# NTSB DEN06LA007: Piper PA-22-150, N8875D, New Century, KS, October 12, 2005 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: October 11, 2005, 20:15 local (Oct 12, 2005, 01:15 UTC) - Place: New Century, KS - Coordinates: 38.830833, -94.890274 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.8308&lon=-94.8903&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 3 uninjured - Status: Completed, report March 28, 2006 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA Flight Standards District Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 62656 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN06LA007 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/62656/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN06LA007 ## Probable cause loss of engine power due to the pilot's improper use of carbuetor heat and his improper inflight planning/decision. Contributing factors were the inadequate supervision of the student by the flight instructor, conditions conducive to carburetor ice, dark night light conditions, and an unlit taxiway sign. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power, takeoff - initial climb - carburetor heat - improper use of, dual student (cause) - in-flight planning/decision - improper, dual student (cause) - supervision - inadequate, pilot in command(cfi) (contributing factor) - weather condition - carburetor icing conditions (contributing factor) - Forced landing, descent - emergency - On ground/water collision with object, emergency landing - light condition - dark night (contributing factor) - object - sign (contributing factor) - airport facilities,runway/landing area condition - grass ## Analysis After making a touch-and-go landing and climbing to approximately 200 feet, the engine "sputtered and quit." The student relinquished airplane control to the instructor, who performed a forced landing on a grassy area near the runway. During the ground roll, the airplane's left main landing gear struck an unlit metal box, folding it up against the fuselage. The airplane spun around, twisting the nose gear, and came to rest just south of the runway and next to a taxiway. Later perfunctory tests failed to "identify a cause" as to why the engine lost power. At the time of the accident, the temperature was 14 degrees C. (57 degrees F.), and the dew point was 12 degrees C. (54 degrees F.), respectively. According to the Carburetor Icing Probability Chart, these conditions were conducive to serious carburetor icing conditions at cruise and glide power settings. According to the Piper Aircraft Corporation and Textron-Lycoming, since 1989 they have required the use of carburetor heat prior to the reduction of power and throughout the landing, or until the landing is assured. ## Factual narrative On October 11, 2005, approximately 2015 central daylight time, N8875D, a Piper PA-22-150, piloted by a student pilot and under the supervision of a commercial certificated flight instructor, was substantially damaged when the landing gear collapsed during a forced landing following a power loss during takeoff at New Century Air Center (IXD), New Century, Kansas. The two pilots and a passenger were not injured. Dark night visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The round-robin instructional flight was being conducted under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. No flight plan had been filed. The flight originated at Lee's Summit (LXT), Missouri. The following is based on the accident report submitted by the flight instructor and supporting documentation from the Federal Aviation Administration: At 2103, the pilot contacted the control tower and advised he was southwest of the airport and inbound for landing. He was told to enter a left downwind for runway 22. At 2110, the pilot reported he was on the left downwind leg for runway 22. He was cleared for a touch-and-go landing. After landing, the student added power and after climbing about 200 feet, the engine "sputtered and quit." The student relinquished control of the airplane to the instructor, who performed a forced landing. During the ground roll, the airplane's left main landing gear struck an unlit metal box, folding it up against the fuselage. The airplane spun around, twisting the nose gear, and came to rest just south of runway 22 and next to taxiway "A." Further examination revealed the left wing, left horizontal stabilizer, and engine firewall were buckled. An FAA airworthiness inspector later examined the engine and performed perfunctory tests but "could not identify a cause" as to why the engine lost power. Subsequent questioning of the student revealed that when the airplane was on the downwind leg, he applied carburetor heat momentarily and noted a slight drop in rpm "to verify that it was working (as suggested by the CFI)," then closed it. The flight instructor said carburetor heat was closed on the base leg. At the time of the accident, the temperature was 14 degrees C. (57 degrees F.), and the dew point was 12 degrees C. (54 degrees F.), respectively. According to the Carburetor Icing Probability Chart, these conditions were conducive to serious carburetor icing conditions at cruise and glide power settings. According to the Piper Aircraft Corporation and Textron-Lycoming, since 1989 they have required the use of carburetor heat prior to the reduction of power and throughout the landing, or until the landing is assured. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N8875D](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N8875D), registered now, S/N 22-6049, built 1958 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Piper PA-22-150 - Registry model: [Piper PA-22-160](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-22-160) (registry code 7102214) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 22-6049 - Airframe hours: 3286 - Engines: Lycoming O-320-A2B 150 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Registered owner: Jerry O./Vicki A. Pettite - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, May 1, 2005, 17 hours before - Departed: IXD, New Century, KS - Destination: LXT, Lee Summit, KS - Airport: IXD, New Century Air Center, runway 22, 5,130 × 100 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 69; injuries: none; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review January 1, 2004; seat: right; flight hours: 7,513 total, 412 in this make and model, 7,323 as pilot in command, 59 in the last 90 days, 28 in the last 30 days - Student pilot; age 58; injuries: none; student; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; seat: left; flight hours: 65 total, 5 in this make and model, 23 as pilot in command, 23 in the last 90 days, 13 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/dark - Wind: 110° at 8 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 57 °F, dew point 54 °F - Altimeter: 30.03 inHg - Observed at: IXD ## 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 20051011026689A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20051011026689A), Oct 11, 2005: Piper PA22160, Olathe, KS, Substantial damage. (-23) According to statements made by CFI, the student, and owner/passenger, during climbout after a touch and go on runway 22, the engine sputtered and quit… ## Other investigations on N8875D (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 CHI66F0479](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI66F0479), Dec 4, 1965: Piper PA-22 (N8875D), Granite City, IL, 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.