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Aviation safety reports, made easier to study

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NTSB Report

December 19, 1994 · Cessna 120 · N89885

Torrance, CA

Overview

Report Status
Final with probable cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
December 19, 1994
Injury Outcomes
No injuries (2 uninjured)
Location
Torrance, CA
Aircraft
Cessna 120
Tail Number
N89885
Operator
William R Wood
Injuries
None
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
LAX95LA054

THE PILOT SAID HE WAS PERFORMING TOUCH-AND-GO PATTERN OPERATIONS AND THE ENGINE LOST POWER SHORTLY AFTER LIFT-OFF ON RUNWAY 29R. THE PILOT LANDED ON THE RUNWAY, BUT HAD INSUFFICIENT PAVEMENT REMAINING TO STOP THE AIRCRAFT. THE AIRCRAFT OVERRAN THE END OF THE RUNWAY AND NOSED OVER WHEN SOFT, RECENTLY PLOWED DIRT WAS ENCOUNTERED. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT HE EXAMINED THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT AND FOUND THE DUCT HOSE FROM THE HEAT BOX TO THE CARBURETOR CRIMPED, BLOCKING HOT AIR FLOW TO THE CARBURETOR. THE ENGINE WAS EXAMINED WITH NO DISCREPANCIES NOTED. THE PILOT SUSPECTED CARBURETOR ICE AS THE CAUSE OF THE ENGINE POWER LOSS. THE TEMPERATURE AND DEW POINT AT THE AIRPORT WERE 58 AND 51 DEGREES, RESPECTIVELY. REVIEW OF A CARBURETOR ICING PROBABILITY CHART REVEALED THAT THE NOTED TEMPERATURES WERE WITHIN AN AREA OF THE CHART ANNOTATED 'SERIOUS ICING -- CRUISE OR CLIMB POWER.'

NTSB Probable Cause

A blockage in the carburetor heat air duct which limited the effectiveness of the system's ability to prevent the formation of carburetor ice and resulted in a loss of power. A factor in the accident was the soft nature of the recently plowed ground in the runway overrun area.

Full Narrative

On December 19, 1994, at 1553 Pacific standard time, a Cessna 120, N89885, nosed over during a runway overrun following a rejected takeoff at the Torrance, California, airport. The aircraft was owned and operated by the pilot and was on a local area personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan was filed. The aircraft incurred substantial damage. The certificated private pilot and one passenger were not injured. The flight originated at the Torrance, California, airport on the day of the accident at 1500 hours as a local area flight. According to the pilot's oral and written statements, he was performing touch-and-go pattern operations at the Torrance airport. During the takeoff portion of the last touch-and-go, the engine lost power shortly after lift-off on runway 29R. The pilot landed on the runway, but had insufficient pavement remaining to stop the aircraft. The aircraft overran the end of the runway and nosed over when soft, recently plowed dirt was encountered. The pilot reported that he examined the engine compartment and found the duct hose from the heat box to the carburetor crimped, blocking hot air flow to the carburetor. The engine was examined with no discrepancies noted. The pilot suspected carburetor ice as the cause of the engine power loss. The temperature and dew point at the airport was 58 and 51 degrees, respectively. Review of a carburetor icing probability chart revealed that the noted temperatures were within an area of the chart annotated "serious icing -- cruise or climb power."

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time15:53 PST
Nearest AirportTorrance Municipal (0nm)
Runway29R
Runway Length5000 ft
Runway Width150 ft
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftCessna 120
Tail NumberN89885
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageSubstantial
OperatorWilliam R Wood
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsContinental · C-85-12 · Reciprocating · 85
Seats2

People & Injuries

Injury SummaryNo injuries (2 uninjured)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured2
Total2
Crew 1Age 41 · Third Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind280° @ 11 kt
Visibility3 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point57 / 52
Altimeter30.00 inHg
Observation Time23:53
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data