# NTSB CEN21LA168: Piper J3C-65, N42769, Justin, TX, March 27, 2021 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report - Date: March 27, 2021, 16:00 local (21:00 UTC) - Place: Justin, TX - Coordinates: 33.083147, -97.294813 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.0831&lon=-97.2948&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Approach-VFR pattern base: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - 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): 102811 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN21LA168 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/102811/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=102811 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN21LA168 ## Probable cause The 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 · Contributed to outcome (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper J3C-65, 8 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03031030/cases.md?model=7100510), [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. - [Approach-VFR pattern base: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper J3C-65, 16 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=7100510), [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md) - [Landing: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440); cases with it: [Piper J3C-65, 17 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=7100510), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot was conducting a local flight. During the approach to landing, he applied carburetor heat on the downwind leg and reduced power on the base leg. When he added power, the engine did not respond; however, the propeller continued to windmill. Unable to glide to the private airfield, he selected a nearby wheatfield for the forced landing, but hit trees on the approach. The airplane came to rest in the trees. Examination of the airplane noted that the fuel tank contained fuel and both wings and fuselage sustained substantial damage. The examination of the engine revealed no evidence of preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. The weather conditions at the time of the accident were conducive to the formation of serious carburetor icing at glide (idle) engine power settings. Thus, it is likely before the application of carburetor heat, carburetor ice formed and/or the application of carburetor heat was not sufficient to remove the icing which resulted in a loss of engine power during landing. ## Factual narrative On March 27, 2021, about 1600 central daylight time, a Piper J3C-65 airplane, N42769, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Justin, Texas. The pilot was not injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. According to the pilot he departed a private airfield on a local flight, about 30 minutes before the accident. The pilot added that for the approach to landing, he applied carburetor heat on the downwind leg and reduced power on the base leg. When he added power, the engine did not respond; however, the propeller continued to windmill. Unable to glide to the private airfield, he selected a nearby wheatfield for the forced landing, but hit trees on the approach. The airplane came to rest in the trees. An on-site inspection of the airplane by the responding Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Inspector noted that the fuel tank contained fuel and both wings and fuselage sustained substantial damage. The airplane was recovered from the trees and placed in the owner’s hangar. The National Transportation Safety Board Investigator-In-Charge conducted an engine examination on April 2, 2021. The examination/engine run of the engine did not identify any pre-impact anomalies that would have precluded normal operations. A review of the icing probability chart contained in FAA Special Airworthiness Information Bulletin CE-09-35 revealed that the weather conditions at the time of the accident were "conducive to serious icing at glide [idle] power." ## Aircraft - Registration: [N42769](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N42769-2021-10-04), registration cancelled 2021-10-04, S/N 15080, built 1945 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER J3C-65 - Registry model: [Piper J3C-65](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-j3c-65) (registry code 7100510) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental A&C65 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-a-c65-series) (registry code 17003, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 15080 - Year built: 1945 - Airframe hours: 3668.9 - Engines: Continental C90 90 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, February 21, 2021 - Destination: Same as departure ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 64; injuries: minor; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; last flight review August 3, 2019; seat: rear; restraint: lap only; flight hours: 1,077 total, 594 in this make and model, 989 as pilot in command ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 180° at 6 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 5,500 ft broken - Temperature: 75 °F, dew point 57 °F - Altimeter: 29.82 inHg - Observed at: KDTO ## 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 20210327011909A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20210327011909A), Mar 27, 2021: Piper J3C-65, Ponder, TX, Substantial damage. On March 27, 2021 at approximately 1600 central daylight time the pilot of Piper J3C-65 N42769 began to turn westbound starting his approach to his landing… ## Docket (5 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on January 5, 2022, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=102811. 7.0 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 9 pages, 2.8 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12139253&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Form%206120%20for%20NTSB_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Powerplant exam (item 2, PDF, 4 pages, 758 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12139158&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Engine%20Examination-Rel.pdf - Photos (item 3, PDF, 3 pages, 3.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12138926&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%201-Rel.pdf - SAIB CE-09-35 (item 4, PDF, 3 pages, 107 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12139263&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=CE-09-35-Rel.pdf - Icing chart (item 5, PDF, 1 page, 140 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12138383&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Icing%20Chart-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.