# NTSB WPR19LA132: Otterback Lightning, N106AL, Woodland, WA, May 1, 2019

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report
- Date: May 1, 2019, 10:30 local (17:30 UTC)
- Place: Woodland, WA
- Coordinates: 45.892501, -122.735557 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=45.8925&lon=-122.7356&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Landing: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Investigation class: Class 3
- NTSB office: Western Pacific Region
- Parties: Federal Aviation Administration
- NTSB case key (mKey): 99365
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR19LA132
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/99365/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=99365
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR19LA132

## Probable cause

A complete loss of engine power due to carburetor icing.

## 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 operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Otterback Nicholas L LIGHTNING, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03031030/cases.md?model=05622US), [All aircraft, 435 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03031030/cases.md)
- [Ice/rain protection system: intake anti-ice, deice](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023020): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Capability exceeded (probable cause); cases with it: [Otterback Nicholas L LIGHTNING, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023020/cases.md?model=05622US), [All aircraft, 108 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023020/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Landing: Other weather encounter](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400); cases with it: [Otterback Nicholas L LIGHTNING, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400/sequence.md?model=05622US), [All aircraft, 1,127 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400/sequence.md)
- [Landing: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) (defining event); cases with it: [Otterback Nicholas L LIGHTNING, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=05622US), [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md)
- [Landing: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440); cases with it: [Otterback Nicholas L LIGHTNING, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=05622US), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot reported that after an uneventful flight in an experimental airplane he set up for landing. At about 1,200 feet he reduced the throttle to idle, turned on the carburetor heat, and entered the traffic pattern. After turning final, when the pilot began to reach for the throttle, the propeller stopped spinning. The engine had lost complete power, with no engine roughness or abnormal noises. Since the airplane was about 50 ft above the ground, the pilot continued to land onto the runway. The airplane bounced and when it touched back down, the airplane departed the left side of the runway. The pilot redirected the airplane back toward the runway surface, but the nose gear collapsed on the rough grass. The nearest weather reporting station indicated temperature 13°C, dewpoint 4°C. Review of the Carburetor Icing Probability Chart revealed that, given the temperature and dewpoint, the conditions were on the line between serious icing at glide power and serious icing at cruise power. During a telephone conversation the pilot reported that the carburetor heat system takes hot air from near the muffler to keep the carburetor from icing up. It is likely that the carburetor accumulated ice while in cruise flight and the carburetor heat, when applied when the pilot reduced the throttle to idle, was not sufficient to remove the carburetor ice which resulted in a loss of engine power.

## Factual narrative

On May 1, 2019, about 1030 Pacific daylight time, an experimental, amateur-built Lightning airplane, N106AL, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident at the Woodland State Airport (W27), Woodland, Washington. The pilot and passenger were not injured. The airplane was operated under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight. The pilot reported that after an uneventful flight he entered the traffic pattern at about 1,200 ft above ground level (agl), reduced power to idle and turned on the carburetor heat. After turning to final approach, the engine lost complete power, with no engine roughness or abnormal noises. Since the airplane was about 50 ft above the ground, the pilot continued to land onto the runway. The airplane bounced and when it touched back down, the airplane departed the left side of the runway. The pilot redirected the airplane back toward the runway surface, but the nose gear collapsed on the rough grass substantially damaging the lower fuselage and engine mounts. The airplane is equipped with an experimental Jabiru 3300 engine. During a telephone conversation the pilot reported that the carburetor heat system takes hot air from near the muffler to keep the carburetor from icing. However, when the airplane is at idle for an extended period, the engine and exhaust cool, and the air being supplied to the carburetor is not as hot, making the carburetor susceptible to carburetor ice, particularly in severe icing conditions. The 0953 automated weather observation at the Scappoose Industrial Airpark (SBP), Scappoose, Oregon, located about 9 miles southwest of the accident site, included calm wind, visibility 10 statute miles, clear skies, temperature 13°C, dewpoint 4°C, and an altimeter setting of 30.11 inches of mercury. Review of the Carburetor Icing Probability Chart in the Federal Aviation Administration Special Airworthiness Information Bulletin for Carburetor Ice Prevention revealed that, given temperature and dewpoint, the conditions were on the line between serious carburetor icing at glide power and serious carburetor icing at cruise power.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N106AL](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N106AL), registered now, S/N 111, built 2011 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: OTTERBACK Lightning
- Registry model: [Otterback Nicholas L LIGHTNING](https://openairdocs.org/model/otterback-nicholas-l-lightning) (registry code 05622US) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Jabiru 3300](https://openairdocs.org/engine/jabiru-3300) (registry code 34801, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane, amateur-built
- Serial number: 111
- Year built: 2011
- Airframe hours: 458
- Engines: Jabiru 3300 120 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special)
- Last inspection: Condition, November 12, 2018
- Departed: S50, Auburn, WA
- Destination: W27, Woodland, WA
- Airport: W27, Woodland State Airport, runway 32, 1,953 × 25 ft, asphalt
- Equipment: Unknown

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 62; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review September 28, 2017; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 830 total, 79 in this make and model

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 55 °F, dew point 39 °F
- Altimeter: 30.11 inHg
- Observed at: SPB, 9 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 20190501003749A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20190501003749A), May 1, 2019: Otterback Nicholas L LIGHTNING, Woodland, WA, Substantial damage. At approximately 1030AM N106AL was making an approach into Woodland WA airport (W27). Engine quit on final and aircraft touched down without incident. While…

## Docket (3 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on April 20, 2022, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=99365. 545 KB in all.

- Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 9 pages, 298 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=7975535&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=612-0_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Record of conversation - pilot/owner (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 137 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12946784&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=ROC%20Pilot%20phone-Rel.pdf
- Carburetor icing chart - FAA special airworthiness information bulletin - carburetor icing prevention (item 3, PDF, 3 pages, 109 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12940682&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Carb%20Icing%20FAA%20Bulletin-Rel.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.

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