# Accident 19970914026909A: Piper PA12, Healy River, AK, September 14, 1997

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: September 14, 1997, 08:30 local time
- Place: Healy River, AK
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Fcd/Prec Ldg From Cruise
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 63.6806° N, 150.0307° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=63.6806&lon=-150.0307&mi=10
- Aircraft: N7894H, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N7894H-2013-05-09) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Piper PA-12 (registry code 7101202, https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-12) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming 0-235 series (registry code 41505, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-235-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA12
- Reported engine: LYC O235C
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 3,700 total, 50 in this make and model
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ANC97LA137](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC97LA137) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19970914026909A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

AIRCRAFT CRASHED ON LANDING. (.4) ON SEPTEMBER 14, 1997, AT 0830 ALASKA DAYLIGHT TIME, A PIPER PA-12 AIRPLANE, N7894H, SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE WHEN IT NOSED OVER DURING A PRECAUTIONARY LANDING ON AN 800 FOOT LONG GRAVEL STRIP ON THE MOODY RIVER, ABOUT 20 MILES EAST OF HEALY, ALASKA. THE AIRLINE TRANSPORT CERTIFICATED PILOT WAS UNINJURED. THE FLIGHT WAS CONDUCTED UNDER 14 CFR PART 91 AS A PERSONAL, LOCAL FLIGHT, AND DEPARTED THE HEALY RIVER AIRPORT, HEALY, AT 0800. VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT, AND NO FLIGHT PLAN WAS FILED. THE PILOT STATED IN AN INTERVIEW WITH THE NTSB INVESTIGATOR, THAT DURING CLIMB TO CRUISE, THE ENGINE RPM BEGAN TO DECREASE. HE SAID THAT APPLICATION OF CARBURETOR HEAT, AND SWITCHING MAGNETOS DID NOT CORRECT THE PROBLEM. THE PILOT INDICATED THAT HE WAS MAKING A PRECAUTIONARY LANDING AT AN 800 FOOT LANDING STRIP, AND THAT HORSES WERE ON THE STRIP. AFTER FLYING OVER THE HORSES, THE AIRPLANE LANDED ON THE REMAINING STRIP AND BOUNCED. THE PILOT ATTEMPTED TO ABORT THE LANDING, THE LANDING GEAR CONTACTED A BERM, AND THE AIRPLANE NOSED OVER. THE NTSB INVESTIGATOR INTERVIEWED THE                                              PERSONS WHO RECOVERED THE AIRPLANE. THEY REPORTED AN UNKNOWN QUANTITY OF WATER IN THE FUEL, AND WORN FUEL TANK CAP GASKETS. THE ENGINE WAS TESTED AT AN ENGINE SHOP IN ANCHORAGE, ALASKA, AND WITNESSED BY AN FAA AIRWORTHINESS INSPECTOR. THE ENGINE PRODUCED A STATIC RPM OF 1,900 RPM, WHICH IS THE MINIMUM REQUIRED BY THE TYPE CERTIFICATE. THE INSPECTOR STATED THAT CYLINDER COMPRESSION WAS LOW, AND THE ENGINE WAS "TIRED."

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB ANC97LA137](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC97LA137), Sep 14, 1997: Piper PA-12 (N7894H), Healy, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's inadequate preflight which failed to detect water contamination in the fuel tanks. Factors were the worn gaskets on the fuel tank caps, and the pilot's decision to abort the partial power…

## Other reports on N7894H (1)

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.

- [Incident 19780205006019I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19780205006019I), Feb 5, 1978: Piper PA12 (N7894H), Canadaigua, NY, Minor damage. Pilot landed on frozen lake, skis broke through thin ice.

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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