Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Oshkosh, Wisconsin 54901
Tuesady, July 30, 2002 10:37 CDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

During initial climb the engine experienced a loss of power and the pilot executed a forced landing. During the forced landing the tailwheel contacted a power transmission line. The pilot stated he performed a check of the engine and flight controls prior to the takeoff roll, including a check of the carburetor heat, magnetos, oil pressure and engine temperatures. The pilot reported the airplane had approximately 16 gallons of fuel prior to the accident flight. The engine was test-run successfully, running smoothly at all power settings and producing a maximum rpm of 2,100. A pilot with extensive experience in the accident airplane make and model reported, "I learned many years ago that if I were sitting idling, or just [taxing], waiting for takeoff, in hot and humid air, that it was necessary to keep the carburetor heat on during idling to prevent formation of ice in the venturi throat of the carburetor. If not done, there would be a loss of power on takeoff and climb out. It takes only a minute or so for such ice accumulation to occur in some cases." According to a carburetor ice potential chart, the weather conditions were conducive for serious icing during decent power.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The partial loss of engine power due to carburetor icing. Factors to the accident include the weather conditions conducive to carburetor icing and the transmission wire.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 7/30/2002
Event Day of the Week Tuesday
Time of Event 1037
Event Time Zone Central Daylight Time
Event City Oshkosh
Event State WISCONSIN
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 54901
Event Date Year 2002
Event Date Month 7
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 435904N
Event Location Longitude 0883325W
Event Location Airport --
Event Location Nearest Airport ID --
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1053 Central Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) --
Weather Observation Facility ID OSH
Elevation of weather observation facility 808
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation CDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height --
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height --
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 28
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 21
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 200
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 10
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29.97
Density Altitude (feet) 2490
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Serious
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 4
Injury Total Serious 1
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 14417
NTSB Notification Source FAA
NTSB Notification Date Jul 30 2002 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1326
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information DMS
Date of most recent change to record Nov 25 2003 11:36AM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\MONR
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office Milwaukee -FSDO

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N176H
NTSB Number CHI02LA222
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? No
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name White
Aircraft Model New Standard D-25
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 138
Certified Max Gross Weight 3400
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 5
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection 100 Hour
Date of Last Inspection --
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name Rhineback Aerodrome Museum
Aircraft Owner Street Address PO Box 229
Aircraft Owner City Rhineback
Aircraft Owner State NY
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 12572
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name --
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address --
Operator City --
Operator State --
Operator Country --
Operator Zip code --
Operator Code --
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? --
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation --
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Air Race/Show
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code OSH
Departure City Oshkosh
Departure State WI
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1037
Departure Time Zone CDT
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code OSH
Destination City --
Destination State WI
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight Climb
Report sent to ICAO? No
Evacuation occurred No
Date of most recent change to record Oct 15 2003 8:30AM
User who most recently changed record SULP
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location --
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight Yes
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --