Pilot Debrief

PIPER J3C-65 near Rosemount, MN — 2009-10-03

Final reportCEN10LA002
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Date
2009-10-03
Location
Rosemount, MN, USA
Aircraft
PIPER J3C-65
Registration
N70585
Category
Airplane
Highest injury
Serious
Fatalities
0
Phase of flight
Takeoff roll

Probable cause

The pilot's delayed use of carburetor heat while operating in conditions conducive to carburetor icing.

NTSB narrative

The pilot reported that he started the engine and waited for about 10 minutes for the oil temperature to rise before he departed from a grass airstrip. During takeoff, he reported that the airplane “felt slow.” He turned the carburetor heat on, but the engine lost partial power and the airplane "started to sink." He banked to the left to avoid trees. He reported losing altitude, and then the airplane experienced a “stall spin to the left,” impacting a mature corn field. Postaccident inspection of the engine and airframe revealed no preexisting anomalies that would preclude normal operation of the airplane. The observed temperature was 11 degrees Celsius (C) and the dew point was 6 degrees C. The Transport Canada Carburetor Icing chart indicated that at the observed weather conditions the engine was susceptible to “Serious Icing – Any Power.”

Analysis

Primary failure mode
Engine power loss
First missed decision gate
Pilot could have aborted takeoff when the airplane felt slow.

NTSB coding

Evidence available

  • 3 docket documents
View NTSB final reportView NTSB docket

Docket documents3

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