# NTSB ERA13LA257: Cessna 180J, N9996N, Greenwood, MS, May 23, 2013 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: May 23, 2013, 10:34 local (15:34 UTC) - Place: Greenwood, MS - Coordinates: 33.466667, -90.183334 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.4667&lon=-90.1833&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: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report March 24, 2014 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - SAIBs cited in the narratives: [SAIB CE-09-35](https://openairdocs.org/saib/CE-09-35) (OpenAirDocs) - NTSB case key (mKey): 87021 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA13LA257 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/87021/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=87021 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA13LA257 ## Probable cause A partial loss of engine power due to carburetor icing. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Aircraft](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01050000): Aircraft › Aircraft power plant · Malfunction (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 180J, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01050000/cases.md?model=2072622), [All aircraft, 151 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01050000/cases.md) - [Temp/humidity/pressure: conducive to carburetor icing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03031030): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Contributed to outcome (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 180J, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03031030/cases.md?model=2072622), [All aircraft, 435 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03031030/cases.md) - [Terrain](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021000): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 180J, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021000/cases.md?model=2072622), [All aircraft, 267 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021000/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Maneuvering: Simulated/training event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/600); cases with it: [Cessna 180J, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/600/sequence.md?model=2072622), [All aircraft, 173 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/600/sequence.md) - [Maneuvering: Loss of engine power (partial)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 180J, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342/sequence.md?model=2072622), [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: [Cessna 180J, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=2072622), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096); cases with it: [Cessna 180J, 12 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md?model=2072622), [All aircraft, 2,287 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md) ## Analysis The student pilot stated that, after performing a simulated engine failure about 300 feet above ground level, he advanced the throttle to full power, but the engine would not develop full power. The flight instructor took control of the airplane and maneuvered it for a forced landing to a nearby field. During the landing roll, the airplane nosed over and came to rest inverted. No evidence of preaccident mechanical malfunctions or abnormalities were found with the engine that would have precluded normal operation. A review of meteorological data revealed that the airplane was being operated in conditions conducive to serious carburetor icing at glide power. The investigation could not determine if carburetor heat was used during the simulated engine failure; however, it is likely that if carburetor heat was not used, serious carburetor icing could have accumulated, which resulted in a loss of engine power. ## Factual narrative On May 23, 2013, about 1034 central daylight time, a Cessna 180J, N9996N, nosed over while making a forced landing in a field following a partial loss of engine power near Greenwood, Mississippi. The certificated flight instructor (CFI) and student pilot were not injured and the airplane sustained substantial damage. The airplane was registered to and operated by a private individual under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as an instructional flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan had been filed. The flight originated from Greenwood – Leflore Airport (GWO), Greenwood, Mississippi, about 1000. According to the CFI, about 1,000 feet above ground level (agl), he simulated an engine failure by retarding the throttle to the idle position. Subsequently, the student pilot had performed the engine failure checklist, which included: carburetor heat to be "ON" and the mixture to be "RICH." About 300 feet agl, the CFI commanded a go-around and the student pilot advanced the throttle to full power; however, the engine backfired and would not develop full power. The CFI verified that the throttle was at the full power setting and the carburetor heat was off. He further stated that about one minute had elapsed from the beginning of the simulated engine failure until the airplane came to rest inverted. According to a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector who responded to the accident location, the airplane came to rest inverted in a field with 4-foot-high wheat. The inspector also noted that visual inspection of the engine revealed no evidence of preimpact failure or malfunction. He further stated that local first responders reported to him that fuel was observed flowing out of the fuel vent located in each wing of the airplane. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing forward spar, wing strut, and the vertical stabilizer. The 1053 recorded weather observation at GWO, located about 5 miles from the accident location, included wind from 260 degrees at 3 knots, visibility 10 miles, clear skies, temperature 26 degrees C, dew point 19 degrees C; barometric altimeter 30.05 inches of mercury. A review of the FAA Special Airworthiness Information Bulletin, CE-09-35, dated June 30, 2009, revealed that the temperature and dew point at the nearest weather reporting station were conducive to "Serious Carburetor icing at glide power." ## Aircraft - Registration: [N9996N](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N9996N), registered now, S/N 18052651 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 180J - Registry model: [Cessna 180J](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-180j) (registry code 2072622) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental O-470 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-o-470-series) (registry code 17026, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 18052651 - Airframe hours: 1224 - Engines: CONT MOTOR O-470-RCS 230 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, May 4, 2012 - Departed: GWO, Greenwood, MS - Destination: GWO, Greenwood, MS - Airport: GWO, Greenwood-Leflore ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Flight instructor; age 49; injuries: none; commercial, flight instructor, airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: helicopter, airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review November 1, 2012; seat: right; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 15,800 total, 65 in this make and model, 15,350 as pilot in command, 50 in the last 90 days, 25 in the last 30 days - Student pilot; age 33; injuries: none; student; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 1 total, 1 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 260° at 3 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 79 °F, dew point 66 °F - Altimeter: 30.04 inHg - Observed at: KGWO, 5 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 20130523010479A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20130523010479A), May 23, 2013: Cessna 180J, Greenwood, MS, Substantial damage. On instructional flight, the student pilot was descending from 1000FT, with power reduced to simulate engine failure. At 300FT power was added with no engine… ## Other investigations on N9996N (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 ERA11CA407](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA11CA407), Jul 15, 2011: Cessna 180J (N9996N), Schlater, MS, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's loss of directional control during the takeoff roll, which resulted in a runway excursion. ## Docket (9 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on February 5, 2014, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=87021. 4.3 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 - CFI (item 1, .PDF, 1.6 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40395347&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1%20-%20CFI-Redacted.PDF - Pilots Written Statement (item 2, .PDF, 234 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40393517&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilots%20Written%20Statement-Redacted.PDF - Airplane Recent Inspections [Excerpts] (item 3, .PDF, 1.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40393540&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Airplane%20Recent%20Inspections%20%5BExcerpts%5D-Redacted.PDF - Greenwood Mississippi Weather (item 4, .PDF, 85 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40393395&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Greenwood%20Mississippi%20Weather-Master.PDF - FAA Carburetor Icing Chart (item 5, .PDF, 266 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40407147&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=FAA%20Carburetor%20Icing%20Chart-Master.PDF - Reports from Local Agencies (item 6, .PDF, 407 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40393518&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Reports%20from%20Local%20Agencies-Redacted.PDF - Photo 1: Left Side of Airplane At Rest (Courtesy of the FAA) (item 7, .PDF, 163 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40393519&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201%3A%20Left%20Side%20of%20Airplane%20At%20Rest%20(Courtesy%20of%20the%20FAA)-Master.PDF - Photo 2: Right Wing Strut Damage (Courtesy of the FAA) (item 8, .PDF, 238 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40393520&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%202%3A%20Right%20Wing%20Strut%20Damage%20(Courtesy%20of%20the%20FAA)-Master.PDF - Photo 3: Propeller of Airplane with S-Bending (Courtesy of the FAA) (item 9, .PDF, 235 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40393521&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%203%3A%20Propeller%20of%20Airplane%20with%20S-Bending%20(Courtesy%20of%20the%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.