# NTSB WPR10LA149: Schafer Starduster SA-300, N105NL, North Bend, OR, February 28, 2010 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: February 28, 2010, 14:30 local (22:30 UTC) - Place: North Bend, OR - Coordinates: 43.365554, -123.828056 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=43.3656&lon=-123.8281&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Enroute-cruise: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report June 17, 2010 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: FAA PDX FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 75423 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR10LA149 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/75423/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=75423 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR10LA149 ## Probable cause The complete loss of engine power during cruise for undetermined reasons. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Terrain: mountainous/hilly terrain](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021010): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome; cases with it: [Schafer Paul STARDUSTER SA-300, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021010/cases.md?model=05619R7), [All aircraft, 329 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021010/cases.md) - [Terrain: rough terrain](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021015): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome; cases with it: [Schafer Paul STARDUSTER SA-300, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021015/cases.md?model=05619R7), [All aircraft, 442 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021015/cases.md) - [Not determined](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000): Not determined › Not determined · Unknown/Not determined (probable cause); cases with it: [Schafer Paul STARDUSTER SA-300, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md?model=05619R7), [All aircraft, 2,247 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Enroute-cruise: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) (defining event); cases with it: [Schafer Paul STARDUSTER SA-300, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=05619R7), [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md) - [Emergency descent: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440); cases with it: [Schafer Paul STARDUSTER SA-300, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=05619R7), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Schafer Paul STARDUSTER SA-300, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=05619R7), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis After being airborne for about 10 minutes, the pilot applied full carburetor heat as he entered an area that he felt had high humidity. About five minutes later the airplane's engine, a 220 horsepower Continental W670 radial, began to lose power. Although the pilot managed to keep it at cruise power for a short period of time by pumping the throttle, the engine then slowly lost all power. The pilot was forced to execute an emergency landing in a rough log-covered clear-cut in the forest. Upon touchdown, the airplane cartwheeled and came to a stop within about 100 feet. A post-accident inspection of the airplane's fuel system, ignition system, and air induction system did not reveal any evidence of a malfunction or anomaly that would have kept the engine from producing cruise power. The airplane had about 28 gallons of fuel in its tank at takeoff, and the pilot said that he had flown the airplane many times in the high humidity conditions found near the ocean, and that with the full application of carburetor heat; the airplane's carburetor had never accumulated ice in its throat. The reported temperature and dewpoint (14 and 7 degrees C respectively), when plotted on a carburetor icing probability chart, fell in the area annotated "Moderate Icing Cruise Power or Serious Icing Descent Power". ## Factual narrative On February 28, 2010, about 1430 Pacific standard time, an experimental Schafer Starduster SA-300 experimental biplane, N105NL, impacted the terrain during a forced landing about 20 miles east of North Bend, Oregon. The commercial pilot, who was the sole occupant, received minor injuries, and the airplane, which was owned and operated by the pilot, sustained substantial damage. The 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal pleasure flight, which departed Roseburg, Oregon, about 20 minutes prior to the accident, was being operated in visual meteorological conditions. The pilot was en route to North Bend. No flight plan had been filed. According to the pilot, he applied full carburetor heat about 10 minutes after departing Roseburg because of the humid ambient conditions. Then about 5 minutes later, the airplane's engine, a 220 horsepower Continental W670 radial, started to lose power. Although he was able to get it to temporarily accelerate by pumping the throttle, the rpm eventually slowed to idle. He therefore selected a nearby location where the forest had been clear-cut, and attempted a forced landing at that location. By the time he descended to the landing spot the propeller was wind-milling, but the engine was not producing any power. Because the surrounding area was heavily forested, the pilot was forced to make the landing in a clear-cut area of very rough hilly terrain that was covered with numerous branches and small logs. Immediately after the airplane touched down, it cartwheeled and then slid/rolled for about 100 feet. During a post-accident inspection directed/monitored by a Federal Aviation Administration Airworthiness Inspector, the airplane's fuel system, ignition system, and air induction system were checked and partially disassembled. No anomalies where discovered, and there was no evidence of any malfunction that would have kept the engine from producing normal cruise power. According to the pilot, who added fuel just prior to departure, the airplane's fuselage fuel tank contained about 28 gallons of fuel at the time he took off. He also stated that he had flown the airplane many times in the high humidity conditions found near the ocean, and that with the full application of carburetor heat; the airplane's carburetor had never accumulated ice in its throat. The reported temperature and dewpoint (14 and 7 degrees C respectively) when plotted on a carburetor icing probability chart fell in the area annotated "Moderate Icing Cruise Power or Serious Icing Descent Power". ## Aircraft - Registration: [N105NL](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N105NL-2012-08-03), registration cancelled 2012-08-03, S/N 685, built 2005 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: SCHAFER STARDUSTER SA-300 - Registry model: [Schafer Paul STARDUSTER SA-300](https://openairdocs.org/model/schafer-paul-starduster-sa-300) (registry code 05619R7) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental W670-16](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-w670-16) (registry code 17319, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 685 - Airframe hours: 247 - Engines: CONT MOTOR W670-16 220 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Schafer Paul B - Registered owner: Schafer Paul B - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Condition, December 30, 2009 - Departed: KRBG, Roseburg, OR - Destination: KOTH, North Bend, OR ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 64; injuries: minor; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review June 21, 2008; seat: rear; flight hours: 913 total, 247 in this make and model, 747 as pilot in command, 13 in the last 90 days, 5 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 57 °F, dew point 45 °F ## 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 20100228028619A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20100228028619A), Feb 28, 2010: Schafer Pau STARDUSTER, North Bend, OR, Substantial damage. On 02/28/2010, at approximately 1430 PST, an amateur built Starduster SA-300 made a forced landing approximately 21.5 miles east of the North Bend, OR airport… ## Docket (1 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on March 31, 2010, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=75423. 720 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 720 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40327584&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF 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.