# NTSB ERA19LA274: Socata TB9, N2824R, Fort Meade, MD, September 17, 2019 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report - Date: September 17, 2019, 18:00 local (22:00 UTC) - Place: Fort Meade, MD - Coordinates: 39.083889, -76.762222 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.0839&lon=-76.7622&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Approach-VFR pattern downwind: Loss of engine power (partial)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor, 1 uninjured - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 3 - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 100283 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA19LA274 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/100283/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=100283 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA19LA274 ## Probable cause The failure of the carburetor intake scat tubing, which resulted in a partial loss of engine power. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Power plant: air intake](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057160): Aircraft › Aircraft power plant · Failure (probable cause); cases with it: [Socata TAMPICO TB 9C, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057160/cases.md?model=8680693), [All aircraft, 50 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057160/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Approach-VFR pattern downwind: Loss of engine power (partial)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342) (defining event); cases with it: [Socata TAMPICO TB 9C, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342/sequence.md?model=8680693), [All aircraft, 1,858 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342/sequence.md) - [Emergency descent: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Socata TAMPICO TB 9C, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=8680693), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The flight instructor and student pilot were on the downwind leg of the airport traffic pattern when the engine began to lose power. The flight instructor took control and maneuvered the airplane toward the runway, and the airplane descended into trees, resulting in substantial damage to both wings. Examination of the engine did not reveal any anomalies that would have precluded normal operation. An examination of the airframe components revealed that the carburetor air intake scat tubing was crushed on the airframe side of the hose. The airframe scat tubing fiberglass connection side was also found crushed. Examination of the tubing found that the interior of the scat tubing had collapsed. It is likely that the collapsed scat tubing restricted the air entering the carburetor, resulting in the partial loss of engine power. No debris was found within the carburetor. ## Factual narrative On September 17, 2019, about 1800 eastern daylight time, a Socata Tampico TB9C, N2824R, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Fort Meade, Maryland. The flight instructor was not injured and the student pilot received minor injuries. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 instructional flight. According to the instructor, the purpose of the flight was to conduct practice takeoffs and landings. After a preflight inspection and normal engine run-up, they took off, remaining in the airport traffic pattern. While on the downwind leg, the student completed the before-landing checklist. The flight instructor noted that the engine rpm was low and applied additional power; however, engine power continued to decay. The instructor took the controls from the student and turned base toward runway 10. He switched fuel tanks and turned off the carburetor heat in an attempt to regain engine power, which had no effect. The airplane descended into the trees under partial power and came to rest in the treetops about 75 ft above the ground, resulting in substantial damage to both wings. The engine sparkplugs were removed; the top electrodes were gray in color and exhibited normal wear signatures. The bottom plugs were darker than the top sparkplugs and were oil-soaked. The wires to the Nos. 1 and 3 cylinder top spark plugs were broken, but produced spark when the engine was manually rotated. All other sparkplug wires produced spark when the engine was rotated. Valve train continuity was established, and compression was observed on all cylinders during engine rotation. An undetermined amount of oil was observed in the sump. The carburetor was clear of debris. The intake scat tubing was found crushed on the airframe side. The airframe scat tubing fiberglass connection side was also found crushed. Examination of the interior of the scat tubing found the inner layer of the tubing collapsed. An examination of the engine did not reveal any anomalies that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N2824R](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N2824R-2020-07-10), registration cancelled 2020-07-10, S/N 1153 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Socata TB9 (C) - Registry model: [Socata TAMPICO TB 9C](https://openairdocs.org/model/socata-tampico-tb-9c) (registry code 8680693) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 1153 - Year built: 1990 - Airframe hours: 9080 - Engines: Lycoming O-320-D2A 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, August 7, 2019, 20 hours before - Departed: FME, Fort Meade(Odenton), MD - Destination: FME, Fort Meade(Odenton), MD - Flight plan: VFR - Airport: FME, Tipton, runway 10, 3,000 × 75 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Electronic flight bag or handheld device, ADS-B, Stall warning system, Electronic primary flight display, Handheld GPS ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Flight instructor; age 55; injuries: none; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review March 1, 2018; seat: right; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 990 total, 980 as pilot in command ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 90° at 8 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 77 °F, dew point 57 °F - Altimeter: 30.10 inHg - Observed at: FME, 1 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 20190917011239A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20190917011239A), Sep 17, 2019: Socata TAMPICO TB 9C, Fort Meade, MD, Substantial damage. Aircraft was on first circle of the pattern for runway 10 on a pattern work flight. At the downwind to base turn the engine failed. The aircraft was unable to… ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on March 10, 2022, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=100283. 29.0 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 6.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=9724772&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=NTSB%206120%20N2824R_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Memorandum of record FAA correspondence (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 135 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=9720612&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Memorandum%20Of%20Record%20FAA%20email%20correspondence%20LA274-Rel.pdf - Maintenance records (item 3, PDF, 12 pages, 22.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=9721650&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=MX%20logbook%20excerpts%20N2824R_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Photo array (item 4, PDF, 3 pages, 656 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=9720937&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%20Array%20LA274-Rel.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.