# NTSB CEN22LA010: Piper PA-24, N5585P, Loveland, CO, October 7, 2021 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report - Date: October 7, 2021, 06:54 local (12:54 UTC) - Place: Loveland, CO - Coordinates: 40.435654, -105.00072 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.4357&lon=-105.0007&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: 1 minor - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 3 - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: Flight Standards District Office, Lycoming Engines, Hartzell Propeller, Piper Aircraft - SAIBs cited in the narratives: [SAIB CE-09-35](https://openairdocs.org/saib/CE-09-35) (OpenAirDocs) - NTSB case key (mKey): 104068 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN22LA010 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/104068/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=104068 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN22LA010 ## Probable cause The pilot’s failure to recognize the degraded engine power and abort the takeoff in a timely manner. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Info processing/decision: understanding/comprehension](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041515): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-24, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041515/cases.md?model=7102402), [All aircraft, 70 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041515/cases.md) - [Object/animal/substance: sign/marker](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022015): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-24, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022015/cases.md?model=7102402), [All aircraft, 214 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022015/cases.md) - [Engine (reciprocating)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058500): Aircraft › Aircraft power plant · Incorrect use/operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-24, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058500/cases.md?model=7102402), [All aircraft, 497 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058500/cases.md) - [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: [Piper PA-24, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03031030/cases.md?model=7102402), [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: Loss of engine power (partial)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-24, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342/sequence.md?model=7102402), [All aircraft, 1,858 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342/sequence.md) - [Landing: Ground collision](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/200); cases with it: [Piper PA-24, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/200/sequence.md?model=7102402), [All aircraft, 618 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/200/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot stated the airplane accelerated slowly during the takeoff roll and did not climb normally during the initial takeoff. The pilot reported the engine oversped and he heard a loud noise that came from the engine during the takeoff climb. A review of flight data showed the takeoff roll was about 1,300 ft longer than normal and immediately after takeoff, the airplane decelerated about 10 knots. The pilot executed a forced landing on a road and the airplane struck a pole, which substantially damaged the left wing. Postaccident examination revealed no evidence of a mechanical failure or malfunction that would have precluded normal operation. No reason for the reported overspeed or noise heard by the pilot was discovered during the postaccident examination. The pilot reported the engine “ran a little rough” when the carburetor heat lever was pulled out for a few seconds during the engine run-up. The weather conditions at the time of the accident were conducive to serious carburetor icing at cruise power. The pilot recalled setting the mixture lever “about a finger width” toward the lean position during the takeoff. The airplane’s extended takeoff roll and deceleration after liftoff were consistent with degraded engine power, which was most likely due to carburetor icing and/or a lean mixture setting. Following the accident, the pilot stated that he should have aborted the takeoff due to the airplane’s slow acceleration. ## Factual narrative On October 7, 2021, about 0654 mountain daylight time, a Piper PA-24, N5585P, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Northern Colorado Regional Airport (FNL), Fort Collins, Colorado. The pilot sustained minor injuries and the passenger was not injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. During takeoff from FNL on Runway 15, pilot reported the airplane was not able to climb normally and that an overspeed occurred of about 2,900 engine rpm. The pilot retarded the throttle, observed a loss of airspeed, and heard a loud bang from near the engine. The pilot executed a forced landing on a road and the airplane impacted a pole, which substantially damaged the left wing. Automatic dependent surveillance-broadcast (ADS-B) data indicated the airplane started to taxi about 0645 and the takeoff roll occurred about 0652. The airplane accelerated to 62 knots groundspeed about 1,800 ft past the runway threshold and the airplane lifted off at 71 knots groundspeed about 3,200 ft past the threshold, which was 5,300 ft from the departure end of the 8,500 ft runway. During the initial climb, about 3,500 ft from the departure end of the runway, the airplane decelerated to 60 knots groundspeed. The airplane flew at 50-60 knots groundspeed and low altitude for the remainder of the flight. About 2,800 ft beyond the departure end of