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August 21, 2009 · Taylorcraft BCS-65 · N8023Q

Boulder, CO

Overview

Report Status
Final with probable cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
August 21, 2009
Injury Outcomes
No injuries (2 uninjured)
Location
Boulder, CO
Aircraft
Taylorcraft BCS-65
Tail Number
N8023Q
Injuries
None
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
CEN09LA546

According to the pilot, the engine lost power shortly after takeoff. The pilot performed a forced landing to an adjacent field. During the forced landing the airplane was substantially damaged. An examination of the airplane, conducted by the Federal Aviation Administration, revealed no preaccident anomalies. According to the carburetor icing chart, the meteorological conditions at the time of the accident were conducive to serious carburetor icing at glide power.

NTSB Probable Cause

Environmental issues-Conditions/weather/phenomena-Temp/humidity/pressure-Conducive to carburetor icing-Effect on equipment - C

Full Narrative

On August 21, 2009, approximately 0910 mountain daylight time, a Taylorcraft BCS-65, N8023Q, piloted by a commercial pilot, was substantially damaged during a forced landing near Boulder, Colorado. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The local flight was being conducted under the provision of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulation Part 91 without a flight plan. The pilot and passenger were not injured. The local flight departed Boulder Municipal Airport (KBDU), Boulder, Colorado, approximately 0900. According to the written statement submitted by the pilot, the airplane's engine lost power after taking off from runway 08. She determined that she was not at an altitude sufficient enough to allow for her to return to the airport so she performed a forced landing to an adjacent field. During the forced landing the landing gear "failed." According to a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) airworthiness inspector who traveled to the scene, the firewall was wrinkled, both landing gear collapsed, the propeller blades were bent, and the belly of the airplane fuselage was damaged. According to the pilot, she had approximately nine gallons of fuel on board prior to the accident. Law enforcement officials reported that fuel was leaking from the left side of the airplane. Further examination revealed that the right tank was intentionally plugged and was not being utilized as a source for fuel. Approximately four gallons of fuel was recovered from the left tank following recovery of the airplane. The engine was examined and run under the auspices of the FAA. The engine started without hesitation and ran for several minutes without any problems. Further examination of the magnetos revealed no anomalies. The closest official weather observation station was Rocky Mountain Metropolitan Airport (KBJC), Denver, Colorado, located nine nautical miles (nm) southeast of the accident site. The weather observation station recorded a temperature between 16 degrees Celsius (C) and 20 degrees C around the time of the accident. Dew point was recorded at 7 and 8 degrees C. A review of the carburetor icing chart revealed conditions were conducive for "serious icing at glide power."

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time09:10 MDT
Nearest Airport0nm
Flight Plan FiledNone
Flight Plan ActivatedNo
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftTaylorcraft BCS-65
Tail NumberN8023Q
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageSubstantial
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsContinental · A65-8 · Reciprocating · 65
Seats2

People & Injuries

Injury SummaryNo injuries (2 uninjured)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured2
Total2
Crew 1Age 19 · Third Class · None

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
WindCalm
Visibility70 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point68 F / 45 C
Altimeter30.19 inHg
Observation Time14:54
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data