# NTSB WPR19LA240: Scoda Aeronautical Super Petrel, N632MM, Lancaster, CA, August 25, 2019 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report - Date: August 25, 2019, 14:05 local (21:05 UTC) - Place: Lancaster, CA - Coordinates: 34.741111, -118.218612 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.7411&lon=-118.2186&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Enroute-descent: 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): 100139 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR19LA240 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/100139/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=100139 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR19LA240 ## Probable cause The improper sealing of both carburetor bowls, which resulted in a total loss of engine power. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Fuel system: fuel pressure](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022844): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Failure (probable cause); cases with it: [Scoda Aeronautica Ltda SUPER PETREL LS, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022844/cases.md?model=06001A5), [All aircraft, 16 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022844/cases.md) - [Fluids: fuel](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010): Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware · Not specified (probable cause); cases with it: [Scoda Aeronautica Ltda SUPER PETREL LS, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md?model=06001A5), [All aircraft, 1,695 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Enroute-descent: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) (defining event); cases with it: [Scoda Aeronautica Ltda SUPER PETREL LS, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=06001A5), [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md) ## Analysis While the pilot was descending toward the destination airport near the conclusion of the cross-country flight, the engine lost total power. The pilot subsequently performed a forced landing to a field, during which the right wing sustained substantial damage. During postaccident engine test runs, the engine lost power at high rpm settings. When the carburetor bowls were resealed, the engine ran with no anomalies noted. Both carburetor float bowls displayed contamination that likely affected the fuel flow to the engine; however, the extent to which the contamination contributed to the loss of engine power was not able to be determined during the investigation. ## Factual narrative On August 25, 2019, about 1405 Pacific daylight time, a Scoda Aeronautica LTDA Super Petrel LS airplane, N632MM, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Lancaster, California. The private pilot and passenger were not injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. According to the pilot, the airplane was refueled to capacity before departing on the cross-country flight. The flight was uneventful until the pilot reduced power to begin the descent toward the destination airport, when the engine lost total power and was not responsive to throttle input. The pilot positioned the fuel selector to the opposite tank and confirmed that the fuel shutoff valve was in the ON position. The pilot performed a forced landing to an open field, during which the right wing sustained substantial damage. The airplane was equipped with a Rotax 914UL engine. The engine was equipped with dual carburetors. The engine remained relatively intact. All spark plugs were removed, with no anomalies noted. When the engine was manually rotated, no anomalies were noted through the drive train to the accessory section. The fuel pumps were examined and tested with no anomalies noted. The two carburetor float bowls and floats were removed and examined. One float bowl displayed contamination near the main jet and the other float bowl displayed contamination near one of the floats. The contamination was consistent with grease that was used on the float bowl gaskets. Fuel was added to the header tank, and about 1/2 liter of oil was added before the engine was test run several times. During the first two runs, all engine parameters were normal at a low rpm setting. However, as the throttle was advanced from 2,000 to 3,500 rpm and higher, the engine began to run rough and lose power. Before the third engine run, the original carburetor floats were removed and replaced with new floats. The subsequent engine run results were similar to the earlier runs where the engine lost power. As the floats were determined not to be an issue, the float bowls were resealed. Additional engine runs were accomplished with the new floats installed in addition to the float bowls being resealed. At low rpm settings and when the throttle was advanced to a high rpm setting, no anomalies were noted. On the final two engine runs, the original floats were reinstalled. and the float bowls resealed. During the first run, the throttle was advanced from 2,000 to 4,219 rpm with no anomalies noted. On the second run, the original floats were also checked for leaks. Additionally, when the carburetor bowls were intentionally loosened, at low power settings no anomalies were noted. However, when the throttle was advanced to 4,090 rpm, a loss of engine lost power was observed. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N632MM](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N632MM-2021-03-06), registration cancelled 2021-03-06, S/N S0355, built 2017 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: SCODA AERONAUTICAL Super Petrel - Registry model: [Scoda Aeronautica Ltda SUPER PETREL LS](https://openairdocs.org/model/scoda-aeronautica-ltda-super-petrel-ls) (registry code 06001A5) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Rotax 914UL](https://openairdocs.org/engine/rotax-914ul) (registry code 55553, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: S0355 - Year built: 2017 - Airframe hours: 165 - Engines: Rotax 914 UL2 115 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Special light-sport (Special) - Departed: L70, Agua Dulce, CA - Destination: WJF, Lancaster, CA - Airport: WJF, General Wm J Fox Airfield - Equipment: Auto-pilot, Angle of attack indicator, ADS-B, Stall warning system, Onboard weather, Electronic primary flight display, Electronic multifunction display, Electronic flight bag or handheld device ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 75; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review November 1, 2019; seat: left; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 4,280 total, 165 in this make and model, 4,000 as pilot in command, 25 in the last 90 days, 10 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 250° at 8 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 75 °F, dew point 48 °F - Altimeter: 30.02 inHg - Observed at: KWJF ## 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 20190825011919A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20190825011919A), Aug 25, 2019: Scoda Aeronautica Ltda SUPER PETREL LS, Lancaster, CA, Substantial damage. N632MM departed L70 for flight to wjf. At 5500 feet above the sierra paloma mountains a descent was started to wjf. Then engine went to low power and was… ## Docket (8 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on May 24, 2022, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=100139. 15.1 MB in all. - Electronic devices - specialist's factual report (item 1, PDF, 15 pages, 3.5 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=11819480&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Electronic%20Devices%20-%20Specialist%27s%20Factual%20Report-Rel.pdf - Attachment 1 to electronic devices - specialist's factual report -- tabular data (item 2, CSV, 3.6 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=11819270&FileExtension=csv&FileName=Attachment%201%20to%20Electronic%20Devices%20-%20Specialist%27s%20Factual%20Report%20--%20Tabular%20Data-Rel.csv - Attachment 2 to electronic devices - specialist's factual report -- alert data (item 3, CSV, 16 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=11819490&FileExtension=csv&FileName=Attachment%202%20to%20Electronic%20Devices%20-%20Specialist%27s%20Factual%20Report%20--%20Alert%20Data-Rel.csv - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 4, PDF, 11 pages, 5.7 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12883466&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Engine examination report (item 5, PDF, 5 pages, 890 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12883742&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=WPR19LA240%20%20Engine%20Examination-Rel.pdf - Statement of party representatives to NTSB investigation (item 6, PDF, 1 page, 539 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12883364&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Party%20Form_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Release of aircraft wreckage, NTSB form 6120.15 (item 7, PDF, 1 page, 249 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12897324&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Wrecakge%20Release%20Form_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Accident pictures (item 8, PDF, 2 pages, 590 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13871188&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=WPR19LA240%20Accident%20Pictures%20Final-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. --- 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.