# NTSB CEN23LA083: Cheek Carroll Hatz/Cheek, N1957P, Brashear, TX, January 15, 2023 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report - Date: January 15, 2023, 09:30 local (15:30 UTC) - Place: Brashear, TX · field - Coordinates: 32.98421, -95.69327 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.9842&lon=-95.6933&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Enroute: Fuel related](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/190) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 3 - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA Flight Standards - NTSB case key (mKey): 106587 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN23LA083 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/106587/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=106587 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN23LA083 ## Probable cause A partial loss of engine power due to the formation of carburetor ice, which resulted in the inability to maintain altitude and the subsequent hard forced landing. ## 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 · Effect on equipment (probable cause); cases with it: [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. - [Enroute: Fuel related](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/190) (defining event); cases with it: [All aircraft, 361 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/190/sequence.md) - [Enroute: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341); cases with it: [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md) - [Emergency descent: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440); cases with it: [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092); cases with it: [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported a gradual loss of engine power during cruise flight. He applied carburetor heat when the engine began running rough, which seemed to make the situation worse. Eventually, the available engine power was insufficient to maintain altitude and it became clear the airplane would not be able to reach the destination airport. The pilot executed a forced landing to a field; however, he flared too high and landed hard. The airframe sustained substantial damage to both wings and the fuselage. A postaccident engine examination revealed minor anomalies with respect to the carburetor heat system, and those anomalies may have slightly reduced the effectiveness of the carburetor heat when applied. The remaining anomalies identified during the engine examination were not consistent with a gradual loss of engine power and did not contribute to the accident. Meteorological conditions were conducive to the formation of carburetor icing during cruise flight. Based on the available information, it is likely that the formation of carburetor icing, which the carburetor heat system was unable to adequately remove, resulted in the loss of engine power. In addition, the hard landing that occurred during the forced landing may have increased the extent of damage to the airframe. ## Factual narrative On January 15, 2023, about 0930 central standard time, a Hatz Classic airplane, N1957P, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Brashear, Texas. The pilot was not injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The pilot reported a gradual loss of engine power during cruise flight. He applied carburetor heat when the engine began running rough, which seemed to make the situation worse. Eventually, the available engine power was insufficient to maintain altitude and it became clear the airplane would not be able to reach the destination airport. He executed a forced landing to a field; however, he flared “too high” and landed hard. The airframe sustained damage to both wings and the fuselage. A postaccident engine examination noted the carburetor heat ducting appeared “insufficient for proper airflow” and the carburetor heat control arm was not fully engaged. The mechanic estimated the carburetor heat installation was about 90% functional. In addition, the electric conductivity between the magneto P-lead and the cockpit ignition switch was intermittent, and 2 ignition leads exhibited minor damage. Otherwise, the engine examination was unremarkable. Meteorological conditions were conducive to the formation of carburetor icing during cruise flight. In his statement, the pilot noted the possibility of carburetor icing as the reason for the loss of engine power. ## Aircraft - Registration: N1957P (not matched to a registry record) - Reported make and model: CHEEK CARROLL HATZ/CHEEK - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 825 - Year built: 2003 - Airframe hours: 302.6 - Engines: Continental O-300-D 145 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Condition, January 14, 2023, 0 hours before - Departed: 0TE4, Hilltop Lakes, TX - Destination: SLR, Sulphur Springs, TX - Airport: N/A, N/A ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 62; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review December 1, 2022; seat: rear; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 756 total, 1 in this make and model, 677 as pilot in command, 5 in the last 90 days, 5 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 170° at 11 knots, gusting 16 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 1,000 ft broken - Temperature: 52 °F, dew point 46 °F - Altimeter: 30.02 inHg - Observed at: KSLR, 7 nm away - METAR: METAR KSLR 151535Z AUTO 17011G16KT 10SM BKN010 11/08 A3002 ## 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 20230115005339A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20230115005339A), Jan 15, 2023: Cheek Carroll HATZ/CHEEK, Brashear, TX, Substantial damage. On January 15, 2023 at 0930 CST, a Hatz/Cheek home built experimental aircraft [privacy data omitted], s/n 825 [privacy data omitted] and manufactured by… ## Docket (5 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 22, 2023, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=106587. 67.0 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 9 pages, 1.5 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15092788&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Accident%20Rpt%20--%20CEN23LA083_redacted-Rel.pdf - Accident photos (item 2, PDF, 3 pages, 560 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15092677&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Accident%20Photos%20--%20CEN23LA083-Rel.pdf - Maintenance records (item 3, PDF, 3 pages, 64.6 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15092975&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Maintenance%20Records%20--%20Airframe_Engine%20(N1957P)_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Engine examination summary (item 4, PDF, 3 pages, 200 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15092798&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Engine%20Exam%20Summary%20--%20CEN23LA083_Redacted-Rel.pdf - FAA SAIB -- carburetor icing prevention (item 5, PDF, 4 pages, 134 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15094107&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Carburetor%20Icing%20SAIB%20(FAA%20CE-09-35)-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.