GAA16CA107

NTSB accident investigation · Piper PA 46 · Ottawa, KS · January 19, 2016

Accident · Minor injuriesData collectionFinal report
Date
January 19, 2016, 12:50 local (18:50 UTC)
Place
Ottawa, KS
Injuries
1 minor, 1 uninjured
Damage
Substantial damage
Phase of flight
Enroute
Aircraft
N113WBPiper PA 46
Defining event
Enroute-climb to cruise: Structural icing
Weather
Instrument (IMC) · Day
Status
Completed · report April 5, 2016
Report
Approved by Office Director
NTSB office
General Aviation Accidents
Parties
Federal Aviation Administration
Case key
92603

From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.

On this page

Probable cause

The flight crews encounter with un-forecasted freezing rain resulting in an uncontrolled descent, forced landing, and substantial damage to the airplane's firewall, and forward pressure bulkhead.

Findings · 4

NTSB’s coded findings. Those marked are part of the probable cause; the rest are factors or other findings. Under each, the cases with the same finding.

Performance/control parameters: climb rateAircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Attain/maintain not possiblePiper PA 46-350P: 1 caseAll aircraft: 265 casesProbable cause
Performance/control parameters: altitudeAircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Attain/maintain not possiblePiper PA 46-350P: 6 casesAll aircraft: 1,310 casesProbable cause
Performance/control parameters: airspeedAircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Attain/maintain not possiblePiper PA 46-350P: 15 casesAll aircraft: 1,681 casesProbable cause
Temp/humidity/pressure: conducive to structural icingEnvironmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on equipmentPiper PA 46-350P: 5 casesAll aircraft: 103 casesProbable cause

Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event is the one that best describes the accident. Under each, the cases with the same event anywhere in their sequence.

Analysis

According to the flight instructor, he and the pilot rated student receiving instruction were operating under instrument flight rules in instrument meteorological conditions. He reported that throughout the flight the airplane accumulated light rime ice. He recalled that after holding at a Very High Frequency Omni-Directional Range (VOR), they completed a VOR approach, executed the missed approach procedure, set the power to climb at the airspeed of 130 knots indicated airspeed and began to climb to 5000 feet. He reported that as they climbed they encountered freezing rain, the airspeed began to deteriorate and the degree of ice accumulation increased from light to moderate. He reported that all of the airplane's de-ice systems were functioning yet he was not able to maintain altitude. He determined that landing at the destination airport was not an option and executed a forced landing in an open field. He affirmed that during the landing the airplane bounced several times before coming to a stop. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the firewall, forward pressure bulkhead and puncture holes in the airplane skin. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical failures or anomalies prior to or during the flight that would have prevented normal flight operation.

Factual narrative

According to the flight instructor, he and the pilot rated student receiving instruction were operating under instrument flight rules in instrument meteorological conditions. He reported that throughout the flight the airplane accumulated light rime ice. He recalled that after holding at a Very High Frequency Omni-Directional Range (VOR), they completed a VOR approach, executed the missed approach procedure, set the power to climb at the airspeed of 130 knots indicated airspeed and began to climb to 5000 feet. He reported that as they climbed they encountered freezing rain, the airspeed began to deteriorate and the degree of ice accumulation increased from light to moderate. He reported that all of the airplane's de-ice systems were functioning yet he was not able to maintain altitude. He determined that landing at the destination airport was not an option and executed a forced landing in an open field. He affirmed that during the landing the airplane bounced several times before coming to a stop. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the firewall, forward pressure bulkhead and puncture holes in the airplane skin. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical failures or anomalies prior to or during the flight that would have prevented normal flight operation.

Aircraft

Registration
N113WB
Reported as
Piper PA 46 (350P)
Category
Airplane
Serial number
4622193
Built
1995
Airframe hours
3,100.2
Engine
Lycoming TIO-540-AE2A, 350 horsepower, reciprocating
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Instructional · Part 91
Operator
No Boundaries Aviation LLC
Registered owner
No Boundaries Aviation LLC
Airworthiness certificate
Standard, Normal
Last inspection
Annual · May 1, 2015
Departed
IXD · Olathe, KS
Destination
IXD · Olathe, KS
Flight plan
IFR
Equipment
Auto-pilot, Electronic multifunction display, Stall warning system

Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

Flight crew · 2

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

Role
Pilot
Age
67
Injuries
Minor
Certificates
Commercial, Flight instructor
Airplane ratings
Single-engine sea, Single-engine land
Instrument ratings
Airplane
Medical
Class 2, With waivers/limitations
Last flight review
July 22, 2015
Seat
Front
Restraint
3-point
Flight hours
2,985 total · 290 in this make and model · 2,778 as pilot in command · 98 in the last 90 days · 26 in the last 30 days
Role
Pilot-rated passenger
Age
68
Injuries
None
Certificate
Private
Airplane ratings
Single-engine land, Multi-engine land
Instrument ratings
Airplane
Seat
Left
Restraint
3-point
Flight hours
2,500 total · 800 in this make and model · 2,400 as pilot in command · 5 in the last 90 days

Weather

Conditions
Instrument (IMC) · Day
Wind
80° at 12 knots
Visibility
4 statute miles
Lowest ceiling
1,700 ft overcast
Temperature
21 °F, dew point 18 °F
Altimeter
30.23 inHg
Observed at
IXD, 24 nm away

Docket · 4

The files NTSB released with the investigation on March 23, 2016, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 4.4 MB in all.