# NTSB SEA07CA099: Barnett MA-5 Charger, N20HD, San Martin, CA, April 7, 2007 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: April 7, 2007, 15:00 local (22:00 UTC) - Place: San Martin, CA - Coordinates: 37.082132, -121.60289 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.0821&lon=-121.6029&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report June 27, 2007 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 65575 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA07CA099 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/65575/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA07CA099 ## Probable cause Carburetor icing conditions which resulted in a loss of engine power during the base turn to final approach. The pilot's inadequate preflight planning/preparation for the flight was a factor. ## 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 - base leg/base to final - weather condition - carburetor icing conditions (cause) - preflight planning/preparation - inadequate, pilot in command (contributing factor) - Forced landing, emergency descent/landing - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - roll - terrain condition - ground ## Analysis The pilot reported that he entered the pattern on left base for landing. During the turn from base to final approach, the aircraft was low so the pilot added power, however, the engine did not respond. The pilot realized that he would not make the runway and chose an open field for an off airport landing. During the landing roll, the pilot intentionally ground looped the aircraft to avoid a collision with a fence. The aircraft sustained substantial damage to the right landing gear attach fitting and longeron as well as the right wing tip. After the aircraft was recovered from the field and taken to the airport, the engine was started and found to run without anomaly on the main fuel tank. The pilot reported that after the accident he pulled up the weather current at the time of the accident and compared it to the probable carburetor icing chart, he noted that the temperature and dew point fell into the range of serious icing at glide power. The nearest weather reporting facility indicated a temperature of 70 degrees F. and a dew point of 55 degrees F. ## Factual narrative During a telephone interview and subsequent written statement, the pilot reported that he entered the pattern on left base for landing on runway 14. The pilot stated that he was low turning from base to final approach and added power, however, the engine did not respond. The pilot realized that he would not make the runway and chose an open field for an off airport landing. During the landing roll, the pilot intentionally ground looped the aircraft to avoid a collision with a fence. The aircraft sustained substantial damage to the right landing gear attach fitting and longeron as well as the right wing tip. After the aircraft was recovered from the field and taken to the airport, the engine was started and found to run without anomaly on the main fuel tank. During the telephone interview with the NTSB Investigator-In-Charge, the pilot stated that after the accident he had pulled up the weather current at the time of the accident and noted that the temperature and dew point fell into the range of serious icing at glide power. The nearest weather reporting facility located at Reid-Hillview (RHV), San Jose, California, was reporting at 1447 a temperature of 70 degrees F. and a dew point of 55 degrees F. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N20HD](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N20HD-2022-05-07), registration cancelled 2022-05-07, S/N 0103, built 1988 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Barnett MA-5 Charger - Registry model: [Barnett Harvey D MA-5 CHARGER](https://openairdocs.org/model/barnett-harvey-d-ma-5-charger) (registry code 056558H) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-290 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-290-series) (registry code 41506, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 0103 - Engines: Lycoming O-290G reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: James B. Dal Porto - Registered owner: James B. Dal Porto - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Departed: KRHV, San Jose, CA - Destination: E16, San Martin, CA - Airport: E16, S. County Airport, runway 14, 3,100 × 75 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 50; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3; flight hours: 500 total, 200 in this make and model, 4 in the last 90 days, 4 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 310° at 10 knots - Visibility: 7 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 20,000 ft overcast - Temperature: 70 °F, dew point 54 °F - Observed at: RHV ## 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 20070407005909A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20070407005909A), Apr 7, 2007: Amtr MA5, San Martin, CA, Substantial damage. (-23) The aircraft departed reid hillview airport (rhv) direct to south county airport (B16). After an extended descent into the pattern at south county… 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.