# NTSB LAX08CA295: Miltenberger Family Fun, N903PD, Adin, CA, September 10, 2008 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: September 10, 2008, 10:50 local (17:50 UTC) - Place: Adin, CA - Coordinates: 41.099998, -120.916664 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.1000&lon=-120.9167&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Enroute-cruise: Loss of engine power (partial)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor, 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report January 22, 2009 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 68920 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX08CA295 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/68920/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX08CA295 ## Probable cause The loss of engine power due to carburetor icing and the pilot's failure to use carburetor heat. ## 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 · Contributed to outcome (probable cause); cases with it: [Miltenberger D/Miltenberger P FAMILY FUN, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03031030/cases.md?model=05616XH), [All aircraft, 435 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03031030/cases.md) - [Engine controls](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057600): Aircraft › Aircraft power plant · Not used/operated (probable cause); cases with it: [Miltenberger D/Miltenberger P FAMILY FUN, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057600/cases.md?model=05616XH), [All aircraft, 51 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057600/cases.md) - [Action: lack of action](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041030): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Miltenberger D/Miltenberger P FAMILY FUN, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041030/cases.md?model=05616XH), [All aircraft, 792 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041030/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Enroute-cruise: Fuel related](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/190); cases with it: [Miltenberger D/Miltenberger P FAMILY FUN, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/190/sequence.md?model=05616XH), [All aircraft, 361 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/190/sequence.md) - [Enroute-cruise: Loss of engine power (partial)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342) (defining event); cases with it: [Miltenberger D/Miltenberger P FAMILY FUN, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342/sequence.md?model=05616XH), [All aircraft, 1,858 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342/sequence.md) - [Emergency descent: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440); cases with it: [Miltenberger D/Miltenberger P FAMILY FUN, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=05616XH), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Miltenberger D/Miltenberger P FAMILY FUN, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=05616XH), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis During a cross-country flight at an altitude of 9,500 msl, the pilot detected an odor which smelled like a hot engine. The pilot reduced engine power, and the odor went away. The engine then started running rough. At no time did the pilot apply carburetor heat. The pilot executed an emergency landing in a field, where the airplane impacted a wire fence. The airplane sustained damage to the right landing gear and its attach point. The pilot stated that the Ford 3.8 V-6 engine was susceptible to carburetor ice due to the carburetor installation. The closest weather reporting station noted the temperature was 68 degrees and the dew point was 34 degrees. The intersection of these two temperatures on a carburetor icing probability chart is right at the boundary between the two sections annotated "light icing cruise power" and "serious icing glide power." The pilot said there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures. ## Factual narrative On September 10, 2008, about 1050 Pacific daylight time, an experimental amateur built Miltenberger Family Fun, N903PD, impacted terrain near Adin, California. The pilot/owner was operating the airplane under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 91. The pilot was not injured and the passenger sustained minor injuries. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right landing gear and its attach point. The cross-country personal flight departed Albany, Oregon (S12), about 0810, with a planned destination of Carson City, Nevada (CXP). Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed. The pilot reported that about 2 hours into the flight, and at 9,500 feet mean sea level (msl), the pilot detected an odor that smelled like a hot engine. The pilot reduced engine power from 4,200 rpm to 3,800 - 3,900 rpm, and the odor went away. Carburetor heat was not applied. Shortly thereafter, the engine started running rough. The pilot still did not apply carburetor heat. The pilot thought the engine would quit, so he executed an emergency landing in a field. During the landing the airplane impacted a wire fence. The pilot stated that the Ford 3.8 V-6 engine was susceptible to carburetor ice due to the carburetor installation. The closest weather reporting station noted the temperature was 68 degrees and the dew point was 34 degrees. The intersection of these two temperatures on a carburetor icing probability chart is right at the boundary between the two sections annotated "light icing cruise power" and "serious icing glide power". The pilot submitted a Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report (NTSB Form 6120.1/2) on September 18, 2008. The pilot reported the following damage: The right landing gear was knocked off; the frame was bent where the right landing gear attached; the tail wheel broke off; and the prop was damaged. The pilot reported that the airplane and engine had no other mechanical failures or malfunctions during the flight. According to FAA Advisory Circular AC 20-27F, Certification and Operation of Amateur-Built Aircraft, "Amateur builders are free to develop their own designs or build from existing designs. We do not approve these designs and it would be impractical to develop design standards for the wide variety of design configurations, created by designers, kit manufacturers, and amateur builders." ## Aircraft - Registration: [N903PD](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N903PD-2016-07-11), registration cancelled 2016-07-11, S/N G4852, built 1990 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Miltenberger Family Fun - Registry model: [Miltenberger D/Miltenberger P FAMILY FUN](https://openairdocs.org/model/miltenberger-d-miltenberger-p-family-fun) (registry code 05616XH) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Ford CONVERSION](https://openairdocs.org/engine/ford-conversion) (registry code 26701, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: G4852 - Airframe hours: 978 - Engines: Ford 3.8 Liter V6 200 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special); Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Condition, December 12, 2007, 39 hours before - Departed: S12, Albany, OR - Destination: CXP, Carson City, NV ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 55; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review September 7, 2008; seat: left; flight hours: 1,525 total, 978 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 68 °F, dew point 34 °F - Altimeter: 29.90 inHg - Observed at: AAT, 28 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 20080910857689A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20080910857689A), Sep 10, 2008: Milten FAMILYFUN, Adin, CA, Substantial damage. Pilot departed albany muni, Oregon (S12) enroute for carson city, Nevada (cxp). Approximately 2 hours subsequent to departure, at 9,500 feet MSL, the pilot… 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.