# NTSB CHI01LA019: Zenair CH2000, N420ZA, Springfield, IL, October 21, 2000 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: October 21, 2000, 09:05 local (14:05 UTC) - Place: Springfield, IL - Coordinates: 39.84951, -89.650344 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.8495&lon=-89.6503&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report October 23, 2001 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 50529 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI01LA019 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/50529/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI01LA019 ## Probable cause the loose carburetor heat control clamp bolt and carburetor heat not available to the pilot. Factors were the low altitude, the carburetor icing conditions, the fence and the security gate. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, takeoff - initial climb - weather condition - carburetor icing conditions (contributing factor) - carburetor heat control,cable/push-pull rod - loose part/bolt/nut/clamp/etc (cause) - carburetor heat - not available, pilot in command (cause) - altitude - low (contributing factor) - Forced landing, emergency descent/landing - On ground/water collision with object, emergency landing - object - fence (contributing factor) - object - other (contributing factor) ## Analysis The airplane was substantially damaged when it struck a gate and a fence during a forced landing after takeoff. The pilot said that at about 450 feet agl, "...the engine started to run very erratic with an appreciable loss of thrust...." He said that the engine was not producing enough thrust to maintain level flight. A forced landing was attempted on an airport road. No mechanical malfunction was listed in the pilot's written report. The aircraft engine was examined and the nut that secures the carburetor heat control cable housing was found loose. According to the inspectors report, "... full travel of the carburetor heat valve could not be achieved." A postaccident engine run was conducted and the engine ran at idle power with "slight roughness". Engine speed was increased to 1700 rpm and a magneto check performed with the right magneto showing about a 150-rpm drop, and the left showing about a 125-rpm drop. The engine produced 2400 static rpm at full throttle. The weather report listed the temperature and dew point as 13 degrees Celsius and 11 degrees Celsius respectively. According to the Carburetor Icing chart from Transport Canada, this temperature and dew point are in the range for serious icing potential at all power settings. ## Factual narrative On October 21, 2000, at 0905 central daylight time, a Zenair CH2000, N420ZA, owned and piloted by an airline transport pilot, sustained substantial damage when it collided with a fence during a forced landing following a loss of engine power after takeoff from runway 31 (7,000 feet by 150 feet dry asphalt) at the Capital Airport, Springfield, Illinois. The 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight was operating in visual meteorological conditions. No flight plan was on file. The pilot, who was the sole occupant, reported no injuries. The local flight was originating at the time of the accident. In a written statement, the pilot said that about 450 feet agl, "...the engine started to run very erratic with an appreciable loss of thrust...." The pilot said that the engine was not producing enough thrust to maintain level flight. The pilot attempted a forced landing on an airport road that leads from the airport boundary to the control tower. The aircraft touched down short of the road in a plowed field and then traveled across a perimeter road and onto the road leading to the tower. The aircraft stuck a security gate and then a fence before coming to rest. The pilot listed no mechanical malfunction in his written report. A Federal Aviation Administration Inspector conducted a postaccident examination of the aircraft. The aircraft engine was examined and the nut that secures the carburetor heat control cable housing was found loose. According to the inspectors report, "... full travel of the carburetor heat valve could not be achieved." A postaccident engine run was conducted and the engine ran at idle power with "slight roughness". Engine speed was increased to 1700 rpm and a magneto check performed with the right magneto showing about a 150-rpm drop, and the left showing about a 125-rpm drop. The engine produced 2400 static rpm at full throttle. The weather report for the Capital Airport at 0854 reported the temperature and dew point as 13 degrees Celsius and 11 degrees Celsius respectively. According to the Carburetor Icing chart from Transport Canada, this temperature and dew point are in the range for serious icing potential at all power settings. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N420ZA](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N420ZA-2013-08-27), registration cancelled 2013-08-27, S/N 200042, built 1999 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Zenair CH2000 - Registry model: [Zenair CH 2000](https://openairdocs.org/model/zenair-ch-2000) (registry code 9950100) (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: 200042 - Airframe hours: 342 - Engines: Lycoming O-235-N2C 116 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Edwin G. Quinlan - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility - Last inspection: Annual, November 4, 1999, 185 hours before - Departed: SPI - Airport: SPI, Capital Airport ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 61; airline transport, commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine sea, single-engine sea, multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 17,750 total, 367 in this make and model, 16,485 as pilot in command, 47 in the last 90 days, 6 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 9 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 133 °F, dew point 126 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: SPI ## 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 20001021040239A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20001021040239A), Oct 21, 2000: Zinair CH2000, Springfield, IL, No damage. (-23) Pilot departed runway 31 at spi and climbed to 500 feet amd started aleft hand turn. The pilot reported that he heard a loud noise and the engine lost… 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.