# NTSB ERA12LA453: Piper PA-18-150, N8048D, North Myrtle Beach, SC, July 15, 2012 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: July 15, 2012, 09:00 local (13:00 UTC) - Place: North Myrtle Beach, SC - Coordinates: 33.811668, -78.723892 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.8117&lon=-78.7239&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Maneuvering: Loss of engine power (partial)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report October 4, 2012 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA West Columbia FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 84322 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA12LA453 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/84322/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=84322 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA12LA453 ## Probable cause The pilot's inadequate use of carburetor heat during cruise flight, which resulted in a partial loss of engine power and subsequent forced landing. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Use of equip/info: use of equip/system](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-18-150, 20 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015/cases.md?model=7101828), [All aircraft, 1,391 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015/cases.md) - [Temp/humidity/pressure: conducive to carburetor icing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03031030): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on equipment; cases with it: [Piper PA-18-150, 15 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03031030/cases.md?model=7101828), [All aircraft, 435 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03031030/cases.md) - [Object/animal/substance: fence/fence post](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022047): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome; cases with it: [Piper PA-18-150, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022047/cases.md?model=7101828), [All aircraft, 313 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022047/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Maneuvering: Loss of engine power (partial)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-18-150, 13 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342/sequence.md?model=7101828), [All aircraft, 1,858 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342/sequence.md) - [Emergency descent: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Piper PA-18-150, 115 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=7101828), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot stated that he was conducting a banner-tow flight; he turned on final approach at 300 feet above ground level (agl) and reduced the power to the idle position. His airspeed was between 60 and 70 mph. The carburetor heat was not activated, which the pilot indicated was company policy. The company refuted the pilot’s statement regarding carburetor heat. The airplane descended to about 10 feet agl and was 50 feet from the banner pick up poles. He added full power and noticed that the rpm was at 2,500, which was 100 rpm less than full power. He pitched the nose up and the airplane climbed to about 200 feet. The rpm continued to decrease to 1500 rpm. The pilot lowered the nose and checked the throttle, and it was full forward. He increased the mixture, and there was no change in rpm. The airplane would not maintain altitude, and he informed the tower that he was going down. He reduced the throttle to the idle position and lowered the flaps to the full down position. He made a forced landing beyond the banner tow grass area, clearing a berm and colliding with the airport perimeter fence. The airplane nosed over and came to a complete stop and the engine stopped running. The pilot turned the fuel off at the fuel selector valve. The pilot stated that he did not experience any mechanical problems with the airframe or flight controls before the accident. A carburetor icing chart indicated that the airplane was at risk of serious icing at glide power given the weather conditions at the time of the accident. ## Factual narrative On July 15, 2012, at 0900 eastern daylight time, a Piper PA-18-150, N8048D, registered to Barnstormers Flite Signs Inc., operating as Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 banner tow flight experienced a partial loss of engine power while attempting to pick up a banner. The airplane collided with an airport perimeter fence and sustained substantial damage. The commercial pilot reported no injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. The flight originated from Grand Strand Airport (CRE), North Myrtle Beach, South Carolina at 0845. The pilot stated he turned on final approach at 300 feet above ground level (agl) and reduced the power to the idle position. His airspeed was between 60 to 70 mph. The carburetor heat was not activated, which is company policy. When the airplane reached about 10 feet (agl) and 50 feet from the banner pick up poles, he added full power and noticed the rpm was at 2,500 which was 100 rpm less than full power. The pilot pitched the nose up and climbed to 200 feet and the rpm continued to decrease to 1500 rpm. He lowered the nose and checked the throttle and it was full forward. He increased the mixture and there was no change. The airplane would not maintain altitude and he informed the tower that he was going down. He reduced the throttle to the idle position and lowered the flaps to the full down position. He made a forced landing beyond the banner tow grass area, clearing a berm and colliding with the airport perimeter fence. The