# NTSB CHI94LA308: Thalman Thorp T-18, N2911, Kenosha, WI, September 2, 1994 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: September 1, 1994, 21:00 local (Sep 2, 1994, 02:00 UTC) - Place: Kenosha, WI - Location: 42.5961° N, 87.9273° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs at KENOSHA RGNL (ENW), within about a mile (OpenAirDocs) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.5961&lon=-87.9273&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 January 25, 1995 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 9663 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI94LA308 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/9663/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI94LA308 ## Probable cause the pilot's failure to use carburetor heat in carburetor icing conditions. A factor associated with the accident is the prevailing carburetor icing conditions. ## 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 - not used, pilot in command (cause) - Forced landing, descent - emergency - Overrun, landing - roll - Nose over, landing - roll ## Analysis THE AMATEUR BUILT AIRPLANE LOST ENGINE POWER SHORTLY AFTER LIFTOFF. THE PILOT WAS ABLE TO LAND THE AIRPLANE ON THE LAST 400' FEET OF RUNWAY, BUT WAS UNABLE TO STOP THE AIRPLANE BEFORE IT RAN OFF THE END AND NOSED-OVER. POSTACCIDENT EXAMINATION OF THE ENGINE AND AIRFRAME DISCOVERED NO PREIMPACT ANOMALIES. THE ENGINE WAS STARTED AND ACCELERATED TO A STATIC RPM OF 2200 WITH NO OBSERVED DEFICIENCIES. FIFTEEN MINUTES PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT, A WEATHER REPORTING STATION 13 MILES SOUTH OF THE ACCIDENT SITE RECORDED A TEMPERATURE OF 50 DEGREES F., AND A DEWPOINT OF 47 DEGREES F. THIS TEMPERATURE/DEWPOINT COMBINATION FALLS IN THE SERIOUS ICING CATEGORY ON A CARBURETOR ICING PROBABILITY CHART. THE PILOT REPORTED HE DID NOT HAVE TIME TO ATTEMPT AN ENGINE RESTART OR TO USE THE CARBURETOR HEAT CONTROL AFTER THE ENGINE LOST POWER. ## Factual narrative On September 1, 1994, about 2100 central daylight time, a Bernard J. Thalman, Jr., experimental Thorp T-18 airplane, N2911, received substantial damage following a loss of engine power during takeoff from runway 6R at the Kenosha Regional airport, Kenosha, Wisconsin. The solo private pilot was not injured. The local, 14 CFR Part 91 flight operated in visual meteorological conditions without a flight plan. The pilot reported a complete loss of engine power when the airplane reached approximately 100' AGL. He said in a telephone interview on October 26, that he did not have time to use the carburetor heat, or to attempt an engine restart. He said he was able to land the airplane on the last 400' of the runway, but was unable to stop the airplane before it ran off the end of the runway and nosed-over. A postaccident examination of the engine, fuel system, carburetor heat control, and airframe, disclosed no preimpact mechanical anomalies. The engine was started and accelerated to a static RPM of 2200 with no observed deficiencies. A weather observation taken fifteen minutes prior to the accident at the Waukeegan, Illinois, airport (approximately 13 miles south of the accident site), recorded a temperature of 50 degrees F., and a dewpoint of 47 degrees F. The attached Carburetor Icing Probability chart places this temperature/dewpoint combination in the serious icing range. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N2911](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N2911), registered now, S/N 86, built 1968 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: THALMAN THORP T-18 - Registry model: [Thorp T-18](https://openairdocs.org/model/thorp-t-18) (registry code 89510TF) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 86 - Engines: LYCOMING O-320 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Bernard J. Thalman - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, November 29, 1993 - Airport: ENW, Kenosha, runway 6R, 4,000 × 50 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 59; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 950 total, 650 in this make and model, 950 as pilot in command, 30 in the last 90 days, 15 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/bright - Wind: calm - Visibility: 40 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 50 °F, dew point 46 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: UGN, 13 nm away ## 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 19940901034039A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19940901034039A), Sep 1, 1994: Amtrth THORPT18, Kenosha, WI, Substantial damage. Lost power on takeoff. Landed on runway but ran off end. Nosed over. Carb icing beleived problem. ## Other investigations on N2911 (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 CHI78DEP48](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI78DEP48), Jul 23, 1978: Thorp T18 (N2911), Kenosha, WI, substantial damage 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.