# NTSB ERA21LA088: Piper PA-22-150, N5939D, Cleveland, GA, December 27, 2020 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report - Date: December 27, 2020, 13:00 local (18:00 UTC) - Place: Cleveland, GA - Coordinates: 34.57372, -83.715817 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.5737&lon=-83.7158&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Fuel related](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/190) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 2 minor - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 3 - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA-FSDO - SAIBs cited in the narratives: [SAIB CE-09-35](https://openairdocs.org/saib/CE-09-35) (OpenAirDocs) - NTSB case key (mKey): 102458 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA21LA088 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/102458/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=102458 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA21LA088 ## Probable cause A total loss of engine power due to carburetor icing. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [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-22-150, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03031030/cases.md?model=7102210), [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-low-alt flying: Fuel related](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/190) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-22-150, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/190/sequence.md?model=7102210), [All aircraft, 361 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/190/sequence.md) - [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240); cases with it: [Piper PA-22-150, 11 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=7102210), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that the total time idling on the ground before takeoff was about 10 to 12 minutes. During the initial climb, the engine lost power and the airplane began to settle. The pilot applied carburetor heat, switched the fuel selector from the right tank to the left tank and the engine surged, but then lost total power again. The airplane continued to settle until it impacted treetops, resulting in substantial damage to the wings and fuselage. A postaccident examination and engine test run revealed no evidence of preimpact mechanical anomalies that would have prevented normal engine operation. Based on the temperature and dew point about the time of the accident, the conditions were favorable for carburetor icing at cruise and glide power settings. It is likely that carburetor ice formed during the time the airplane was idling on the ground before takeoff, resulting in the loss of engine power during the initial climb. ## Factual narrative On December 27, 2020, about 1300 eastern standard time, a Piper PA-22-150, N5939D, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Cleveland, Georgia. The pilot and passenger received minor injuries. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. According to the pilot, he completed a preflight inspection and noted that the airplane contained 16 gallons of fuel. He started the engine and idled for 4 minutes to warm it up, then taxied the airplane to the departure end of the runway, performed an engine run-up, and did not note any anomalies. He stated that the total time idling on the ground was about 10 to 12 minutes. The pilot then taxied onto the runway, applied full engine power, and initiated the takeoff. During the initial climb, the engine lost power and the airplane began to settle. The pilot applied carburetor heat and switched the fuel selector from the right tank to the left tank; the engine surged, but then lost total power again. He turned off the carburetor heat and pitched the airplane down to maintain airspeed. The airplane continued to settle until it impacted treetops, resulting in substantial damage to the wings and fuselage. The engine was examined on the airframe at a salvage facility by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector. A test run revealed no anomalies. Examination of the carburetor also revealed no anomalies. At 1735, the weather reported at Toccoa Airport – RG Letourneau Field (TOC), about 21 miles east of the accident site, included a temperature of 11°C and a dew point -3°C. The calculated relative humidity at this temperature and dewpoint was 40%. Review of the carburetor icing probability chart contained within Federal Aviation Administration Special Airworthiness Information Bulletin CE-09-35 revealed the atmospheric conditions at the time of the accident were "conducive to icing at glide and cruise power." FAA Advisory Circular (AC) 20-113, "To prevent accidents due to induction system icing, the pilot should regularly use [carburetor] heat under conditions known to be conducive to atmospheric icing and be alert at all times for indications of icing in the fuel system." The AC recommended that when operating in conditions where the relative humidity is greater than 50%, "…apply carburetor heat briefly immediately before takeoff, particularly with float type carburetors, to remove any ice which may have been accumulated during taxi and runup." It also stated, "Remain alert for indications of induction system icing during takeoff and climb-out, especially when the relative humidity is above 50%, or when visible moisture is present in the atmosphere." ## Aircraft - Registration: [N5939D](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5939D-2022-07-11), registration cancelled 2022-07-11, S/N 22-4602, built 1956 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA-22-150 - Registry model: [Piper PA-22-150](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-22-150) (registry code 7102210) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 22-4602 - Year built: 1956 - Airframe hours: 2455.66 - Engines: LYCOMING O-320 SERIES 150 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, September 6, 2020 - Destination: CVC, Covington, GA - Equipment: Electronic flight bag or handheld device, ADS-B ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 65; injuries: minor; private, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: basicmed; last flight review June 20, 2020; seat: left; restraint: lap only; flight hours: 344 total, 22 in this make and model, 186 as pilot in command, 21 in the last 90 days, 20 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 52 °F, dew point 27 °F - Altimeter: 30.21 inHg - Observed at: TOC, 21 nm away - METAR: KTOC 271815Z AUTO 00000KT 10SM CLR 11/M03 A3021 RMK AO2 T01131027 ## 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 20201227020939A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20201227020939A), Dec 27, 2020: Piper PA-22-150, Cleveland, GA, Destroyed. Dec 27, 2020 - N5939D departed from Mountain view airpark (0GE5) in a northwest direction(350). Pilot states moments after takeoff engine lost power and… ## Docket (7 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 20, 2022, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=102458. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 5.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=11845525&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=LA088%206120%20for%20Docket_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Pilot statement (item 2, PDF, 2 pages, 903 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=11845042&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=LA088%20Pilot%20Statement_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Pilot interview summary (item 3, PDF, 1 page, 226 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=11845068&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Memorandum%20Of%20Record%20Color%20Pilot-Rel.pdf - FAA inspector statement (item 4, PDF, 1 page): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=11846015&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=LA088%20FAA%20statement_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Carburetor icing probability chart (item 5, PDF, 1 page, 136 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=11845678&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=LA088%20Carb%20Ice%20Chart-Rel.pdf - Weather observations (item 6, PDF, 2 pages, 171 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=11845688&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Memorandum%20Of%20Record%20Wx%20TOC-Rel.pdf - Investigative photographs (item 7, PDF, 3 pages, 3 photos, 3.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=11845762&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%20Array%20LA088-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.