# NTSB DEN08LA054: MacAdams Titan Tornado 912, N142TT, Rock Springs, WY, January 24, 2008 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: January 24, 2008, 16:20 local (23:20 UTC) - Place: Rock Springs, WY - Coordinates: 41.946945, -108.96833 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.9469&lon=-108.9683&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Enroute-cruise: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report March 31, 2008 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA Flight Standards Field Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 67439 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN08LA054 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/67439/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN08LA054 ## Probable cause The loss of engine power for undetermined reasons. Contributing to the accident was the snow covered ravine. ## 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: [Macadams Robert E TITAN-TORNADO 912, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md?model=056213N), [All aircraft, 2,247 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md) - [Terrain: mountainous/hilly terrain](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021010): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome (probable cause); cases with it: [Macadams Robert E TITAN-TORNADO 912, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021010/cases.md?model=056213N), [All aircraft, 329 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021010/cases.md) - [Terrain: snowy/icy terrain](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021030): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome (probable cause); cases with it: [Macadams Robert E TITAN-TORNADO 912, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021030/cases.md?model=056213N), [All aircraft, 77 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021030/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Enroute-cruise: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) (defining event); cases with it: [Macadams Robert E TITAN-TORNADO 912, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=056213N), [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md) - [Emergency descent: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440); cases with it: [Macadams Robert E TITAN-TORNADO 912, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=056213N), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md) - [Landing: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Macadams Robert E TITAN-TORNADO 912, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=056213N), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot was circling when the airplane's engine began to run rough, then lost all power. The pilot performed a forced landing to a snow covered ravine, resulting in substantial damage. The reason for the power loss was not determined. The pilot did not report any other anomalies with the airplane. ## Factual narrative On January 24, 2008, approximately 1620 mountain standard time, a MacAdams Titan Tornado 912, N142TT, piloted by a sport pilot, was substantially damaged during a forced landing 30 nautical miles north of Rock Springs, Wyoming. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. The personal flight was being conducted under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 without a flight plan. The pilot and his passenger were not injured. The local flight departed approximately 1510. According the pilot's statement, he was circling a herd of elk taking photographs. He reduced the engine power to approximately 2,100 rpm to slow the airplane down. The pilot stated, "Suddenly, the engine began to run rough, I checked the switch on the de-icing and it was at it's highest setting (two elements on). Nothing else seemed to have an effect, and in a short span of about 30 seconds the engine died." The pilot performed a forced landing to a snow covered ravine. During the landing, the right main landing gear separated. The right aileron was buckled and a rib in the right wing tip was bent. The pilot did not report any other anomalies with the airplane. An examination of the airplane systems revealed no anomalies. The pilot suspected the carburetor ingested ice which resulted in the loss of engine power. The pilot did state the electric carburetor heat appeared to be operational during his preflight. Data taken from the carburetor icing probability chart showed that the temperature and dewpoint at the time of the accident did not favor the formation of carburetor ice. According to the automated weather recorded at Rock Springs Sweetwater County Airport (RKS), the temperature was minus 12 degrees Celsius and the dewpoint was minus 17 degrees Celsius. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N142TT](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N142TT-2015-02-13), registration cancelled 2015-02-13, S/N 99912COHK0355, built 2005 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: MacAdams Titan Tornado 912 - Registry model: [Macadams Robert E TITAN-TORNADO 912](https://openairdocs.org/model/macadams-robert-e-titan-tornado-912) (registry code 056213N) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Jabiru 3300](https://openairdocs.org/engine/jabiru-3300) (registry code 34801, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 99912COHK0355 - Airframe hours: 38 - Engines: Jabiru 3300 120 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Robert E. MacAdams - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Condition, August 1, 2007 - Departed: RKS, Rock Springs, WY ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 70; injuries: none; sport pilot; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: sport pilot, with waivers/limitations; last flight review November 1, 2006; seat: front; flight hours: 180 total, 180 in this make and model, 136 as pilot in command, 22 in the last 90 days, 8 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 10 °F, dew point 1 °F - Altimeter: 29.80 inHg - Observed at: RKS, 30 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 20080124009919A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20080124009919A), Jan 24, 2008: Amtr TITANTORNADO, Rock Springs, WY, Substantial damage. (-23) The certificated sport pilot and one passenger were in cruise mode in a remote area 30 miles north of Rock Springs Wyoming. The pilot attempted to reduce… 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.