# NTSB DEN01LA009: Grumman American AA-1A, N41RC, Greeley, CO, October 29, 2000 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: October 29, 2000, 15:00 local (22:00 UTC) - Place: Greeley, CO - Coordinates: 40.439613, -104.670692 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.4396&lon=-104.6707&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report March 2, 2001 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 50557 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN01LA009 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/50557/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN01LA009 ## Probable cause Carburetor ice formation due to the pilot's improper use of the carburetor heat control. Factors were the fence and fence post. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power, takeoff - initial climb - fuel system,carburetor - ice (cause) - carburetor heat - improper use of, pilot in command (cause) - Forced landing, emergency descent/landing - In flight collision with object, landing - flare/touchdown - object - fence post (contributing factor) - object - fence (contributing factor) - terrain condition - roadway/highway ## Analysis The pilot made a touch and go landing. During climbout, the engine lost power. During the forced landing approach to an airport access road, the airplane struck a fence post and barbed wire. The engine then regained power, and the pilot taxied back to the ramp. A mechanic said he suspected carburetor ice as the cause of the power loss. The pilot said he applied carburetor heat towards the end of the approach for the touch and go landing, and closed it prior to lifting off. The temperature and dew point were 19 degrees C. and -4 degrees C., respectively. According to the Carburetor Icing Graph, this temperature/dew point combination is on the outer fringes of SERIOUS ICING AFFECTS GLIDE OR CRUISE POWER arc. ## Factual narrative On October 29, 2000, at approximately 1500 mountain standard time, a Grumman American AA-1A, N41RC, sustained substantial damage when it struck a fence during a forced landing in a field north of Greeley-Weld County Airport, Greeley, Colorado. The private pilot and his passenger were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed for this local personal flight being conducted under Title 14 CFR Part 91. The flight originated from the Fort Collins/Loveland Airport approximately 1400. According to the pilot's accident report and information obtained from the airport manager, the pilot made a touch and go landing. During the climbout, the engine lost power. He turned left and "glided under minimal power" towards the airport. He "brushed the top of a fence post and clipped the upper barb[ed] wire strands," and landed on an access road. The engine regained power, and the pilot taxied back to the ramp. The airplane sustained damage to both ailerons and one aileron attachment point. The pilot had the airplane inspected by a mechanic and "carburetor ice was suspected as the cause." The pilot said he applied carburetor heat towards the end of the approach for the touch and go landing, and closed it prior to lifting off. According to the Greeley AWOS-3 observation taken at 1455 mst, the temperature and dew point were 19 degrees C. (66 degrees F.) and -4 degrees C. (25 degrees F.), respectively. According to the Carburetor Icing Graph, this temperature/dew point combination is on the outer fringes of SERIOUS ICING AFFECTS GLIDE OR CRUISE POWER arc. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N41RC](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N41RC), registered now, S/N AA1A-0143 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Grumman American AA-1A - Registry model: [American AA-1A](https://openairdocs.org/model/american-aa-1a) (registry code 0630710) (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: AA1A-0143 - Airframe hours: 1753 - Engines: Lycoming O-235-C2C 108 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Daniel L. Black - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, May 4, 2000, 19 hours before - Departed: FNL, FORT COLLINS, CO - Destination: GXY - Airport: GXY, Greeley-Weld County, runway 34, 10,000 × 100 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 47; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 412 total, 17 in this make and model, 17 in the last 90 days, 4 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 20° at 4 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 66 °F, dew point 25 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: GXY ## 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 20001029019049A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20001029019049A), Oct 29, 2000: Amrgen AA1A, Greeley, CO, No damage. (-23) After flying at 10,000 MSL for about 50 minutes, Mr. Black was going to do some touch and goes at gxy. After touch down and lifing off, the engine… 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.