# NTSB ERA09LA098: Hess John L Spezio II, N66JH, Newville, PA, December 18, 2008 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: December 18, 2008, 13:00 local (18:00 UTC) - Place: Newville, PA - Coordinates: 40.195556, -77.415557 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.1956&lon=-77.4156&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Enroute: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report November 9, 2009 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - SAIBs cited in the narratives: SAIB CE-09-05 (OpenAirDocs) - NTSB case key (mKey): 69595 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA09LA098 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/69595/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=69595 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA09LA098 ## Probable cause A loss of engine power due to carburetor ice as a result of the pilot's delayed use of carburetor heat. ## 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 operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Hess John L SPEZIO II, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03031030/cases.md?model=05604S0), [All aircraft, 435 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03031030/cases.md) - [Action: delayed action](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Hess John L SPEZIO II, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025/cases.md?model=05604S0), [All aircraft, 894 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025/cases.md) - [Object/animal/substance: ground vehicle](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022025): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome; cases with it: [Hess John L SPEZIO II, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022025/cases.md?model=05604S0), [All aircraft, 132 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022025/cases.md) - [Engine controls](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057600): Aircraft › Aircraft power plant · Incorrect use/operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Hess John L SPEZIO II, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057600/cases.md?model=05604S0), [All aircraft, 51 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057600/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Enroute: Fuel related](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/190); cases with it: [Hess John L SPEZIO II, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/190/sequence.md?model=05604S0), [All aircraft, 361 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/190/sequence.md) - [Enroute: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) (defining event); cases with it: [Hess John L SPEZIO II, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=05604S0), [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: [Hess John L SPEZIO II, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=05604S0), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Hess John L SPEZIO II, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=05604S0), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis While the airplane was in level flight about 1,000 feet above the ground, the pilot added carburetor heat. The engine immediately began to run roughly, so the pilot attempted to add power, and the engine then lost power. The pilot performed a forced landing to a turnpike; however, as he flared the airplane for the landing, it impacted the rear of a moving tractor trailer before dropping to the ground. The landing gear collapsed, and the airplane nosed over a guard rail, which caught part of the airplane's landing gear. No preaccident mechanical anomalies were noted, and when tested, the engine started easily. Ambient temperature and dew point conditions were conducive to serious carburetor icing. ## Factual narrative On December 18, 2008, about 1300 eastern standard time, an experimental amateur-built Spezio II, N66JH, was substantially damaged during a forced landing near Newville, Pennsylvania. The certificated airline transport pilot incurred minor injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed for the flight, between Tri-Cities Airport (CZG), Endicott, New York, and Carlisle Airport (N94), Carlisle, Pennsylvania. The personal flight was conducted under 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. According to the pilot, who was also the owner, he was delivering the airplane to a buyer in Georgia. After departing Endicott, the pilot planned on making a fuel stop in Hagerstown, Maryland. However, because he was more familiar with Carlisle, he diverted toward that airport. The pilot followed the Pennsylvania Turnpike toward the east, and with the airplane level about 1,000 feet above the ground (about 2,000 feet above mean sea level), the pilot added carburetor heat. The engine immediately began to run roughly, so the pilot attempted to add power, and the engine then quit. The airplane was over the turnpike at the time, and the pilot performed an engine-out approach to the eastbound lanes. As he flared the airplane for a landing, the pilot "suddenly" saw that he was approaching the back of a moving tractor trailer, and because the airplane's speed was slightly faster, it impacted the rear of the trailer before dropping 5 to 10 feet to the ground. As the airplane touched down, the landing gear collapsed, and the airplane nosed over a guard rail, which then caught part of the airplane's landing gear. The pilot also noted that he had 4 to 5 gallons of fuel onboard the airplane at the time of the accident, and that the carburetor heat functioned properly during the engine run-up. The airplane was powered by a Lycoming O-320-series engine. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspectors who examined the airplane after the accident did not note any preaccident mechanical anomalies and confirmed that 4 to 5 gallons of fuel were onboard. The inspectors subsequently attempted an engine run, during which, the engine started "easily and idled smooth and strong at 800 to 1,000 rpm." The engine was then shut down for about 3 minutes before being restarted and accelerated. Then, above 1,200 rpm, an "excessive" vibration developed, which was attributed to damage the propeller incurred during the accident sequence. Weather, reported at an airport about 35 miles to the east, at 1256, included calm winds, 10 statute miles visibility, a broken cloud layer at 10,000 feet, temperature 3 degrees Celsius, dew point -2 degrees Celsius, and an altimeter setting of 30.30 inches Hg. When the ambient temperature and dew point conditions were applied to the carburetor icing probability chart found in FAA Special Airworthiness Information Bulletin CE-09-05, the results indicated a probability of serious carburetor icing at cruise power. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N66JH](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N66JH-2012-10-03), registration cancelled 2012-10-03, S/N 001, built 1999 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: HESS JOHN L SPEZIO II - Registry model: [Hess John L SPEZIO II](https://openairdocs.org/model/hess-john-l-spezio-ii) (registry code 05604S0) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming IO-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-320-series) (registry code 41509, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 001 - Airframe hours: 30 - Engines: LYCOMING O-320 SERIES 150 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Condition, March 1, 2008, 30 hours before - Departed: CZY, Endicott, NY - Destination: N94, Carlisle, PA ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 54; injuries: minor; airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land, single-engine sea; instrument ratings: airplane, helicopter; medical: sport pilot; last flight review March 1, 2008; flight hours: 20,000 total, 60 in this make and model, 30 in the last 90 days, 10 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 10,000 ft broken - Temperature: 37 °F, dew point 28 °F - Altimeter: 30.29 inHg - Observed at: CXY, 35 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 20081218856109A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20081218856109A), Dec 18, 2008: Hess SPEZIOII, Upper Mifflin, PA, Substantial damage. The subject aircraft was on a VFR flight from (czg) endicott, NY, to (N94) carlisle, PA. During cruise at 1000 feet AGL, 20 miles west of (N94) the engine… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on September 21, 2009, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=69595. 616 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 530 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40317476&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Memorandum for Record (item 2, .PDF, 27 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40317324&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Memorandum%20for%20Record-Master.PDF - FAA Inspector Statement (item 3, .PDF, 59 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40317477&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=FAA%20Inspector%20Statement-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.