# NTSB DEN08LA131: Flynn Van Munk, N41832, Erie, CO, August 5, 2008 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: August 5, 2008, 09:50 local (15:50 UTC) - Place: Erie, CO - Coordinates: 40.009998, -105.047775 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.0100&lon=-105.0478&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Initial climb: Loss of engine power (partial)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious, 1 minor - Status: Completed, report January 29, 2009 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA Flight Standards District Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 68608 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN08LA131 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/68608/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN08LA131 ## Probable cause A loss of engine power due to carburetor icing. The reason for the loss of aircraft control was not determined. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Temp/humidity/pressure: conducive to carburetor icing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03031030): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on equipment (probable cause); cases with it: [Flynn Van MUNK, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03031030/cases.md?model=05617J8), [All aircraft, 435 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03031030/cases.md) - [Engine (reciprocating)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058500): Aircraft › Aircraft power plant · Failure (probable cause); cases with it: [Flynn Van MUNK, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058500/cases.md?model=05617J8), [All aircraft, 497 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058500/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: lateral/bank control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062023): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained; cases with it: [Flynn Van MUNK, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062023/cases.md?model=05617J8), [All aircraft, 390 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062023/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Initial climb: Fuel related](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/190); cases with it: [Flynn Van MUNK, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/190/sequence.md?model=05617J8), [All aircraft, 361 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/190/sequence.md) - [Initial climb: Loss of engine power (partial)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342) (defining event); cases with it: [Flynn Van MUNK, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342/sequence.md?model=05617J8), [All aircraft, 1,858 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342/sequence.md) - [Emergency descent: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240); cases with it: [Flynn Van MUNK, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=05617J8), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md) - [Emergency descent: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Flynn Van MUNK, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=05617J8), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that at 200 feet above ground level the engine experienced a sudden drop in power to 1,900 to 2,000 rpm. At the same time the engine began to run roughly. The airplane became difficult to control and the pilot experienced four to five deep rolls to angles beyond sixty degrees, and he had difficulty maintaining pitch control. The pilot executed a forced landing in a field resulting in substantial damage to the airplane. An examination of airplane systems revealed no anomalies. Conditions at the time/location of the accident were conducive to serious carburetor icing at glide power. ## Factual narrative On August 5, 2008, approximately 0950 mountain daylight time, a Flynn Van Munk single-engine experimental airplane, N41832, piloted by a commercial pilot, was substantially damaged when it impacted terrain near Erie Municipal Airport (EIK), Erie, Colorado. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The personal flight was being conducted under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 without a flight plan. The pilot sustained minor injuries and the passenger sustained serious injuries. The local flight departed EIK approximately 0945. The pilot stated that he conducted a normal preflight check of the airplane which was found to be satisfactory. A normal engine start preceded the aircraft being taxied to the fuel dock where 11.2 gallons of 100 low lead were added to the fuel tanks. Following the re-fueling, the pilot taxied to the ramp and conducted a run-up procedure. After obtaining normal engine operating temperature readings, normal pressure readings, and conducting a magneto check, the pilot taxied to runway 33 and departed with the engine producing power at about 2,300 rpm. The pilot reported that at 200 feet above ground level the engine experienced a sudden drop in power to 1,900 to 2,000 rpm. At the same time the engine began to run roughly. The airplane became difficult to control, and the pilot experienced four to five deep rolls to angles beyond sixty degrees, and he had difficulty maintaining pitch control. The pilot executed a forced landing in a field. Several witnesses reported that the airplane lost power after departing from EIK. According to the Federal Aviation Administration Inspector who traveled to the scene, the airplane impacted terrain in a right wing low attitude and cart wheeled. The outboard three feet of the right wing separated and the empennage separated partially from the fuselage and was bent to the left 90 degrees. Examination of the airplane revealed no anomalies that would prevent the engine from producing rated power prior to impact. Further examination of the airframe established control continuity from the flight controls to all control surfaces. Examination of the fuel system revealed a sample from the left wing that was blue in color and clear of contaminants and water. The right tank sump quick-drain valve was open, the tank empty, and had been drained by the recovery crew. Weather information obtained from the Rocky Mountain Metropolitan Airport located six miles south of EIK indicated a temperature of 22 degrees Celsius and a dew point 15 of degrees Celsius at the time of the accident. According to the carburetor icing chart conditions at the time/location of the accident were conducive to serious icing at glide power. According to the pilot, he has never experienced carburetor icing issues in the past and did not feel the engine was susceptible to carburetor icing. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N41832](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N41832-2009-09-02), registration cancelled 2009-09-02, S/N 1001, built 2004 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Flynn Van Munk - Registry model: [Flynn Van MUNK](https://openairdocs.org/model/flynn-van-munk) (registry code 05617J8) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Fairchild 6-440 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/fairchild-6-440-series) (registry code 26003, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 1DO1 - Airframe hours: 116 - Engines: Fairchild 440-C 175 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Paul D. Hinton - Registered owner: Paul D. Hinton - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, June 1, 2008 - Departed: KEIK, Erie, CO - Airport: KEIK, Erie Municipal, runway 33, 4,700 × 60 ft, concrete ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 68; injuries: minor; airline transport, flight engineer, commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review April 1, 2008; seat: rear; flight hours: 21,000 total, 116 in this make and model, 8,000 as pilot in command, 13 in the last 90 days, 4 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 340° at 7 knots - Visibility: 25 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 72 °F, dew point 59 °F - Altimeter: 30.30 inHg - Observed at: BJC, 6 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 20080805845059A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20080805845059A), Aug 5, 2008: MUNK, Erie, CO, Destroyed, 1 fatal. (-23) Aircraft departed keik at approx. 09:50 local. Aircraft was on crosswind leg to the west when according to a statement by the pilot given to the boulder… 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.