Pilot Debrief

STINSON 108 near Grand Rapids, MN — 2019-08-21

Final reportCEN19LA281
Sign in to save
Date
2019-08-21
Location
Grand Rapids, MN, USA
Airport
KGPZ
Aircraft
STINSON 108
Registration
N647C
Category
Airplane
Highest injury
Minor
Fatalities
0
Phase of flight
Initial climb

Probable cause

A loss of engine power after takeoff for undetermined reasons.

NTSB narrative

The pilot reported that he allowed the engine to warm-up for about 15 minutes before takeoff and used the carburetor heat. The takeoff was normal, but shortly after establishing climb power, he noticed a reduction in power although the engine was still running smoothly. He turned to a left downwind for landing; however, "several seconds" later, the engine "popped twice and quit completely." The propeller was windmilling. The pilot executed a forced landing and the airplane sustained substantial damage to the aft fuselage, left wing, left horizontal stabilizer, and right float. Postaccident examination of the engine, including a test run, did not reveal any anomalies that would preclude normal operation. Although the weather conditions at the time of the accident were conducive to carburetor icing at glide power, the pilot reported that he used carburetor heat when the airplane was idling on the ground and that the airplane was operating at a high power setting when the engine lost power, both of which would have prevented the accumulation of carburetor ice. Thus, the reason for the loss of engine power could not be determined based on the available information and postaccident examination and testing.

Analysis

Primary failure mode
Engine power loss
First missed decision gate
Pilot could have aborted takeoff after noticing power reduction.

NTSB coding

Evidence available

  • 6 docket documents
View NTSB final reportView NTSB docket

Docket documents6

Related mishaps