# NTSB ERA10CA072: Airframes Unlimited Coyote, N59748, Indian Trail, NC, November 15, 2009 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: November 15, 2009, 13:31 local (18:31 UTC) - Place: Indian Trail, NC - Coordinates: 35.076389, -80.609169 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.0764&lon=-80.6092&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Enroute-cruise: Loss of engine power (partial)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 2 serious - Status: Completed, report March 23, 2010 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 75084 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA10CA072 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/75084/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=75084 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA10CA072 ## Probable cause A loss of engine power due to carburetor icing. ## 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: [Airframes Unlimited COYOTE, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03031030/cases.md?model=059015N), [All aircraft, 435 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03031030/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Enroute-cruise: Fuel related](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/190); cases with it: [Airframes Unlimited COYOTE, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/190/sequence.md?model=059015N), [All aircraft, 361 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/190/sequence.md) - [Enroute-cruise: Loss of engine power (partial)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342) (defining event); cases with it: [Airframes Unlimited COYOTE, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342/sequence.md?model=059015N), [All aircraft, 1,858 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342/sequence.md) - [Emergency descent: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440); cases with it: [Airframes Unlimited COYOTE, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=059015N), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md) - [Emergency descent: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240); cases with it: [Airframes Unlimited COYOTE, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=059015N), [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: [Airframes Unlimited COYOTE, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=059015N), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis Prior to departure, the pilot visually inspected the fuel system of the powered-parachute and verified that the fuel tank was full. He departed from a pasture, flew to a nearby airport to practice a touch-and-go, and then was returning to their departure point. At approximately 1,000 feet above the ground (agl) the pilot noticed he was unable to hold his altitude and maintain airspeed. While in a shallow descent the pilot turned on the electric fuel pump and cycled the throttle. The engine responded to the inputs; however, would not achieve full power. Approximately 700 feet agl the pilot shut-down the engine over a field in which he was preparing to make an emergency landing. He began to perform a shallow S-turn maneuver to decrease his altitude. As he turned to the right the passenger compartment maneuvered outside the veil of the canopy above causing a rapid decrease in altitude; not able to make his selected landing site, the pilot elected to land straight ahead into the trees. The powered-parachute impacted several trees and substantially damaged the metal structure. Review of the carburetor icing probability chart revealed that the temperature and dew point were conducive to carburetor icing at cruise and glide power, the powered-parachute was not equipped with carburetor heat. ## Factual narrative Prior to departure, the pilot visually inspected the fuel system of the powered-parachute and verified that the fuel tank was full. He departed from a pasture, flew to a nearby airport to practice a touch and go, and then was returning to their departure point. At approximately 1,000 feet above the ground (agl) the pilot noticed he was unable to hold his altitude and maintain airspeed. While in a shallow descent the pilot turned on the electric fuel pump and cycled the throttle. The engine responded to the inputs however would not achieve full power. Approximately 700 feet agl the pilot shut-down the engine over a field in which he was preparing to make an emergency landing. He began to perform a shallow S-turn maneuver to decrease his altitude. As he turned to the right the passenger compartment maneuvered outside the veil of the canopy above causing a rapid decrease in altitude; not able to make his selected landing site, the pilot elected to land straight ahead into the trees. The powered-parachute impacted several trees and substantially damaged the metal structure. Review of the carburetor icing probability chart revealed that the temperature and dew point were conducive to carburetor icing at cruise and glide power, the powered-parachute was not equipped with carburetor heat. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N59748](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N59748-2021-09-18), registration cancelled 2021-09-18, S/N JEN8675309, built 2006 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: AIRFRAMES UNLIMITED COYOTE - Registry model: [Airframes Unlimited COYOTE](https://openairdocs.org/model/airframes-unlimited-coyote) (registry code 059015N) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Hirth 3203](https://openairdocs.org/engine/hirth-3203) (registry code 33733, 2 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Powered parachute - Serial number: JEN8675309 - Airframe hours: 103 - Engines: HIRTH 3203 65 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental light sport (Special) - Last inspection: Condition, September 1, 2009, 5 hours before - Departed: EQY, Monroe, NC - Destination: Stallings, NC ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 47; injuries: serious; sport pilot; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review October 10, 2008; seat: front; flight hours: 163 total, 109 in this make and model, 105 as pilot in command, 23 in the last 90 days, 5 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 75 °F, dew point 48 °F - Altimeter: 29.97 inHg - Observed at: EQY, 8 nm away ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on December 29, 2009, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=75084. 742 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 728 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40323113&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Monroe Weather (item 2, .PDF, 15 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40323093&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Monroe%20Weather-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.