# NTSB WPR15LA156: Buhl LA 1, N352Y, Cottage Grove, OR, May 3, 2015 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: May 3, 2015, 11:00 local (18:00 UTC) - Place: Cottage Grove, OR - Coordinates: 43.804164, -123.031944 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=43.8042&lon=-123.0319&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Approach-VFR pattern downwind: Loss of engine power (partial)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report December 14, 2015 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: Hillsboro - SAIBs cited in the narratives: [SAIB CE-09-35](https://openairdocs.org/saib/CE-09-35) (OpenAirDocs) - NTSB case key (mKey): 91111 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR15LA156 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/91111/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=91111 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR15LA156 ## Probable cause A loss of engine power on downwind for landing due to carburetor icing, which resulted in a forced landing. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Temp/humidity/pressure: conducive to carburetor icing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03031030): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on equipment (probable cause); cases with it: [Buhl LA-1, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03031030/cases.md?model=1651002), [All aircraft, 435 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03031030/cases.md) - [Object/animal/substance: tree(s)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022020): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome; cases with it: [Buhl LA-1, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022020/cases.md?model=1651002), [All aircraft, 933 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022020/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Approach-VFR pattern downwind: Loss of engine power (partial)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342) (defining event); cases with it: [Buhl LA-1, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342/sequence.md?model=1651002), [All aircraft, 1,858 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342/sequence.md) - [Emergency descent: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440); cases with it: [Buhl LA-1, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=1651002), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md) - [Emergency descent: Controlled flight into terr/obj (CFIT)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/120); cases with it: [Buhl LA-1, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/120/sequence.md?model=1651002), [All aircraft, 1,074 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/120/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that he was conducting a high-speed taxi test, during which he did not intend to fly, when the airplane encountered a wind gust and then unexpectedly became airborne. Insufficient runway was available to abort the takeoff, so he decided to continue flight in the traffic pattern and return to land. On the downwind leg, the engine lost power. The pilot continued straight ahead toward an open area, and the right wing impacted a tree during the forced landing. A postaccident examination of the engine revealed no anomalies that would have precluded normal operation. The weather conditions at the time of the accident were conducive to the formation of carburetor icing at glide and cruise power and serious icing at glide power. The airplane was not equipped with carburetor heat, and it is likely that the loss of engine power was due to carburetor icing. ## Factual narrative On May 3, 2015, about 1100 Pacific daylight time, a Buhl LA 1, N352Y, collided with trees during a forced landing at Cottage Grove State Airport (61S) Cottage Grove, Oregon. The pilot/owner was operating the airplane under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 91. The commercial pilot sustained minor injuries; the airplane sustained substantial damage to the wings. The local personal flight was in the traffic pattern. Visual meteorological conditions (VMC) prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed.The pilot stated that he did not intend to fly. He made several low speed taxi tests, and then began a high speed run. It was windy; after encountering a gust, the airplane unexpectedly became airborne. There was not enough room to abort the takeoff, so the pilot decided to fly the traffic pattern, and return to land. On downwind, the engine lost power; he continued straight ahead toward an open area; the right wing impacted a tree during the forced landing. The pilot reported that the airplane was not equipped with carburetor heat, and suspected that carburetor ice could have caused the loss of power. A Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector oversaw an examination of the engine. The examination revealed no anomalies that would have precluded normal operation. A complete report is part of the public docket. The FAA published Special Airworthiness Information Bulletin (SAIB) CE-09-35 on June 30, 2009, regarding carburetor ice prevention. The conditions encountered in this accident (ambient temperature 71 degrees F, dew point 40 degrees F, and 32 percent relative humidity) were in the area of icing at glide and cruise power, and in the area of serious icing at glide power. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N352Y](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N352Y), registered now, S/N 141, built 1931 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: BUHL LA 1 (NO SERIES) - Registry model: [Buhl LA-1](https://openairdocs.org/model/buhl-la-1) (registry code 1651002) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Szekely SR-3-L](https://openairdocs.org/engine/szekely-sr-3-l) (registry code 07001, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 141 - Year built: 1931 - Engines: Szekely SR-3-L 45 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Evers Melvin D - Registered owner: Evers Melvin D - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: 61S, Cottage Grove, OR - Destination: 61S, Cottage Grove, OR - Airport: 61S, Cottage Grove State Airport, runway 33, 3,188 × 60 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 80; injuries: minor; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review January 13, 2015; seat: single; restraint: lap only; flight hours: 900 total, 1 in this make and model, 805 as pilot in command, 3 in the last 90 days, 1 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 30° at 6 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 72 °F, dew point 39 °F - Altimeter: 29.89 inHg - Observed at: KEUG, 21 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 20150503006479A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20150503006479A), May 3, 2015: Buhl LA-1, Cottage Grove, OR, Substantial damage. A complete restoration had just been finished and although the pilot stated he had not intended to fly the aircraft but was merely performing a high speed taxi… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on November 4, 2015, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=91111. 2.0 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 1.9 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40433578&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - FAA Inspector's Statement (item 2, .PDF, 67 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40433579&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=FAA%20Inspector%27s%20Statement-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.