# NTSB NYC03LA055: Cessna 140, N76897, Fryeburg, ME, February 16, 2003 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: February 16, 2003, 14:30 local (19:30 UTC) - Place: Fryeburg, ME - Coordinates: 43.991111, -70.947776 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=43.9911&lon=-70.9478&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report November 25, 2003 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA FSDO-05 - NTSB case key (mKey): 56538 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC03LA055 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/56538/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC03LA055 ## Probable cause An in-flight encounter with carburetor ice, which resulted in a total loss of engine power during a simulated engine failure. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, approach - weather condition - carburetor icing conditions (cause) - fuel system,carburetor - ice - Forced landing, descent - emergency - In flight collision with terrain/water, emergency descent/landing - terrain condition - snowbank ## Analysis During an instructional flight, about 2,500 feet msl, the CFI applied carburetor heat and set the engine power to idle for a simulated engine failure. The private pilot completed the emergency checklist items, and positioned the airplane for a simulated forced landing to a field. During the descent, the carburetor heat remained on, and the CFI occasionally cycled the throttle to clear the engine. About 15-20 feet above the field, the pilot attempted to add power for a go-around, but the engine did not respond. The CFI then took control of the airplane, and performed a forced landing to the field. A certificated mechanic examined the wreckage after the accident. The mechanic was able to rotate the propeller by hand, and did not note any discrepancies with the engine. He also observed adequate fuel in the airplane. The mechanic further stated that he believed the power loss occurred due to carburetor ice. On the make and model accident engine, the carburetor was situated below the engine, and more susceptible to carburetor ice. In addition, the carburetor heat relied on two cylinders, rather than all four. The mechanic was confident that carburetor ice caused the power loss, and did not attempt to disassemble the carburetor to look for ice. A Federal Aviation Administration inspector stated that she did not examine the wreckage, but the certificated mechanic had determined the power loss was due to carburetor ice. ## Factual narrative On February 16, 2003, about 1430 eastern standard time, a Cessna 140, N76897, was substantially damaged during a forced landing to a field near Fryeburg, Maine. The certified flight instructor (CFI) and the private pilot were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the flight that departed Eastern Slopes Regional Airport (IZG), Fryeburg, Maine, about 1400. No flight plan was filed for the local instructional flight conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. The private pilot stated that he had recently purchased the airplane, and was receiving flight instruction. The private pilot completed some maneuvers at an altitude of 2,500-3,000 feet msl, and about 1430, the CFI applied carburetor heat while setting the engine power to idle for a simulated engine failure. The private pilot completed the emergency checklist items, and positioned the airplane for a simulated forced landing to a field. During the descent, the carburetor heat remained on, and the CFI occasionally cycled the throttle to "clear the engine." About 15-20 feet above the field, the pilot attempted to add power for a go-around, but the engine did not respond. The CFI then took control of the airplane, and performed a forced landing to the field. During the landing, the airplane struck a snow bank and came to rest inverted. The airplane sustained damage to the gearbox, fuselage, wings, and vertical stabilizer. A certificated mechanic examined the wreckage after the accident. The mechanic was able to rotate the propeller by hand, and did not note any discrepancies with the engine. He also observed fuel in the airplane. The mechanic further stated that he believed the power loss occurred due to carburetor ice. He added that on the make and model accident engine, the carburetor was situated below the engine, and more susceptible to carburetor ice. In addition, the carburetor heat relied on two cylinders, rather than all four. The mechanic was confident that carburetor ice caused the power loss, and did not attempt to disassemble the carburetor to look for ice. A Federal Aviation Administration inspector stated that she did not examine the wreckage, but the certificated mechanic had determined the power loss was due to carburetor ice. The reported temperature at an airport approximately 30 miles southeast of the accident site, at 1451, was 16 degrees F. The reported dew point was -16 degrees F, which yielded a relative humidity of 22 percent. According to DOT/FAA/CT-82/44 Publication, Carburetor Icing Probability Chart, the engine was not susceptible to carburetor ice under those conditions. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N76897](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N76897-2013-02-26), registration cancelled 2013-02-26, S/N 11331, 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: 11331 - Airframe hours: 1430 - Engines: Continental C85 85 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Don Thibodwau - Registered owner: Green Thumb Farms - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: AAIP, February 1, 2003, 8 hours before - Departed: IZG, Fryeburg, ME - Airport: IZG, Eastern Slopes Regional Airpor ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Flight instructor; age 50; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review August 8, 2002; seat: right; flight hours: 2,732 total, 7 in this make and model, 2,608 as pilot in command, 47 in the last 90 days, 15 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours - Pilot; age 49; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; last flight review April 20, 2001; seat: left; flight hours: 744 total, 6 in this make and model, 650 as pilot in command, 19 in the last 90 days, 13 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 310° at 9 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 16 °F, dew point -17 °F - Altimeter: 30.63 inHg - Observed at: PWM, 30 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 20030216027699A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20030216027699A), Feb 16, 2003: Cessna 140, Fryeburg, ME, Substantial damage. (-23) On February 16, 2003, about 1430 LCL, a Cessna 140, N76897 was substantially damaged during a forced landing to a field near Fryeburg, ME. The CFI and… 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.