# NTSB FTW97LA013: Dickson RV-3A, N3920P, Rosharon, TX, October 9, 1996 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: October 9, 1996, 18:45 local (23:45 UTC) - Place: Rosharon, TX - Coordinates: 29.369762, -95.449966 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.3698&lon=-95.4500&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report August 25, 1997 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 20089 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW97LA013 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/20089/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW97LA013 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to follow procedures and directives in that he did not use carburetor heat and he did not periodically clear the engine during an extended glide. Factors were the carburetor icing weather conditions and the transmission wire. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, descent - normal - weather condition - carburetor icing conditions (contributing factor) - carburetor heat - not used, pilot in command (cause) - fuel system,carburetor - ice (cause) - procedures/directives - not followed, pilot in command (cause) - Forced landing, emergency descent/landing - In flight collision with object, emergency descent/landing - object - wire,transmission (contributing factor) ## Analysis The pilot was doing 'some formation flying and sight seeing' with a friend in another airplane. The pilot stated that he 'pulled the power back to approximately 1,000 RPM in order for my friend to catch up with me.' Approximately 30 to 45 seconds went by and the pilot advanced the throttle to discover that he had 'no power.' The pilot performed a forced landing and impacted a transmission wire starting a fire in the engine compartment before he got to the ground. After landing, the pilot immediately exited the airplane and the airplane subsequently burned. The pilot, who is also an aircraft mechanic with an Inspection Authorization, reported that he suspects that the aircraft's engine power loss was due to 'carburetor icing.' The temperature and dew point reported in the local area at the time of the accident place the ambient air well inside the possible carburetor icing area on an icing probability curves chart. ## Factual narrative On October 9, 1996, at 1845 central daylight time, a Dickson RV-3A, N3920P, was destroyed by fire on the ground after impacting a wire during a forced landing near Rosharon, Texas. The private pilot, sole occupant in the airplane, was not injured. The airplane was registered to and operated by a private owner under Title 14 CFR Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the personal cross country flight which originated from Houston Gulf Airport near League City, Texas, at 1810. No flight plan was filed for the flight. The pilot reported to the investigator-in-charge that he was doing "some formation flying and sight seeing" with a friend in another airplane. The pilot stated that "approximately 10 to 12 miles southeast of Houston Southwest Airport I pulled the power back to approximately 1,000 RPM in order for my friend to catch up with me." Approximately 30 to 45 seconds went by and the pilot advanced the throttle to discover that he had "no power." The pilot estimated that he was at 1,000 feet AGL and he decided to perform a forced landing. During the forced landing, the pilot reported not seeing a power line that ran across his landing area and the airplane's landing gear impacted the wire. The pilot reported regaining control of the airplane and continuing the forced landing. The impact with the wire damaged the landing gear and subsequently components of the fuel system. Witnesses observed a fire in the engine compartment area after the wire impact. After landing, the pilot immediately exited the airplane and the airplane subsequently burned. The pilot, who is also an aircraft mechanic with an Inspection Authorization, reported that he suspects that the aircraft's engine power loss was due to "carburetor icing." The temperature and dew point reported in the local area at the time of the accident place the ambient air well inside the possible carburetor icing area on the Icing Probability Curves Chart (see enclosed graph). ## Aircraft - Registration: [N3920P](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N3920P-2012-08-09), registration cancelled 2012-08-09, S/N 740, built 1983 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: DICKSON RV-3A - Registry model: [Dickson Donald G RV-3A](https://openairdocs.org/model/dickson-donald-g-rv-3a) (registry code 05608T6) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-235 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-235-series) (registry code 41505, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 740 - Airframe hours: 400 - Engines: Lycoming O-235-C1 115 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Fire: On-Ground - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Alan M. Peters - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, April 29, 1996, 50 hours before - Departed: SPX, LEAGUE CITY, TX - Destination: AXH, ARCOLA, TX ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 40; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land, single-engine sea; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 612 total, 137 in this make and model, 48 in the last 90 days, 8 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 40° at 6 knots - Visibility: 20 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 73 °F, dew point 61 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: GLS, 37 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 19961009031389A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19961009031389A), Oct 9, 1996: Amtrmm RV3, Rosharon, TX, Destroyed. Lost power after reduceing power in cruise. Hit powerline landing. Burned. Had failed apply carb heat. (-23) aircraft was flying at an altitude of 1000' AGL on… 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.