# NTSB ERA14LA261: Piper PA-11, N4550M, Cooperstown, NY, May 26, 2014 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: May 26, 2014, 19:30 local (23:30 UTC) - Place: Cooperstown, NY - Coordinates: 42.629165, -74.891113 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.6292&lon=-74.8911&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 April 27, 2015 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 89284 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA14LA261 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/89284/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=89284 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA14LA261 ## Probable cause The pilot’s delayed use of carburetor heat during the approach to landing, which resulted in the formation of carburetor ice, a partial loss of engine power, and the airplane’s subsequent inability to sustain flight. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Engine fuel and control: fuel control/carburetor](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057322): Aircraft › Aircraft power plant · Related operating info; cases with it: [Piper PA-11, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057322/cases.md?model=7101102), [All aircraft, 195 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057322/cases.md) - [Action: delayed action](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-11, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025/cases.md?model=7101102), [All aircraft, 894 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025/cases.md) - [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: [Piper PA-11, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03031030/cases.md?model=7101102), [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. - [Maneuvering: Loss of engine power (partial)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-11, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342/sequence.md?model=7101102), [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: [Piper PA-11, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=7101102), [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: [Piper PA-11, 11 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=7101102), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that he completed several takeoffs and landings and then made a scenic flight in the vicinity of the airport. As he was preparing to land, the pilot noticed a "considerable" loss of engine power, which he attributed to carburetor ice. As in the past, he applied carburetor heat, but the airplane would not climb and it was rapidly losing altitude. The pilot decided to land on the road next to the airport, but, with the loss of engine power, the airplane "dropped" over some trees and impacted a power pole. The airplane then spun around and collided with a pole barn. Ground slash marks and propeller blade leading edge damage indicated that the engine was still under partial power when the airplane hit the ground. The pilot did not note any preexisting mechanical anomalies that would have precluded normal operation. A Federal Aviation Administration carburetor icing probability chart indicated the probability of "serious icing at glide power." The pilot stated that he should have applied carburetor heat earlier in the approach. ## Factual narrative On May 26, 2014, about 1930 eastern daylight time, a Piper PA-11, N4550M, was substantially damaged when it impacted a pole barn near Cooperstown, New York. The private pilot and the passenger were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed for the local flight that departed Cooperstown-Westville Airport (K23), Cooperstown, New York. The personal flight was conducted under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91.In a statement to New York State Police, the pilot reported that after takeoff, he completed a "few" takeoffs and landings, then took a scenic flight in the vicinity of the airport. As he was preparing to land, just north of the airport about 750 feet above the ground, the pilot noticed a "considerable" loss of engine power. As in the past, he applied carburetor heat, but it was not enough to be able to climb the airplane, which was rapidly losing altitude. The pilot decided to land on the road next to the airport, but with no power, the airplane dropped over some trees and impacted a pole barn. In a follow-up statement, the pilot noted that he was set up on a long final approach to runway 20 at K23 when the passenger asked to see a lake. The pilot climbed the airplane out to the west, then the passenger requested to see another lake to the south. The pilot changed course, and after doing so, the engine developed carburetor ice. The pilot could not clear the ice and the engine lost power. At the time, the airplane was near a ridge west of the airport at a low altitude, and the pilot felt he couldn't turn back to the airport safely, so he tried an emergency landing next to, and to the west of route 166. During the landing, the airplane's left wing impacted the power pole and spun the airplane around, which then slid backwards [into the hangar.] According to the responding Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector, the airplane came to rest 450 feet west of K23 runway 2/20 centerline, off airport property abeam the north end of tee hangars that paralleled the runway, and across route 166, which also paralleled the runway. The airplane came to rest heading about 125 degrees magnetic. The left wing leading edge was impact damaged, consistent with hitting a utility pole located on the west side of the road that paralleled the runway. About 4 feet above the ground, the pole exhibited damage and paint transfer the same color as the airplane. Left wing damage started just outboard the fuel tank to the tip. From photographs, there were ground scars from the utility pole to where the airplane came to rest. The airplane came to rest up against the pole barn with the left wing down to the ground, and the right wing up against the barn. The right wing was partially penetrating a corner of the pole barn, with the leading edge outside of the barn wall, and the trailing penetrating the barn wall. The FAA inspector also noted that the left main landing gear was bent under and aft withthe left main wheel and tire assembly broken off the left axel. The carburetor and air box were broken away from the engine and the carburetor heat and throttle cables were separated. One propeller blade was bent forward slightly, while the opposite blade was bent aft; and both had leading edge tip damage. In addition, there were four ground score marks located between the utility pole and airplane consistent in appearance with propeller strikes. The pilot also reported that, at 1800, the temperature was 24 degrees C and the dew point was 11 degrees C. At 1953, the nearest airport with recorded weather, about 40 nautical miles to the northwest, recorded the same temperature and dew point. An FAA carburetor icing probability chart indicated the probability of "serious icing at glide power," and the pilot wrote that he "should have turned on the carb heat…earlier on final." ## Aircraft - Registration: [N4550M](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N4550M), registered now, S/N 11-1009, built 1949 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA-11 - Registry model: [Piper PA-11](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-11) (registry code 7101102) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental C90 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-c90-series) (registry code 17009, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 11-1009 - Year built: 1949 - Airframe hours: 2272 - Engines: CONT MOTOR C90 SERIES 90 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, October 17, 2011, 97 hours before - Departed: K23, Cooperstown, NY - Destination: K23, Cooperstown, NY - Airport: K23, Cooperstown-Westville, runway 20, 2,337 × 125 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 65; injuries: minor; sport pilot; airplane ratings: single-engine land; last flight review May 23, 2013; seat: front; flight hours: 1,500 total, 1,247 in this make and model, 1,350 as pilot in command, 21 in the last 90 days, 11 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 280° at 9 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 75 °F, dew point 52 °F - Altimeter: 29.87 inHg - Observed at: RME, 42 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 20140526007959A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20140526007959A), May 26, 2014: Piper PA-11, Cooperstown, NY, Substantial damage. PA-11, N4550M crashed into a sided pole barn adjacent to Cooperstown-wellsville airport on may 26 at approximately 8:10 pm with one pilot and one passenger… ## Docket (7 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on March 30, 2015, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=89284. 9.0 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 439 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40424100&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Statements to NY State Police (item 2, .PDF, 393 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40424101&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Statements%20to%20NY%20State%20Police-Redacted.PDF - FAA Inspector Statement (item 3, .PDF, 14 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40424102&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=FAA%20Inspector%20Statement-Master.PDF - FAA Carburetor Icing Probability Chart (item 4, .PDF, 147 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40424103&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=FAA%20Carburetor%20Icing%20Probability%20Chart-Master.PDF - FAA Site Overview (item 5, .PDF, 210 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40424104&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=FAA%20Site%20Overview-Master.PDF - Photo 1 - Wreckage Site (Photo Courtesy of FAA) (item 6, .PDF, 4.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40424105&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201%20-%20Wreckage%20Site%20(Photo%20Courtesy%20of%20FAA)-Master.PDF - Photo 2 - Propeller (Photo Courtesy of FAA) (item 7, .PDF, 3.8 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40424106&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%202%20-%20Propeller%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. --- 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.