# NTSB ERA09CA493: Beech B19, N6982R, Thomasville, PA, August 30, 2009 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: August 30, 2009, 16:00 local (20:00 UTC) - Place: Thomasville, PA - Coordinates: 39.923332, -76.876663 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.9233&lon=-76.8767&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Approach-VFR pattern base: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report December 29, 2009 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 74630 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA09CA493 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/74630/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=74630 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA09CA493 ## Probable cause A partial loss of engine power due to a partial blockage of the carburetor fuel inlet filter. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Fuel system: fuel filter-strainer](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022821): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Capability exceeded (probable cause); cases with it: [Beech B19, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022821/cases.md?model=1151215), [All aircraft, 52 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022821/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Enroute: Loss of engine power (partial)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342); cases with it: [Beech B19, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342/sequence.md?model=1151215), [All aircraft, 1,858 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342/sequence.md) - [Approach-VFR pattern base: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) (defining event); cases with it: [Beech B19, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=1151215), [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md) - [Emergency descent: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Beech B19, 11 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=1151215), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis According to the pilot, during the preflight inspection, he checked the full fuel tanks for water at all three access points, with none found. The engine ran smoothly during taxi, run up and takeoff, but "stumbled" upon level off. The pilot switched tanks, "checked" the carburetor heat, and found that the engine only smoothed out when he added full power. The pilot decided to return to the airport, and during the base leg, the engine lost all power, resulting in a forced landing in a cornfield. A postflight examination of the airplane by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector revealed no obvious mechanical anomalies with the physical components of the engine. However, when he examined the carburetor fuel inlet filter, the inspector found it about 75 percent blocked with particulate matter consisting of large quantities of rust, insect remains, and sand. A restriction of this amount would significantly effect the engine's ability to operate at lower power settings and could result in a total loss of engine power. ## Factual narrative According to the pilot, during the preflight inspection, he checked the full fuel tanks for water at all three access points, with none found. The engine ran smoothly during taxi, run up and takeoff, but "stumbled" upon level off. The pilot switched tanks, "checked" the carburetor heat, and found that the engine only smoothed out when he added full power. The pilot decided to return to the airport, and during the base leg, the engine lost all power, resulting in a forced landing in a cornfield. A postflight examination of the airplane by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector revealed no obvious mechanical anomalies with the physical components of the engine. However, when he examined the carburetor fuel inlet filter, the inspector found it about 75 percent blocked with particulate matter consisting of large quantities of rust, insect remains, and sand. A restriction of this amount would significantly effect the engines ability to operate at lower power settings and could result in a total loss of engine power. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N6982R](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N6982R-2013-07-10), registration cancelled 2013-07-10, S/N MB-752, built 1975 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: BEECH B19 - Registry model: [Beech B19](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-b19) (registry code 1151215) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: MB-752 - Airframe hours: 4597 - Engines: LYCOMING O-320 SERIES 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal; Standard, Utility - Last inspection: Annual, May 28, 2009, 14 hours before - Departed: THV, York, PA - Destination: THV, York, PA ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 58; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3; flight hours: 293 total, 147 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day ## 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 20090830049119A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20090830049119A), Aug 30, 2009: Beech B19, Spring Grove, PA, Substantial damage. Pilot reported unable to maintain climb power after takeoff rwy 35 at thv. While manuvering for return to runway, engine operation ceased. Pilot made… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 26, 2009, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=74630. 392 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 366 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40320481&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Memorandum for Record (item 2, .PDF, 26 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40320482&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Memorandum%20for%20Record-Master.PDF 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.