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August 3, 2024 · Tailwind W10 · N129WT

West Livingston, TX

Overview

Report Status
Final with probable cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
August 3, 2024
Injury Outcomes
1 injury (1 minor injury)
Location
West Livingston, TX
Aircraft
Tailwind W10 (2014)
Tail Number
N129WT
Injuries
Minor
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
CEN24LA301

About 30 minutes after departing on a cross-country flight, the pilot heard the engine “misfire,” but observed that all engine instruments and temperatures appeared normal. The engine misfired again, and he decided to return to his departure airport. A few minutes later, the engine lost partial power. Unable to maintain altitude, the pilot elected to divert to a nearby airport. During the landing roll, the airplane exited the runway surface, nosed over, and came to rest inverted. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the vertical stabilizer and rudder. Postaccident examination of the airframe and engine revealed no evidence of any preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. Based on the reported weather conditions at the time of the partial power loss, the airplane was operating in conditions conducive to the formation of serious icing at glide power. The pilot reported that he applied carburetor heat and felt that application exacerbated the problem, so he turned off the carburetor heat and continued with the forced landing. It is likely the engine sustained a partial loss of engine power due to the formation of carburetor ice and that the pilot likely turned off the carburetor heat before the ice melted.

NTSB Probable Cause

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

Full Narrative

On August 3, 2024, about 1000 central daylight time, an experimental, amateur-built Tailwind W10 airplane, N129WT, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near West Livingston, Texas. The pilot sustained minor injuries. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. According to the pilot, he departed his local airport for a cross-country flight. About 30 minutes into the flight, he heard the engine “misfire,” but all engine instruments and temperatures appeared normal. The engine misfired again, and he decided to return to his departure airport. A few minutes later, the pilot experienced a significant loss of engine power, and elected to divert to a nearby airport. The pilot stated he did not have a lot of time to troubleshoot and executed a forced landing to the airport. During the landing roll, the airplane exited the runway surface, nosed over, and came to rest inverted. At some point while experiencing the engine issues, the pilot applied carburetor heat, which he felt exacerbated the problem, so he turned off the carburetor heat and continued the forced landing. Postaccident examination of the airplane revealed substantial damage to the vertical stabilizer and rudder. Engine continuity was confirmed, and a compression check of the cylinders, and examination of the spark plugs and the ignition system all showed no anomalies. Fuel was observed in the fuel lines to the carburetor, and fuel flowed freely into the carburetor. Engine control continuity was confirmed. The examination revealed no evidence of any preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. A review of the Carburetor Icing Probability Chart located in the Federal Aviation Administration’s Special Airworthiness Information Bulletin CE-09-35, Carburetor Icing Prevention, dated June 30, 2009, indicated that the atmospheric conditions in which the airplane was operating were conducive to the formation of serious icing at glide power settings.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time10:00 CDT
Nearest AirportLivingston Muni (0nm NNW)
Runway12
Runway Length3704 ft
Runway Width60 ft
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftTailwind W10
Tail NumberN129WT
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageSubstantial
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsLycoming · O-320-E2D · Reciprocating · 160
Seats2

People & Injuries

Injury Summary1 injury (1 minor injury)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor1
Uninjured0
Total1
Crew 1Age 76 · Third Class · Minor

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind300° @ 6 kt
Visibility10 sm
CeilingNone
Altimeter30.04 inHg
Observation Time09:53

Appendix: Source Data