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July 4, 2001 · Cessna 182 · N5142D

Taylorville, IL

Overview

Report Status
Final with probable cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
July 4, 2001
Injury Outcomes
No injuries (1 uninjured)
Location
Taylorville, IL
Aircraft
Cessna 182
Tail Number
N5142D
Operator
Mid-American Sport Parachute Club
Injuries
None
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
CHI01LA193

The airplane nosed over in a cornfield during a forced landing after a total loss of engine power. The pilot reported he released the parachutists at 10,100 feet msl over the drop zone and started the descent to the south due to better cloud clearances and to keep clear of company traffic. He reported that he applied carburetor heat before descending. At 3,000 - 4,000 feet msl, he applied throttle but there was no engine response. The pilot attempted the engine re-start procedures but without result. The pilot made a forced landing on a cornfield, and nosed over almost immediately after the main landing gear hit the ground. The airplane and engine examination revealed no preexisting anomalies. The engine was run and it ran normally except for some minor vibration. The vibration was attributed to both propeller blades being bent aft. The observed weather was: winds 360 degrees at 8 knots, sky clear, 10 miles visibility, temperature 86 degrees F, dewpoint 66 degrees F, altimeter 30.02. According to the Transport Canada "Carburetor Icing Graph", the existing weather conditions fell in the region of "Serious icing - descent power." The FAA issued Advisory Circular (AC) 20-113, "Pilot Precautions and Procedures To Be Taken In Preventing Aircraft Reciprocating Engine Induction System and Fuel System Icing Problems." The AC stated, "…the pilot should regularly use heat under conditions known to be conducive to atmospheric icing…" in order to prevent accidents due to induction system icing. One of the procedures to reduce the likelihood of induction system icing stated, "Heat should be applied for a short time to warm the induction system before beginning a prolonged descent with the engine throttled and left on during the descent. Power lever advancement should be performed periodically during descent to assure that power recovery can be achieved."

NTSB Probable Cause

The pilot's improper procedure and the unsuitable terrain encountered during the forced landing. Additional factors included the carburetor icing and the corn crop.

Full Narrative

On July 4, 2001, at 1430 central daylight time, a Cessna 182, N5142D, operated by Mid-American Sport Parachute Club, Inc., sustained substantial damage when it nosed over during a forced landing on a cornfield about 7 miles south of the Taylorville Airport (TAZ), Taylorville, Illinois. During descent the airplane experienced a loss of engine power and a forced landing was executed to a cornfield. The 14 CFR Part 91 flight departed TAZ at 1410 on a local parachute jumping flight. The commercial pilot was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. The pilot reported he released the parachutists at 10,100 feet msl over the drop zone located at TAZ. He reported he descended to the south due to better cloud clearances and to keep clear of company traffic. He reported that before making the descent he closed the jump door, applied carburetor heat, reduced power to 20 inches of manifold pressure, and pulled the propeller to 2,000 rpm. He reported continuing the descent to about 3,000 - 4,000 feet msl where he started leveling off. When he applied throttle he noticed there was no engine response. He reported, "I then pitched to a lower angle to maintain my airspeed and it is at this time I began to continue my descent. I immediately put mixture, prop, and throttle full in, and verified that carburetor heat was pulled out." The pilot continued to execute engine re-start procedures, but without result. The pilot reported the airplane's location was seven miles from TAZ. He executed a forced landing on a cornfield. He reported the airplane nosed over almost immediately after the main landing gear hit the ground. He exited the airplane through the jump door. The pilot reported he had a total flight time of 327 hours, and 65 hours in the make and model airplane. He had flown 14 hours in make and model within the previous 30 days. A Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Airworthiness Inspector reported aviation fuel could be smelled under the left wing at the accident site, and that the firewall fuel strainer contained what appeared to be 100 Octane Low Lead aviation fuel. On July 12, 2001, he examined the engine and attempted to run it. He reported, "The engine started on the 4 - 5 blade and ran normally except for some minor vibration. The vibration was attributed to both propeller blades being bent aft. One about 40 degrees and the other about 25 degrees. Both mags were checked and performed normally." The observed weather at Decatur, Illinois, located about 30 miles northeast of TAZ, was: winds 360 degrees at 8 knots, sky clear, 10 miles visibility, temperature 86 degrees F, dew point 66 degrees F, altimeter 30.02. According to the Transport Canada "Carburetor Icing Graph", the existing weather conditions fall in the region of "Serious icing - descent power." The FAA issued Advisory Circular (AC) 20-113, "Pilot Precautions and Procedures To Be Taken In Preventing Aircraft Reciprocating Engine Induction System and Fuel System Icing Problems." The AC stated, "…the pilot should regularly use heat under conditions known to be conducive to atmospheric icing…" in order to prevent accidents due to induction system icing. One of the procedures to reduce the likelihood of induction system icing stated, "Heat should be applied for a short time to warm the induction system before beginning a prolonged descent with the engine throttled and left on during the descent. Power lever advancement should be performed periodically during descent to assure that power recovery can be achieved. The pilot should be prepared to turn heat off after power is regained to resume level flight or initiate a go-around from an abandoned approach."

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time14:30 CDT
Nearest Airport0nm
Flight Plan FiledNone
Flight Plan ActivatedNo
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftCessna 182
Tail NumberN5142D
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageSubstantial
OperatorMid-American Sport Parachute Club
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsContinental · O-470 · Reciprocating · 230
Seats4

People & Injuries

Injury SummaryNo injuries (1 uninjured)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured1
Total1
Crew 1Age 23 · First Class · None

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind360° @ 8 kt
Visibility10 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point66 F
Altimeter30.02 inHg
Observation Time18:54
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data