# NTSB ERA13LA323: Johnson Garret W Merlin GT, N618V, Collierville, TN, July 17, 2013

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: July 17, 2013, 16:35 local (21:35 UTC)
- Place: Collierville, TN
- Coordinates: 35.050014, -89.670906 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.0500&lon=-89.6709&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Initial climb: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 2 minor
- Status: Completed, report December 15, 2014
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation
- Parties: FAA/FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 87506
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA13LA323
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/87506/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=87506
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA13LA323

## Probable cause

The total loss of engine power during takeoff for reasons that could not be determined during postaccident examination due to postcrash fire damage.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Not determined](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000): Not determined › Not determined · Unknown/Not determined (probable cause); cases with it: [Johnson Garret W MERLIN GT, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md?model=05602RA), [All aircraft, 2,247 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Initial climb: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) (defining event); cases with it: [Johnson Garret W MERLIN GT, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=05602RA), [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: [Johnson Garret W MERLIN GT, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=05602RA), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md)
- [Emergency descent: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Johnson Garret W MERLIN GT, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=05602RA), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot reported that, during the initial climb, when the airplane was about 1/2 mile north of the runway and about 300 to 400 feet above ground level, he heard a loud "pop." The engine subsequently lost all power, and the pilot chose to make a forced landing in a residential area. During the landing, the airplane impacted a tree, and a fire ensued. The pilot and passenger exited the airplane, and it was subsequently consumed by postcrash fire. The reason for the loss of engine power could not be determined during postaccident examination due to fire damage. Although atmospheric conditions at the time of the accident were conducive to the accumulation of carburetor icing at cruise and glide power, the engine was operating at a high power setting for takeoff.

## Factual narrative

On July 17, 2013, about 1635 central daylight time, an experimental, amateur-built Merlin GT, N618V, was substantially damaged during a forced landing following a total loss of engine power near Collierville, Tennessee. The airline transport pilot and passenger sustained minor injuries. The airplane was registered to a private individual and operated by the pilot under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed for the personal flight. The flight was originating from Colonial Air Park at the time of the accident. According to the pilot, he conducted a preflight inspection and added five gallons of fuel to bring the total fuel quantity up to 12 gallons. He taxied to the runway and departed to the north. On climbout, about a half mile north of the runway at 300-400 feet AGL, he heard a loud "pop." The engine lost all power, and the pilot elected to make a forced landing in a residential area. During the emergency landing; the airplane impacted a tree on a lake front. The pilot and passenger exited the airplane and it was consumed by post-crash fire. Examination of the airplane by a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector revealed that the airplane's cockpit was totally consumed by post-crash fire. Flight control continuity was established from the control surfaces to the cockpit controls. Examination of the throttle linkage revealed that it was still connected to the carburetors, but could not be moved due to fire damage. The electronic ignition system was fire damaged, and could not be tested. The propeller was rotated freely by hand through 360 degrees and valve train continuity and compression in the engine were established. Examination of the fuel system revealed that it was totally consumed by post-crash fire. The fuel tanks were melted and the fuel filters were also fire damaged. According to the FAA Carburetor Icing Probability Chart, the aircraft was operating in conditions conducive to carburetor icing during cruise and glide power at the time of the accident.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N618V](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N618V-2018-02-15), registration cancelled 2018-02-15, S/N 95052, built 1996 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: JOHNSON GARRET W MERLIN GT
- Registry model: [Johnson Garret W MERLIN GT](https://openairdocs.org/model/johnson-garret-w-merlin-gt) (registry code 05602RA) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Bombardier ROTAX (ALL)](https://openairdocs.org/engine/bombardier-rotax-all) (registry code 09050, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane, amateur-built
- Serial number: 95052
- Year built: 1996
- Airframe hours: 197
- Engines: rotax 618 76 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Fire: On-Ground
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Shackelford Marvin G
- Registered owner: Shackelford Marvin G
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special)
- Last inspection: Condition, August 13, 2012
- Departed: 01TN, Collierville, TN
- Destination: 01TN, Collierville, TN
- Airport: 01TN, Colonial Air Park

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 54; injuries: minor; military, flight engineer, airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; last flight review February 10, 2013; seat: left; flight hours: 6,700 total, 30 in this make and model, 3,800 as pilot in command, 120 in the last 90 days, 40 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 25,000 ft broken
- Temperature: 93 °F, dew point 70 °F
- Altimeter: 30.20 inHg
- Observed at: OLV, 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 20130717014679A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20130717014679A), Jul 17, 2013: Johnson Garret W MERLIN GT, Collierville, TN, Destroyed. On July 17th 2013, at approximately 1600, the pilot in command (PIC) of N618V model merlin sn 95052 and his passenger was taking off from Colonial Airpark out…

## Docket (10 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 21, 2014, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=87506. 16.0 MB in all.

- Note Regarding Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 14 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40417877&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Note%20Regarding%20Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF
- Pilot's Statement (item 2, .PDF, 172 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40417878&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%27s%20Statement-Redacted.PDF
- Record of Conversation - Pilot (item 3, .PDF, 50 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40417879&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation%20-%20Pilot-Master.PDF
- Aircraft Logbook (item 4, .PDF, 479 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40417880&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Aircraft%20Logbook-Redacted.PDF
- FAA Carburetor Icing Chart (item 5, .PDF, 255 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40417886&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=FAA%20Carburetor%20Icing%20Chart-Master.PDF
- Photo 1 - Main Wreckage (Photo Courtesy of FAA) (item 6, .PDF, 3.5 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40417881&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201%20-%20Main%20Wreckage%20(Photo%20Courtesy%20of%20FAA)-Master.PDF
- Photo 2 - Cockpit and Cabin Section (Photo Courtesy of FAA) (item 7, .PDF, 3.8 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40417882&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%202%20-%20Cockpit%20and%20Cabin%20Section%20(Photo%20Courtesy%20of%20FAA)-Master.PDF
- Photo 3 - Throttle Cable and Carburetors (Photo Courtesy of FAA) (item 8, .PDF, 2.6 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40417883&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%203%20-%20Throttle%20Cable%20and%20Carburetors%20(Photo%20Courtesy%20of%20FAA)-Master.PDF
- Photo 4 - Fuel Filter (Photo Courtesy of FAA) (item 9, .PDF, 2.4 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40417884&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%204%20-%20Fuel%20Filter%20(Photo%20Courtesy%20of%20FAA)-Master.PDF
- Photo 5 - Carburetor (Photo Courtesy of FAA) (item 10, .PDF, 2.8 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40417885&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%205%20-%20Carburetor%20(Photo%20Courtesy%20of%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.

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