# NTSB CEN23LA351: Taylorcraft F21, N2005J, Holliday, TX, August 7, 2023 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report - Date: August 6, 2023, 20:00 local (Aug 7, 2023, 01:00 UTC) - Place: Holliday, TX · Grass field on private property. - Coordinates: 33.688055, -98.825541 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.6881&lon=-98.8255&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Approach-VFR pattern final: Unknown or undetermined](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/000) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 3 - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA Lubbock FSDO - SAIBs cited in the narratives: [SAIB CE-09-35](https://openairdocs.org/saib/CE-09-35) (OpenAirDocs) - NTSB case key (mKey): 192814 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN23LA351 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/192814/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=192814 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN23LA351 ## Probable cause A loss of engine power for reasons that could not be determined, which resulted in impact with terrain. ## 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: [Taylorcraft F21, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md?model=8850906), [All aircraft, 2,247 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md) - [Engine (reciprocating)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058500): Aircraft › Aircraft power plant · Unknown/Not determined (probable cause); cases with it: [Taylorcraft F21, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058500/cases.md?model=8850906), [All aircraft, 497 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058500/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 final: Unknown or undetermined](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/000) (defining event); cases with it: [Taylorcraft F21, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/000/sequence.md?model=8850906), [All aircraft, 1,703 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/000/sequence.md) - [Approach-VFR pattern final: Attempted remediation/recovery](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060); cases with it: [Taylorcraft F21, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md?model=8850906), [All aircraft, 1,422 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md) - [Landing: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Taylorcraft F21, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=8850906), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot was landing the airplane at a private runway when he added additional engine power to clear trees and reach the runway. The pilot started to apply the throttle, but the airplane continued to sink. The pilot then applied full engine power to execute a go-around, but realized the engine was not producing power. The pilot observed that the engine did not stop operating but was not responsive to his throttle inputs. The pilot did not hear any abnormal noises from the engine, noting “[t]here were no coughing or sputtering noises to my recollection.” The left wing impacted a tree about 30 ft short of the runway and the airplane came to rest upright on a grass field. The pilot shut down the airplane and the two occupants egressed without further incident. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage and both wings. Postaccident examination of the airframe and engine found no mechanical anomalies. The pilot reported that the throttle cable might have been the potential cause for the lack of response from the engine, as there was a previous problem with the throttle cable “slipping.” During the postaccident examination, the throttle was found installed, intact, and there were no signs of any missing hardware. Although the pilot reported that he was not using carburetor heat on the approach, he indicated that on the final approach he was “carrying some power.” Additionally, the weather conditions at the time of the accident were not conducive to carburetor icing. Accordingly, the reason for the loss of engine power and the engine’s unresponsiveness to the pilot’s throttle inputs could not be determined. ## Factual narrative On August 6, 2023, about 2000 central daylight time, a Taylorcraft Aviation Corporation F21 airplane, N2005J, sustained substantial damage when it was involved in an accident near Holliday, Texas. The pilot and the passenger were not injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The pilot departed from a private grass airstrip near Holliday, Texas, for the local flight. While established on the approach to the airstrip, the pilot felt the airplane needed additional engine power to clear trees and reach the runway. The pilot started to apply the throttle, but the airplane continued to sink. The pilot then applied full engine power to execute a go-around but realized that the engine was not producing power. The pilot observed that the engine did not stop operating but was not responsive to his throttle inputs. The pilot did not hear any abnormal noises from the engine, noting “[t]here were no coughing or sputtering noises to my recollection.” The left wing impacted a tree about 30 ft short of the airstrip and the airplane came to rest upright on a grass field. The pilot shut down the airplane and the two occupants egressed without further incident. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage and both wings. Postaccident examination of the airframe revealed flight control continuity. The two wing fuel tanks were found intact. The wing tanks fed into a header tank, which appeared to be intact and full of fuel. Engine control continuity was established from the cockpit. Examination of the engine found no mechanical anomalies. The pilot reported that he was not using carburetor heat on the approach. He stated that he was on a mile final and was carrying some power. Comparison of the weather conditions at the time of the accident to the Federal Aviation Administration’s Special Airworthiness Information Bulletin CE-09-35 indicated that the conditions were not conducive to carburetor icing. The pilot reported that the throttle cable might have been the potential cause for the lack of response from the engine, as there was a previous problem with the throttle cable “slipping.” The throttle cable was adjusted by a mechanic on March 18, 2023, about four and a half months before the accident, and the pilot reported that the maintenance work corrected the slippage issue. During the postaccident examination, the throttle was found installed, intact, and there were no signs of any missing hardware. When the pilot purchased the airplane in September 2022, the most recent annual inspection had been completed in November 2011. A mechanic performed an annual inspection on the airframe and the engine on October 28, 2022. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N2005J](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N2005J), registered now, S/N F-1014 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: TAYLORCRAFT AVIATION CORP. F21 (NO SERIES) - Registry model: [Taylorcraft F21](https://openairdocs.org/model/taylorcraft-f21) (registry code 8850906) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-235 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-235-series) (registry code 41505, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: F-1014 - Year built: 1981 - Airframe hours: 1388.77 - Engines: Lycoming Engines O-235-L2C 115 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility; Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, October 28, 2022 - Departed: Holliday, TX - Equipment: ADS-B ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 21; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; last flight review May 2, 2023; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 535.4 total, 281.7 in this make and model, 454.6 as pilot in command, 100.1 in the last 90 days, 39.5 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Dusk - Wind: 170° at 7 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 11,000 ft broken - Temperature: 106 °F, dew point 59 °F - Altimeter: 29.86 inHg - Observed at: KCWC, 20 nm away - METAR: KCWC 070055Z AUTO 15006KT 10SM BKN110 41/15 A2986 RMK AO2 T04070146 ## 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 20230806010809A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20230806010809A), Aug 6, 2023: Taylorcraft Aviation Corp. F21, Holliday, TX, Substantial damage. On August 6, 2023, at 2015 CDT, a Taylorcraft F21 aircraft, registered to private owner, impacted terrain 250 ft. short of the filed intended to land due to… ## Other investigations on N2005J (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 CHI00LA034](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI00LA034), Dec 1, 1999: Taylorcraft F-21 (N2005J), Houlton, WI, substantial damage. Probable cause: the mechanic failed to torque the rod cap bolt during the major engine overhaul. Factors relating to the accident included the rough field and the collapsed landing gear. ## Docket (9 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on April 18, 2024, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=192814. 40.9 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 9 pages, 5.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16846083&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=N2005J%20NTSB%20Form%206120_1_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Accident photographs (item 2, PDF, 5 pages, 1.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16847052&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Accident%20Photographs-Rel.pdf - Federal aviation administration and N2005J owner/pilot - statements (item 3, PDF, 8 pages, 246 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16846583&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=FAA%20and%20Pilot%20MOR_Redacted-Rel.pdf - N2005J - spark plug photographs (courtesy of air salvage of dallas) (item 4, PDF, 4 pages, 2.5 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16846841&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=N2005J%20-%20Spark%20Plug%20Photographs-Rel.pdf - N2005J - airframe maintenance records 2011 to accident (item 5, PDF, 7 pages, 13.5 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16846107&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=N2005J%20Airframe%20Maintenance%20Records%202011%20to%20Current_Redacted-Rel.pdf - N2005J - engine maintenance records 2011 to accident (item 6, PDF, 6 pages, 13.5 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16846485&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=N2005J%20Engine%20Maintenance%20Records%202011%20to%20Current_Redacted-Rel.pdf - N2005J - propeller maintenance records 2011 to accident (item 7, PDF, 1 page, 4.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16846235&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=N2005J%20Propeller%20Maintenance%20Records%202011%20to%20Current_Redacted-Rel.pdf - N2005J - accident flight weight and balance information (item 8, PDF, 4 pages, 705 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16846539&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=N2005J%20Weight%20and%20Balance%20Information-Rel.pdf - Carburetor icing probability chart (item 9, PDF, 1 page, 119 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16960133&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Carburetor%20Icing%20Probability%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.