airplane nosed over and came to a complete stop and the engine stopped running. The pilot turned the fuel off at the fuel selector. The pilot stated he did not experience any mechanical problems with the airframe or flight controls before the accident. The registered owner stated "It has never been the company policy of Barnstormers Flite Signs to advise a pilot "NOT" use the carb heat in the event of any emergency situation for obvious reasons." The temperature at the time of the accident was 73 degrees Fahrenheit and the dew point temperature was 72 degrees Fahrenheit. According the carburetor icing chart the airplane would encounter serious icing at glide power. Review of Advisory Circular 91-51A EFFECT OF ICING ON AIRCRAFT CONTROL AND AIRPLANE DEICE AND ANTI-ICE SYSTEMS states in paragraph 5 DISCUSSION b. " There are two kinds of icing that are significant to aviation: structural icing and induction icing....c. Small aircraft engines commonly employ a carburetor fuel system or a pressure fuel injection system to supply fuel for combustion. Both types of induction systems hold the potential for icing which can cause engine failure. (1) The pilot should be aware that carburetor icing can occur at temperature between 13 degrees Celsius (C) (20 degrees Fahrenheit (F) and +21C (70F) when there is visible moisture or high humidity. This can occur in the carburetor because vaporization of fuel, combined with the expansion of air as it flows through thecarburetor, causes sudden cooling, sometimes by a significant amount within a fraction of a second. Carburetor ice can be detected by a drop in rpm in fixed pitch propeller airplanes and a drop in manifold pressure in constant speed propeller airplanes. In both types, usually there will be a roughness in engine operation. Some engines are equipped with carburetor heat for use in both prevention and removal of ice." ## Aircraft - Registration: [N8048D](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N8048D), registered now, S/N 54-2592, built 1954 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA-18-150 - Registry model: [Piper PA-18-150](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-18-150) (registry code 7101828) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 54-2592 - Airframe hours: 18747 - Engines: LYCOMING O-320-B2B 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Banner tow, Part 91 - Operator: Barnstormer Flite Signs Inc - Registered owner: Barnstormer Flite Signs Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, July 11, 2012, 4 hours before - Departed: CRE, North Myrtle Beach, SC - Destination: CRE, North Myrtle Beach, SC - Airport: CRE, Grand Strand Airport ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 24; injuries: none; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; last flight review April 30, 2011; seat: front; flight hours: 783 total, 260 in this make and model, 639 as pilot in command, 222 in the last 90 days, 117 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 30° at 3 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 73 °F, dew point 72 °F - Altimeter: 30.13 inHg - Observed at: CRE ## 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 20120715014429A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20120715014429A), Jul 15, 2012: Piper PA-18-150, North Myrtle Be, SC, Substantial damage. On July 15, 2012 at 09:10AM local, N8048D a Piper PA-18-150 made an emergency landing at Myrtle beach airport (cre), landing 100 feet south west of runway 23… ## Other investigations on N8048D (1) 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. - [NTSB ATL95LA124](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL95LA124), Jul 2, 1995: Piper PA-18 (N8048D), Conway, SC, substantial damage. Probable cause: THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN AIRCRAFT CONTROL WHICH RESULTED IN THE UNCONTROLLED DESCENT AND COLLISION WITH TERRAIN. ## Docket (7 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 1, 2012, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=84322. 2.7 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 1.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40372895&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Statement Barnstormer Aerial Advertising (item 2, .PDF, 37 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40372922&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Statement%20Barnstormer%20Aerial%20Advertising-Redacted.PDF - Carb Icing Chart (item 3, .PDF, 66 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40372923&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Carb%20Icing%20Chart-Master.PDF - FAA Inspector Statement (item 4, .PDF, 48 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40372937&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=FAA%20Inspector%20Statement-Redacted.PDF - Photo 1- View of broken engine mounts. Photo FAA (item 5, .PDF, 378 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40372835&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201-%20View%20of%20broken%20engine%20mounts.%20Photo%20FAA-Master.PDF - Photo 2- View of damage to left wing leading edge. Photo FAA (item 6, .PDF, 396 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40372896&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%202-%20View%20of%20damage%20to%20left%20wing%20leading%20edge.%20Photo%20FAA-Master.PDF - Photo 3- Rear view of airplane at rest. Photo FAA (item 7, .PDF, 427 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40372897&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%203-%20Rear%20view%20of%20airplane%20at%20rest.%20Photo%20FAA-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.