# NTSB NYC97LA033: Piper PA-28-140, N55228, Ellington, CT, December 22, 1996 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: December 22, 1996, 12:45 local (17:45 UTC) - Place: Ellington, CT - Location: 41.9110° N, 72.4554° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs from NTSB’s distance and direction from ELLINGTON (7B9), within about a mile (OpenAirDocs) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.9110&lon=-72.4554&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report June 30, 1997 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 39312 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC97LA033 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/39312/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC97LA033 ## Probable cause ice ingestion into the engine from the carburetor air box, which resulted in a loss of engine power and a subsequent forced landing, off airport, on unprepared terrain. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power, takeoff - initial climb - carburetor heat,air box - ice (cause) - powerplant - ice ingestion (cause) - Forced landing, emergency descent/landing - In flight collision with terrain/water, emergency landing after takeoff ## Analysis The flight instructor and a private pilot departed on a local training flight. The preflight, engine start, and run-up were reported normal. The private pilot then taxied the airplane to runway 19, and performed a soft field takeoff. The pilot rotated the airplane at 65 MPH. Before reaching 80 MPH, the engine lost power, and the private pilot applied carburetor heat with no effect. The flight instructor took over the controls and landed the airplane straight ahead on a grass lawn. Examination of the airplane revealed no preimpact failure of the engine or airframe. A postaccident engine run was completed satisfactorily. Moisture was found in the engine air inlet system between the air filter and the carburetor air box. The airplane had been kept outside after its last flight, where it had been exposed to a wind blown snow storm, and a driving rain storm. At the time of the accident, the outside air temperature was below freezing. ## Factual narrative On December 22, 1996, at 1245 eastern standard time, a Piper PA-28-140, N55228, was substantially damaged during a forced after takeoff from the Ellington Airport, Ellington, Connecticut. The certificated flight instructor and private pilot were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the instructional flight that originated at Ellington. No flight plan had been filed for the local flight conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. In the NTSB Form 6120.1/2, the flight instructor stated that the preflight, engine start, and run-up were normal. The private pilot then taxied the airplane to runway 19, and performed a soft field takeoff. The flight instructor further stated: "...[the pilot] rotated at about 65 MPH and started to accelerate to 80 MPH. Right before 80 MPH we had a sudden loss of power, immediately I looked over and saw a sudden drop of RPM... [the pilot] applied carb heat with no effect...[the pilot] then told me, we had no power. I then took control and landed in a field less than a 1/4 mile away from the end of the runway." According to a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Inspector, examination of the airplane revealed no preimpact failure of the engine or airframe. The airplane was approved for the use of auto fuel, and a sample of the fuel contained no contaminants. A post accident engine run was successfully completed. In the FAA Inspector's statement, he said: "...Information gathered during the investigation indicates that there was moisture in the engine air inlet system between the air filter and the carburetor air box...The aircraft had been tied down outside during a period of very severe weather in which it was exposed to wind blown snow in one storm and driving rain in another storm. This weather had occurred between the time the aircraft was last flown and the flight when the accident happened...At the time of the accident the outside air temperature was below freezing and the moisture in the duct would be ice. The engine was run during the preflight and may have loosened the ice in the inlet... ## Aircraft - Registration: [N55228](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N55228-2013-01-31), registration cancelled 2013-01-31, S/N 28-7325346, built 1973 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Piper PA-28-140 - Registry model: [Piper PA-28-140](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-140) (registry code 7102802) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 28-7325346 - Airframe hours: 7416 - Engines: Lycoming O-320-E3D 150 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Registered owner: William R. Klase - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, August 31, 1996, 6 hours before - Departed: 7B9 - Airport: 7B9, Ellington, runway 19, 1,800 × 50 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 26; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: right; flight hours: 1,544 total, 134 in this make and model, 1,398 as pilot in command, 239 in the last 90 days, 31 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 180° at 8 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 10,000 ft broken - Temperature: 37 °F - Observed at: BDL, 12 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 19961222039719A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19961222039719A), Dec 22, 1996: Piper PA28140, Ellington, CT, Substantial damage. Parked out in rain and snow. Lost power after rotation. Landed off end. Indicates ice in air duct melted in carb. 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.