# NTSB ERA17LA020: Taylorcraft BC12 D, N94919, Vaughn, GA, October 17, 2016 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: October 17, 2016, 11:00 local (15:00 UTC) - Place: Vaughn, GA - Coordinates: 33.276111, -84.410278 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.2761&lon=-84.4103&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Takeoff: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 2 minor - Status: Completed, report February 11, 2020 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 94235 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA17LA020 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/94235/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=94235 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA17LA020 ## Probable cause A total loss of engine power for reasons that could not be determined because postaccident examination of the airplane and engine did not reveal any evidence of preimpact malfunctions or failures 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: [Taylorcraft BC12-D, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md?model=8850316), [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. - [Takeoff: Loss of engine power (partial)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342); cases with it: [Taylorcraft BC12-D, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342/sequence.md?model=8850316), [All aircraft, 1,858 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342/sequence.md) - [Takeoff: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) (defining event); cases with it: [Taylorcraft BC12-D, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=8850316), [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md) - [Emergency descent: Miscellaneous/other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900); cases with it: [Taylorcraft BC12-D, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900/sequence.md?model=8850316), [All aircraft, 1,556 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900/sequence.md) - [Landing: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092); cases with it: [Taylorcraft BC12-D, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md?model=8850316), [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md) - [Landing: Abnormal runway contact](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090); cases with it: [Taylorcraft BC12-D, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md?model=8850316), [All aircraft, 1,506 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md) ## Analysis The flight instructor reported that he was going to perform several touch-and-go landings with a student pilot before departing for a long cross-country flight. After taxiing up and down the runway a few times, he performed an engine run-up with no anomalies noted. During takeoff, when the airplane was about 30 ft above ground level, the engine started to lose power and then seconds later lost total power. The flight instructor tried to land the airplane on the runway but landed hard. The left main landing gear separated, and the left gear contacted the runway and fractured the main spar. Postaccident examination of the airplane and engine did not reveal any evidence of preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. The weather conditions were conductive to the accumulation of serious carburetor ice at glide power settings; however, the loss of engine power occurred during a full power setting. The investigation could not determine if carburetor ice accumulated during the prior ground operation. Thus, the reason for the total loss of engine power could not be determined. ## Factual narrative On October 17, 2016, about 1100 eastern daylight time, a Taylorcraft BC12-D, N94919, was substantially damaged following a total loss of engine power during takeoff and subsequent forced landing at Brook Bridge Aerodrome (8GA9), Vaughn, Georgia. The flight instructor and a student pilot incurred minor injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed for the local instructional flight. The airplane was operated under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91.According to the flight instructor, their intention was to fly the airplane around the traffic pattern for a few touch-and-go landings prior to departing for North Carolina, where the airplane would be hangered. The flight instructor taxied the airplane up and down the runway three times to get himself and the student pilot comfortable with tail wheel handling before takeoff. The flight instructor then taxied to the end of the runway and performed the engine run-up. He stated that shortly after takeoff, approximately 30 feet above ground level, the engine started losing power and seconds later lost all power. The flight instructor tried to land the airplane on the runway, however he "landed hard" and the left main landing gear separated. The left wing tip struck the ground, and the engine compartment and propeller struck the runway before the airplane ground-looped and the right main landing gear separated. Examination of the wreckage by a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector revealed that the left wing main spar was fractured mid-wing. Both main landing gear were separated. The propeller had one blade bent aft around the engine cowling and the other blade was straight. Examination of the engine did not reveal any obvious mechanical deficiencies. Review of maintenance records revealed that the airplane's most recent annual inspection was completed on August 28, 2016, at a recorded total airframe time of 2911.3 hours. The engine time since major overhaul was recorded as 62.5 hours. The recorded weather at Griffin-Spalding County Airport (6A2), located 7 miles to the southeast of 8GA9, at 1055 was, wind 170° at 4 knots, visibility 10 statute miles, temperature 24° Celsius (C), dew point temperature 18° C, altimeter 30.14 inches of mercury. The temperature and dew point were plotted on the carburetor icing probability chart. Their intersection was within the serious icing range for glide power. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N94919](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N94919), registered now, S/N 9319 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: TAYLORCRAFT BC12 D (D) - Registry model: [Taylorcraft BC12-D](https://openairdocs.org/model/taylorcraft-bc12-d) (registry code 8850316) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental A&C65 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-a-c65-series) (registry code 17003, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 9319 - Year built: 1946 - Airframe hours: 2911.3 - Engines: Continental A65-8F 65 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, August 28, 2016 - Departed: 8GA9, Vaughn, GA - Destination: 8GA9, Vaughn, GA - Airport: 8GA9, Brook Bridge Aerodrome, runway 20, 2,970 × 150 ft, grass/turf - Equipment: Satellite tracking device, Onboard weather, Electronic flight bag or handheld device ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Flight instructor; age 49; injuries: minor; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; last flight review April 17, 2015; seat: right; restraint: lap only; flight hours: 2,000 total, 90 in this make and model, 1,900 as pilot in command - Student pilot; age 48; injuries: minor; student; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; seat: left; restraint: lap only; flight hours: 183 total, 1 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 170° at 4 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 75 °F, dew point 64 °F - Altimeter: 30.13 inHg - Observed at: 6A2, 7 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 20161017020549A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20161017020549A), Oct 17, 2016: Taylorcraft BC12-D, Vaughn, GA, Substantial damage. On October 17, 2016 at approximately 11:30AM, aircraft N94919 a 1946 taylor craft BC12D, had a failed departure from Brook Bridge Aerodrome (8GA9). The… ## Docket (6 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 7, 2019, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=94235. 15.8 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 986 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40476606&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Memorandum for Record - Telephone Interview, Pilot (item 2, .PDF, 91 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40476607&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Memorandum%20for%20Record%20-%20Telephone%20Interview,%20Pilot-Master.PDF - Witness Statements (item 3, .PDF, 284 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40476608&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Witness%20Statements-Master.PDF - FAA Carburetor Icing Chart (item 4, .PDF, 32 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40476609&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=FAA%20Carburetor%20Icing%20Chart-Master.PDF - Maintenance Records (item 5, .PDF, 12.7 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40476610&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Maintenance%20Records-Master.PDF - Investigative Photos (item 6, .PDF, 4 photos, 1.7 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40476611&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Investigative%20Photos-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.