Pilot Debrief

T BIRD GOLDEN CIRCLE AIR INC II near Clara City, MN — 2012-04-14

Final reportCEN12LA244
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Date
2012-04-14
Location
Clara City, MN, USA
Aircraft
T BIRD GOLDEN CIRCLE AIR INC II
Registration
N5654N
Category
Airplane
Highest injury
Serious
Fatalities
0
Phase of flight
Takeoff roll

Probable cause

The airplane's loss of engine power for reasons that could not be determined because postaccident examination did not reveal any malfunctions or anomalies that would have precluded normal operation.

NTSB narrative

The non-certificated pilot changed the airplane's fuel and then conducted several high-speed taxi runs to check engine operation in preparation for the airplane’s first flight after several months of inactivity. Shortly after the subsequent takeoff, the airplane's engine began to run rough and then lost power. The pilot elected to conduct a forced landing in a vacant field. A postaccident examination confirmed flight and engine control continuity and did not detect any preimpact mechanical malfunctions or anomalies. Although review of a carburetor icing probability chart indicated that the weather conditions at the time of the accident were conducive to serious carburetor icing at glide power, the investigation was unable to determine the cause of the loss of engine power.

Analysis

Primary failure mode
Engine power loss
First missed decision gate
Pilot could have delayed takeoff until engine issues were resolved.

NTSB coding

Evidence available

  • 1 docket document
View NTSB final reportView NTSB docket

Docket documents1

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