# NTSB ERA21LA300: Cessna 140, N72129, Murfreesboro, TN, July 26, 2021 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report - Date: July 26, 2021, 09:00 local (14:00 UTC) - Place: Murfreesboro, TN - Coordinates: 35.887134, -86.370303 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.8871&lon=-86.3703&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Initial climb: Fuel starvation](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious - 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): 103553 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA21LA300 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/103553/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=103553 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA21LA300 ## Probable cause A total loss of engine power as a result of carburetor icing. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Engine (reciprocating)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058500): Aircraft › Aircraft power plant · Not specified; cases with it: [Cessna 140, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058500/cases.md?model=2071602), [All aircraft, 497 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058500/cases.md) - [Temp/humidity/pressure: conducive to carburetor icing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03031030): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on equipment; cases with it: [Cessna 140, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03031030/cases.md?model=2071602), [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. - [Initial climb: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341); cases with it: [Cessna 140, 9 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=2071602), [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md) - [Initial climb: Fuel starvation](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 140, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191/sequence.md?model=2071602), [All aircraft, 733 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191/sequence.md) ## Analysis After flying for about 30 minutes, the pilot entered the airport traffic pattern and performed touch-and-go takeoffs and landings. On the initial climb after the second touch-and-go, about 100 ft above ground level, the engine “sputtered,” lost total power, and the propeller continued to windmill. The pilot performed a forced landing to a nearby road, during which the airplane struck a wire, pitched downward, and impacted the road, resulting in substantial damage to the fuselage and wing struts. Examination of the engine revealed no malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. The pilot reported that he typically conducted the approach to landing with the carburetor heat on until the airplane was on short final, then he would turn it off. He also described a previous situation during which the engine had lost total power in a similar way while on the ground. After the engine was examined following that event, the pilot concluded that the loss of power was a result of carburetor icing. The temperature and dew point on the day of the accident were favorable to the development of serious carburetor icing at a glide power setting. Given the pilot’s previous experience with the engine’s susceptibility to carburetor icing, the absence of mechanical anomalies found with the engine, and the pilot’s routine practice of turning the carburetor heat off before landing, it is likely that the loss of engine power was the result of carburetor icing. ## Factual narrative On July 26, 2021, about 0900 central daylight time, a Cessna 140, N72129, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Murfreesboro Municipal Airport (MBT), Murfreesboro, Tennessee. The airline transport pilot was seriously injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The pilot completed a preflight inspection with no anomalies noted, and reported that the airplane contained about 14 gallons of fuel. After flying for about half an hour, the pilot entered the MBT traffic pattern. During the initial climb after the second touch-and-go landing, about 100 ft above ground level, the engine “sputtered,” lost total power, and the propeller continued to windmill. The pilot performed a forced landing onto a road, during which the airplane struck a wire, pitched downward, and impacted the road. The airplane slid about 300 ft and came to rest upright, resulting in substantial damage to the fuselage and wing struts. The pilot reported that during landing, he typically had the carburetor heat ON until the airplane was on short final. Then, he would turn the carburetor heat OFF and perform the landing. He stated that he had a “similar” situation occur previously, during which the engine lost total power during an idle check while on the ground. After the power loss, he was able to restart the engine, and subsequently had the engine examined with no anomalies noted. Since that issue could not be duplicated, he “concluded it was carb[uretor] icing.” An examination of the engine was performed by a mechanic under the supervision of an Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector. There were no mechanical malfunctions or failures found that would have precluded normal engine operation. The reported weather about the time of the accident included a temperature of 27°C and a dew point of 23°C. The calculated relative humidity was 80 percent. Review of the carburetor icing probability chart contained within FAA Special Airworthiness Information Bulletin CE-09-35 revealed the atmospheric conditions at the time of the accident were "conducive to serious icing at glide [idle] power." ## Aircraft - Registration: [N72129](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N72129-2023-05-04), registration cancelled 2023-05-04, S/N 9296, built 1946 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 140 - Registry model: [Cessna 140](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-140) (registry code 2071602) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental C85 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-c85-series) (registry code 17008, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 9296 - Year built: 1946 - Airframe hours: 3344.6 - Engines: Continental Motors C85 85 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, June 7, 2021 - Airport: MBT, Murfreesboro Muni - Equipment: ADS-B, Electronic flight bag or handheld device ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 46; injuries: serious; airline transport, flight instructor, commercial, remote; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; last flight review July 14, 2020; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 15,061 total, 88 in this make and model, 3,533 as pilot in command, 178 in the last 90 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Temperature: 81 °F, dew point 73 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: MBT, 10 nm away - METAR: KMBT 261355Z AUTO 00000KT 10SM FEW016 27/23 A3000 RMK A01 ## 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 20210726014949A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20210726014949A), Jul 26, 2021: Cessna 140, Murfreesboro, TN, Substantial damage. On 07/26/2021 - at approximately 0940 local, N72129 was conducting a touch and go at kmbt on runway 36. After takeoff, the engine stopped abruptly. N72129 made… ## Docket (8 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 22, 2023, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=103553. 20.8 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 9 pages, 9 photos, 13.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12741123&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=LA300%206120_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Pilot statement (item 2, PDF, 2 pages, 53 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12741093&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=N72129%20Accident%20Pilot%20statement_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Pilot interview summary (item 3, PDF, 2 pages, 239 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12741103&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Memorandum%20Of%20Record%20Color%20Pilot%20Interview%20Summary-Rel.pdf - Engine examination summary (item 4, PDF, 2 pages, 123 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12741337&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Engine%20Inspection%20N72129-Rel.pdf - Maintenance log excerpts (item 5, PDF, 4 pages, 5.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12741251&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Mx%20Logs%20LA300_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Carburetor icing probability chart (item 6, PDF, 1 page, 108 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12742589&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=LA300%20Carb%20Ice%20Chart%20for%20Docket-Rel.pdf - Weather observations (item 7, PDF, 1 page, 3 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12742479&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=metar-163245381372-Rel.pdf - Investigative photographs (item 8, PDF, 2 pages, 2 photos, 1.8 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12769678&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%20Array%20LA300-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.