# NTSB LAX07LA015: Williams Bowers Fly Baby-1A, N6054Q, Oakdale, CA, October 20, 2006 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: October 20, 2006, 16:22 local (23:22 UTC) - Place: Oakdale, CA - Coordinates: 37.760555, -120.800277 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.7606&lon=-120.8003&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report November 29, 2007 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 64744 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX07LA015 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/64744/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX07LA015 ## Probable cause a loss of engine power due to the pilot's failure to use carburetor heat during conditions that were conducive to carburetor icing. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power, cruise - normal - weather condition - carburetor icing conditions (cause) - carburetor heat - not used, pilot in command (cause) - Forced landing, emergency descent/landing - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - roll - terrain condition - ground ## Analysis While attempting to return to the airport following a loss of engine power, the airplane contacted rough terrain during a forced landing in an open field about 3,000 feet short of the runway. A wing and the main landing gear were separated from the airplane after touchdown. Following the loss of power, the pilot activated the carburetor heat to no avail. He turned back to the airport and when he knew he wasn't going to make the runway, he made the forced landing. A plot of the temperature and dew point on a carburetor icing chart revealed that the possibility existed for icing conditions at glide and cruise power settings. The pilot stated that there were no mechanical problems with the airplane, and that he should have checked more frequently for carburetor ice during the flight. ## Factual narrative On October 20, 2006, at 1622 Pacific daylight time, an experimental Williams Bowers Fly Baby-1A, N6054Q, experienced a loss of engine power and made a forced landing in an open field near Oakdale Airport, Oakdale, California. The owner/builder/pilot operated the airplane under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91 as a personal flight. The airplane sustained substantial structural damage during the impact, which caused the separation of a wing and the landing gear. The private pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the local area flight that departed about 1612, and no flight plan had been filed. The National Transportation Safety Board investigator-in-charge (IIC) interviewed the pilot. The pilot stated that the airplane had just been certified as an experimental light sport category airplane earlier in the day. This was the first flight after certification. He said there were no problems with the first takeoff and landing and that the airplane "flew great." On the second takeoff, about 2,000 feet above ground level (agl), the engine lost power. The pilot pulled out the carburetor heat, to no avail, and tried to make it back to the airport. The pilot reported that he knew he was not going to make it back to the airport, and chose an open pasture to make a forced landing. He stated that the pasture was "very rough." The landing gear and one of the wings was torn off during landing. In the pilot's written statement, he said he had successfully flown the airplane earlier in the day without incident. During the accident flight, about 2,000 feet agl and 1 mile from the airport, the engine quit. He reported that it quit due to carburetor icing conditions that existed at the time. He made a 180-degree turn back to the airport. He knew that he was not going to make it back to the airport and landed in an open field. In the RECOMMENDATION section of the Pilot/Operator Accident/Incident Report (NTSB Form 6120.1), the pilot reported that he should have checked more frequently for carburetor ice during the flight. The closest official weather reporting system was Modesto City-County Airport-Harry Sham Field (MOD), Modesto, California, about 11 nm southwest of Oakdale Airport. The METAR issued at 1653 reported winds from 320 degrees at 4 knots; visibility 10 sm; temperature 82 degrees Fahrenheit; dew point 39 degrees Fahrenheit; and altimeter 29.82 inHg. According to an icing probability chart, the possibility of icing conditions was conducive to icing at cruise power. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N6054Q](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N6054Q-2014-06-26), registration cancelled 2014-06-26, S/N 1068 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Williams Bowers Fly Baby-1A - Registry model: [Williams Myron G BOWERS FLY BABY-1A](https://openairdocs.org/model/williams-myron-g-bowers-fly-baby-1a) (registry code 056214X) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental A-65-8F](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-a-65-8f) (registry code 17330, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 1068 - Engines: Continental A65-8F 65 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Myron G Williams - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Condition, October 1, 2006 - Departed: O27, Oakdale, CA - Destination: O27 - Airport: O27, Oakdale, runway 28, 3,000 × 66 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 72; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: sport pilot; seat: center; flight hours: 5,000 total, 200 in this make and model, 10 in the last 90 days, 2 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: variable at 4 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 82 °F, dew point 37 °F - Altimeter: 29.84 inHg - Observed at: MOD ## 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 20061020030949A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20061020030949A), Oct 20, 2006: Amtr FLYBABY1A, Oakdale, CA, Substantial damage. (-23) Aircraft owner/builder/pilot received airworthiness certificate for aircraft on 10/20/06. The second flight of the day, the engine quit near Oakdale… ## Other investigations on N6054Q (1) 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. - [NTSB WPR14FA165](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR14FA165), Apr 11, 2014: Williams Myron G Bowers FLY Baby 1A (N6054Q), Mariposa, CA, substantial damage, 1 fatal. Probable cause: The partial loss of engine power due to an improperly maintained carburetor and the pilot's subsequent failure to maintain aircraft control. 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.