# NTSB ERA14LA294: Cub Crafters CC18-180, N696RP, Pennsboro, WV, June 17, 2014

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: June 16, 2014, 20:00 local (Jun 17, 2014, 00:00 UTC)
- Place: Pennsboro, WV
- Coordinates: 39.283611, -80.967224 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.2836&lon=-80.9672&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Initial climb: Loss of engine power (partial)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report October 27, 2014
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation
- Parties: FAA/FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 89454
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA14LA294
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/89454/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=89454
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA14LA294

## Probable cause

A loss of engine power during initial climb for reasons that could not be determined because the postaccident engine examination did not reveal any anomalies that would have precluded normal operation.

## 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: [Cub Crafters CC18-180, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md?model=2470003), [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 (partial)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342) (defining event); cases with it: [Cub Crafters CC18-180, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342/sequence.md?model=2470003), [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: [Cub Crafters CC18-180, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=2470003), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md)
- [Emergency descent: Aerodynamic stall/spin](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241); cases with it: [Cub Crafters CC18-180, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241/sequence.md?model=2470003), [All aircraft, 1,529 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241/sequence.md)
- [Uncontrolled descent: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Cub Crafters CC18-180, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=2470003), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot reported that he performed several high-speed taxis on his private airstrip. After about 15 minutes, the pilot initiated a takeoff on the 1,780-foot-long turf runway. About 100 feet above ground level, the engine either lost all power or went to idle (the pilot could not be sure); the pilot did state that the engine was not running rough before the power loss. The pilot banked the airplane left in an attempt to land on an adjacent property, but the airplane stalled and impacted a ravine. The pilot added that during the attempted forced landing, the rpm momentarily increased and then decreased again. Examination of the wreckage revealed that adequate fuel was on board and there was no evidence of fuel contamination. Continuity was confirmed throughout the fuel system and there were no obstructions in the intake or exhaust system. The carburetor was actuated by hand and no anomalies were observed. The propeller was rotated 360 degrees by hand and no mechanical malfunctions were observed. Review of a carburetor icing chart revealed that, for the given temperature and dew point, serious icing was possible at glide power; however, the engine was at full power during the takeoff and initial climb before the loss of engine power.

## Factual narrative

On June 16, 2014, about 2000 eastern standard time, a Cub Crafters CC18-180, N696RP, operated by a private individual, was substantially damaged during a forced landing, following a partial loss of engine power during initial climb from a private airstrip in Pennsboro, West Virginia. The private pilot and passenger were not injured. The personal flight was conducted under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed for the planned local flight. The pilot reported that he completed a preflight inspection of the airplane and there was approximately 20 gallons of fuel on board. He then performed several high-speed taxis on his private airstrip, with his son in the front seat and himself in the rear seat. After about 15 minutes, they switched seats and the pilot initiated a takeoff on the 1,780-foot-long turf runway. About 100 feet above ground level, the engine either lost all power or went to idle, the pilot could not be sure; however, there was no roughness to the engine noise prior to the power loss. The pilot banked the airplane left in an attempt to land on an adjacent property, but the airplane stalled and impacted a ravine. The pilot added that during the attempted forced landing, the rpm momentarily increased and then decreased again. The airplane was manufactured in 2010 and equipped with a Lycoming O-360, 180-horsepower engine. The airplane's most recent annual inspection was completed on March 2, 2014. At that time, the airplane and engine had accumulated about 177 hours since new. The airplane flew about 31 hours from the time of the most recent annual inspection, until the accident. Examination of the wreckage by a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector revealed damage to the left wing and fuselage. The inspector observed that each 25-gallon wing fuel tank was approximately one-quarter full. Additionally, during the impact, a glass sight fuel bowl ruptured and the pilot captured about 5 gallons of fuel leakage. The fuel was bright, clear, consistent with 100 low-lead aviation gasoline and no visible contamination was observed. The fuel selector was in the off position, but the pilot reported that he placed it there after the impact. The throttle, mixture, and magnetos were still in the forward, forward and both positions, respectively. The FAA inspector examined the wreckage again after it was recovered from the accident site. All spark plugs were removed; their electrodes were intact and light grey in color. The inspector was able to rotate the propeller by hand and did not note any preimpact mechanical malfunctions. One magneto was impact damaged and the other did not exhibit damage. There were no obstructions in the intake or exhaust system. He also confirmed continuity throughout the fuel system and observed fuel in the fuel strainer, but not the carburetor. He actuated the carburetor by hand and did not observe any anomalies. Therecorded weather, at an airport located about 30 miles away from the accident site, included a temperature of 25 degrees C and dew point of 18 degrees C. Review of an FAA Carburetor Icing Chart, for the given temperature and dew point, revealed "Serious Icing (glide power);" however, the engine was at full power during the takeoff and initial climb, prior to the loss of engine power.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N696RP](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N696RP), registered now, S/N CC18-0047, built 2010 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CUB CRAFTERS INC CC18-180
- Registry model: [Cub Crafters CC18-180](https://openairdocs.org/model/cub-crafters-cc18-180) (registry code 2470003) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming O-360-C4P](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-360-c4p) (registry code 42289, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: CC18-0047
- Year built: 2010
- Airframe hours: 208
- Engines: LYCOMING O-360-C4P 180 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Terry A Hall
- Registered owner: Ravens Rebuilders Inc
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, March 2, 2014, 31 hours before
- Departed: NONE, Pennsboro, WV
- Destination: NONE, Pennsboro, WV
- Airport: NONE, Private Airstrip, runway 21, 1,780 × 75 ft, grass/turf
- Equipment: Stall warning system

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 54; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; seat: front; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 1,601 total, 485 in this make and model, 1,500 as pilot in command, 35 in the last 90 days, 25 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 9,000 ft broken
- Temperature: 77 °F, dew point 64 °F
- Altimeter: 30.13 inHg
- Observed at: CKB, 30 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 20140616012159A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20140616012159A), Jun 16, 2014: Cub Crafters Inc CC18-180, Pennsboro, WV, Substantial damage. During the climbout on runway 21 of the private grass strip near Pennsboro water supply lake in Pennsboro, WV, the engine began sputtering approximately 100…

## Docket (5 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 26, 2014, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=89454. 1.7 MB in all.

- Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 1.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40415648&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF
- Interview Summaries (item 2, .PDF, 64 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40415649&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Interview%20Summaries-Master.PDF
- Weather Report (item 3, .PDF, 12 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40415650&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Weather%20Report-Master.PDF
- FAA Carburetor Icing Chart (item 4, .PDF, 255 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40415651&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=FAA%20Carburetor%20Icing%20Chart-Master.PDF
- Photo 1 - Main Wreckage (Photo Courtesy of FAA) (item 5, .PDF, 326 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40415652&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201%20-%20Main%20Wreckage%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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