustained substantial damage. The pilot stated that he applied carburetor heat in accordance with the pilot’s operating handbook. Postaccident airframe and engine examinations did not reveal any anomalies consistent with an inability to produce rated power. All of the propeller blades exhibited bending and chordwise scratching, and each blade tip was curled aft. The propeller spinner aft mounting plate exhibited rotational scoring. Between 40 and 50 gallons of fuel were recovered from the airplane at the accident site. A possibility of carburetor icing at glide and cruise power existed at the time of the accident.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N9901E](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N9901E), registered now, S/N 18263961, built 1975 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 182 (P)
- Registry model: [Cessna 182P](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-182p) (registry code 2075816) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental O-470 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-o-470-series) (registry code 17026, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 18263961
- Year built: 1975
- Airframe hours: 4446.4
- Engines: Continental O-470-S 230 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, February 5, 2019, 31.6 hours before
- Departed: CFO, Denver, CO
- Airport: CO17, Sky Haven, runway 35, 2,500 × 65 ft, grass/turf
- Equipment: Stall warning system, ADS-B, Auto-pilot, Onboard weather

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 52; injuries: minor; flight instructor, airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane, helicopter; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; last flight review March 20, 2020; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 13,942 total, 360 in this make and model, 664 as pilot in command, 27 in the last 90 days, 18 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 10° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 63 °F, dew point 30 °F
- Altimeter: 30.26 inHg
- Observed at: CFO, 16 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 20201003017489A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20201003017489A), Oct 3, 2020: Cessna 182P, Byers, CO, Substantial damage. On final for runway 35 at CO17, witnesses stated that the pilot attempted to perform a go-around but the engine did not respond as expected . As a result, the…

## Docket (9 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on April 14, 2022, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=102081. 9.7 MB in all.

- Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 9 pages, 563 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=11677396&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Pilot%20Rpt%20--%20CEN21LA002-Rel.pdf
- Conversation summary -- pilot (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 158 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=11700000&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=ROC%20--%20Joe%20Wahl%20--%2005Oct2020%20(Final)-Rel.pdf
- Accident photos (item 3, PDF, 4 pages, 2.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=11679127&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Accident%20Photos%20--%20CEN21LA002-Rel.pdf
- Examination summary (item 4, PDF, 3 pages, 131 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=11682710&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Examination%20Summary%20--%20CEN21LA002-Rel.pdf
- Conversation summary -- beegles aircraft (item 5, PDF, 1 page, 151 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=11677269&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=ROC%20--%20Beegles%20(Jamie%20Ramirez)%20--%2003Nov2020-Rel.pdf
- Airplane maintenance records (excerpts) (item 6, PDF, 2 pages, 6.4 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=11676847&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Maintenance%20Records%20(Excerpt)%20--%20N9901E_redacted-Rel.pdf
- Weather documentation -- Colorado air and spaceport airport (kcfo) (item 7, PDF, 2 pages, 60 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=11677538&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=WxHist%20--%20KCFO%20--%2003Oct2020-Rel.pdf
- FAA information bulletin -- carburetor icing (item 8, PDF, 4 pages, 130 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=11678845&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Carburetor%20Icing%20SAIB%20(FAA%20CE-09-35)-Rel.pdf
- Release of aircraft wreckage, NTSB form 6120.15 (item 9, PDF, 1 page, 106 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=11678667&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Wreckage%20Release%20--%20CEN21LA002_acknowledged_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.

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