Runway 15, the airplane touched down on a paved road at 59 knots groundspeed. Initial propeller strike marks on the road were 1.17 ft apart, which calculated to an engine speed of about 2,554 rpm at touchdown. Postaccident examination of the airplane revealed no evidence of mechanical anomalies or malfunction. The propeller governor was bench tested and met manufacturer specifications. The pilot reported the airplane’s takeoff weight was about 300 lbs below the maximum gross weight. Manufacturer performance data indicated a takeoff ground roll with no wind of about 1,900 ft at maximum gross weight. During the engine runup before takeoff, the pilot reported pulling the carburetor heat lever out “for a few seconds” and that the engine ran “a little rough” during that period. Review of the icing probability chart contained within Federal Aviation Administration Special Airworthiness Information Bulletin CE-09-35 revealed the atmospheric conditions at the time of the accident were "conducive to serious icing at cruise power.” The pilot recalled setting the mixture lever “about a finger” width toward the lean position for the takeoff. Following the accident, the pilot stated that he should have aborted the takeoff due to the airplane’s slower than normal acceleration. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N5585P](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N5585P), registered now, S/N 24-649, built 1958 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA-24 - Registry model: [Piper PA-24](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-24) (registry code 7102402) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming O&VO-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-vo-360-series) (registry code 41514, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 24-649 - Year built: 1958 - Engines: Lycoming O-360-A1A 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, September 22, 2021, 5,097 hours before - Departed: FNL, Fort Collins, CO - Destination: CPR, Caspar, WY - Airport: FNL, Northern Colorado Rgnl, runway 15/33, 8,500 × 100 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Handheld GPS, ADS-B, Electronic primary flight display ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 34; injuries: minor; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; last flight review March 15, 2020; seat: left; restraint: lap only; flight hours: 398 total, 398 in this make and model, 350 as pilot in command, 58 in the last 90 days, 17 in the last 30 days, 8 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 130° at 6 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 52 °F, dew point 39 °F - Altimeter: 30.10 inHg - Observed at: KFNL, 1 nm away - METAR: METAR KFNL 071256Z 13006KT 10SM CLR 11/04 A3010 ## 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 20211007017789A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20211007017789A), Oct 7, 2021: Piper PA-24, Loveland, CO, Substantial damage. While conducting part 91 flight from airport fnl N5585P experienced loss of engine power during takeoff and landed on a public road approximately 3000 ft. from… ## Other investigations on N5585P (1) 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. - [NTSB MKC79DTK04](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MKC79DTK04), Dec 4, 1978: Piper PA-24 (N5585P), Vermillion, SD, substantial damage ## Docket (10 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on April 5, 2023, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=104068. 7.0 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 9 pages, 1.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13835418&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Interview of pilot (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 88 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15188095&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Interview%20of%20Pilot-Rel.pdf - Maintenance logs - excerpts (item 3, PDF, 9 pages, 1.8 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13835886&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Maintenance%20Logs%20-%20%20Excerpt%20-%20Redacted-Rel.pdf - Aircraft examination and photos (item 4, PDF, 2 pages, 573 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15230570&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Aircraft%20Examination%20Summary-Rel.pdf - Propeller governor exam report (item 5, PDF, 4 pages, 1.5 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13836273&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Prop%20Governer%20Report_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Carburetor icing probability graph (item 6, PDF, 1 page, 335 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15118990&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Carburetor%20Icing%20Probability%20Graph%20-%20docket-Rel.pdf - Takeoff performance information (item 7, PDF, 1 page, 97 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15187870&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Takeoff%20Performance%20Chart-Rel.pdf - ADS-B data (item 8, CSV, 155 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15187203&FileExtension=csv&FileName=56309_20211007123000_Once-Rel.csv - Statement of party representatives to NTSB investigation (item 9, PDF, 3 pages, 679 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15192496&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Party%20form%20-%20combined_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Release of aircraft wreckage, NTSB form 6120.15 (item 10, PDF, 1 page, 535 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15196755&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Wreckage%20release_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.