# NTSB WPR11LA104: Bice Air Creation GTE, N4668L, Hayfork, CA, January 22, 2011 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: January 22, 2011, 12:30 local (20:30 UTC) - Place: Hayfork, CA - Coordinates: 40.556667, -123.370277 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.5567&lon=-123.3703&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Enroute-cruise: Loss of engine power (partial)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 2 minor - Status: Completed, report November 22, 2011 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: FAA FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 78202 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR11LA104 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/78202/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=78202 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR11LA104 ## Probable cause The total loss of engine power during cruise flight, while operating in carburetor icing conditions. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Engine (reciprocating)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058500): Aircraft › Aircraft power plant · Malfunction (probable cause); cases with it: [Bice Carl AIR CREATION GTE, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058500/cases.md?model=059037E), [All aircraft, 497 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058500/cases.md) - [Temp/humidity/pressure: conducive to carburetor icing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03031030): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Contributed to outcome (probable cause); cases with it: [Bice Carl AIR CREATION GTE, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03031030/cases.md?model=059037E), [All aircraft, 435 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03031030/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 (partial)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342) (defining event); cases with it: [Bice Carl AIR CREATION GTE, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342/sequence.md?model=059037E), [All aircraft, 1,858 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342/sequence.md) ## Analysis According to the pilot, while en route on a cross-country flight, the weight-shift-control airplane's engine exhaust gas temperature and cylinder head temperature began to drop. The pilot believed this was due to carburetor icing. The airplane was not equipped with carburetor heat; therefore, no corrective action could be taken. The engine subsequently lost power, and the pilot performed a forced landing on heavily wooded mountainous terrain. The wing structure was substantially damaged during the forced landing, and both main landing gear separated from the fuselage. A review of a carburetor icing chart indicated that the temperature and dewpoint were conducive to the formation of serious icing at cruise power. The pilot reported no mechanical failures or malfunctions. ## Factual narrative On January 22, 2011, about 1230 Pacific standard time, a Bice Air Creation GTE weight-shift-control aircraft, N4668L, sustained substantial damage during a forced landing following a loss of engine power near Hayfork, California. The private pilot and his passenger received minor injuries. The pilot/owner was operating the aircraft under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the personal cross-country flight, which had originated from Fortuna, California, at 1100. No flight plan had been filed. The pilot reported that he departed Rohnerville Airport in Fortuna and climbed to 7,500 feet mean sea level on an eastbound course. As he approached his destination, the engine's exhaust gas temperature and cylinder head temperature began to drop. The pilot believed this was due to carburetor icing. The aircraft was not equipped with carburetor heat, therefore, no corrective action could be taken. The engine subsequently lost power, and he performed a forced landing to heavily forested mountainous terrain, striking several trees before the aircraft came to rest. The wing structure was substantially damaged, and both main landing gear separated from the fuselage. The pilot reported no mechanical failures or malfunctions with the aircraft. At 1155, the weather conditions at Hayfork, located 9 nautical miles east of the accident site, were as follows: wind calm; visibility unrestricted; clear of clouds; temperature 41 degrees Fahrenheit; dew point 39 degrees Fahrenheit; altimeter setting 30.19 inches of Mercury. A review of a carburetor icing chart shows that these conditions are conducive to the formation of serious icing at cruise power. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N4668L](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4668L-2018-01-23), registration cancelled 2018-01-23, S/N T0231, built 1995 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Bice Air Creation GTE - Registry model: [Bice Carl AIR CREATION GTE](https://openairdocs.org/model/bice-carl-air-creation-gte) (registry code 059037E) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Rotax 503 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/rotax-503-series) (registry code 55564, 2 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Weight-shift - Serial number: T0231 - Airframe hours: 437 - Engines: Rotax 503 50 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Carl Bice - Registered owner: Carl Bice - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Condition, November 14, 2010, 50 hours before - Departed: FOT, Fortuna, CA - Destination: H47, Hayfork, CA - Flight plan: Unknown ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 49; injuries: minor; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; last flight review April 11, 2009; seat: front; flight hours: 384 total, 266 in this make and model, 328 as pilot in command, 20 in the last 90 days, 12 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: 41 °F, dew point 39 °F - Altimeter: 30.19 inHg - Observed at: KF62, 15 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 20110122000529A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20110122000529A), Jan 22, 2011: Bice Carl AIR CREATIO, Hayfork, CA, Substantial damage. Engnine failed due to possible carburetor ice. Forced landing in rough terrain. Pilot experienced rise in cylinder head and exhaust gas temperature then engine… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 6, 2011, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=78202. 542 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 391 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40354736&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Carburetor-Icing Chart (item 2, .PDF, 152 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40354737&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Carburetor-Icing%20Chart-Master.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.