# NTSB NYC06LA045: Beech 23, N7631R, Chaplin, CT, December 21, 2005 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: December 21, 2005, 09:53 local (14:53 UTC) - Place: Chaplin, CT - Coordinates: 41.743888, -72.18 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.7439&lon=-72.1800&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious - Status: Completed, report February 26, 2007 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 62967 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC06LA045 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/62967/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC06LA045 ## Probable cause A complete loss of engine power due to carburetor ice. A contributing factor was the lack of suitable terrain for the emergency landing. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, approach - vfr pattern - final approach - weather condition - carburetor icing conditions (cause) - Forced landing, approach - In flight collision with terrain/water, emergency descent/landing - terrain condition - none suitable (contributing factor) ## Analysis The pilot stated that while on approach to Windham Airport, the engine began to run roughly, then completely lost power. He switched fuel tanks, and attempted an engine restart, but was unsuccessful. The pilot then maneuvered the airplane toward a snow-covered field, but could not clear trees during the final approach. After the accident, evidence of fuel was found at the scene. Fuel was plumbed to the engine through the left fuel tank, and the engine was started, and ran continuously on the airframe without interruption. The temperature was 19 degrees Fahrenheit and the dew point was 13 degrees Fahrenheit. Interpolation of a carburetor icing probability chart revealed that atmospheric conditions were conducive to "icing at glide or cruise power." The pilot reported that there were no mechanical deficiencies with the airplane, and stated, " I have reason to believe that carburetor ice was the problem, although I was using carburetor heat at the time." ## Factual narrative On December 21, 2005, at 0953 eastern standard time, a Beech 23, N7631R, was substantially damaged during a forced landing following a loss of engine power in Chaplin, Connecticut. The certificated airline transport pilot/owner sustained serious injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed for the flight that departed Quonset State Airport (OQU), Kingston, Rhode Island, and was destined for Windham Airport (IJD), Willimantic, Connecticut. The personal flight was conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. The pilot/owner provided a statement to a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) aviation safety inspector. The pilot stated that while on approach to Windham Airport, the engine began to run roughly, then completely lost power. He switched fuel tanks, and attempted an engine restart, but was unsuccessful. The pilot then maneuvered the airplane toward a snow-covered field, but could not clear trees during the final approach. The manager of the fixed base operator (FBO) at Windham Airport responded to the scene, and an examination of the airplane revealed that both wings were impact damaged, and that the fuel cells were compromised. There was an odor of fuel, but no evidence of fuel in the tanks, and little evidence of fuel spillage at the scene. The FBO manager noticed that the fuel pump was running, so he turned off the pump and moved the fuel selector to the "Off" position. He then turned the airplane beacon and battery off. The airplane was later moved to Windham Airport for further examination. On December 22, 2005, the propeller was straightened, and a can of fuel was plumbed through the left fuel tank of the airplane. The engine was then started, and ran continuously on the airframe without interruption. Examination of aircraft and fuel records revealed that the pilot had serviced the airplane with 44 gallons of fuel on November 23, 2005, and that the airplane had flown approximately 1 hour since that service. The FAA inspector reexamined the scene with a fire inspector, and discovered considerable evidence of fuel in the soil beneath the snow. The pilot held an airline transport pilot certificate, as well as a commercial pilot certificate with a rating for airplane single engine land. His most recent FAA second-class medical certificate was issued January 13, 2003. He reported 26,950 total hours of flight experience, 580 hours of which were in make and model. At 0952, the weather reported at Windham Airport included clear skies and no wind. The temperature was 19 degrees Fahrenheit and the dew point was 13 degrees Fahrenheit. Interpolation of a carburetor icing probability chart revealed that atmospheric conditions were conducive to "icing at glide or cruise power." In a subsequent written statement, the pilot reported that there were no mechanical deficiencies with the airplane, and stated, " I have reason to believe that carburetor ice was the problem, although I was using carburetor heat at the time." ## Aircraft - Registration: [N7631R](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N7631R-2006-08-10), registration cancelled 2006-08-10, S/N M-1252, built 1969 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Beech 23 - Registry model: [Beech B23](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-b23) (registry code 1151240) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming O&VO-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-vo-360-series) (registry code 41514, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 1252 - Airframe hours: 1701 - Engines: Lycoming O-360 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Albert Schmid - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, November 1, 2005, 1 hours before - Departed: OQU, NORTH KINGSTOWN, RI - Destination: IJD, WILLIMANTIC, CT - Airport: IJD, Windham, runway 27, 4,278 × 100 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 76; injuries: serious; airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review January 1, 2004; seat: left; flight hours: 26,950 total, 580 in this make and model, 8 in the last 90 days, 4 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 19 °F, dew point 12 °F - Altimeter: 30.19 inHg - Observed at: IJD, 3 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 20051221030659A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20051221030659A), Dec 21, 2005: Beech B23, Chaplin, CT, Destroyed. (-23) While on an approx. 3 NM final for runway 27 at kijd the engine ran rough then quit. The pilot performed steps to restart the engine but was… 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.