What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
(-23)On June 19, 2001, Piper PA-32-300, N43551 departed quinhkgak, Alaska enroute back to bethel, alaksa when the engine surged and quit approximately 500 feet above the ground. The pilot switched tanks from the right tip tank to the right main tank and turned on the electric fuel pump. The engine did not restart and the aircraft was landed off-airport causing substantial damage to the aircraft. On July 3, 2001 inspector stanley bernard from the anchorage FSDO-03, examined the aircraft after recovery in bethel and was able to run the engine at idle. Due to the damage to the propeller causing an imbalance condition the engine operation above 1,000 RPM was not possible. Cause in still under investigation. Update 12/20/01:investigation could not confirm component failure. Water injestion is suspected.
As the FAA filed it
(-23)ON JUNE 19, 2001, PIPER PA-32-300, N43551 DEPARTED QUINHKGAK, ALASKA ENROUTE BACK TO BETHEL, ALAKSA WHEN THE ENGINE SURGED AND QUIT APPROXIMATELY 500 FEET ABOVE THE GROUND. THE PILOT SWITCHED TANKS FROM THE RIGHT TIP TANK TO THE RIGHT MAIN TANK AND TURNED ON THE ELECTRIC FUEL PUMP. THE ENGINE DID NOT RESTART AND THE AIRCRAFT WAS LANDED OFF-AIRPORT CAUSING SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE TO THE AIRCRAFT. ON JULY 3, 2001 INSPECTOR STANLEY BERNARD FROM THE ANCHORAGE FSDO-03, EXAMINED THE AIRCRAFT AFTER RECOVERY IN BETHEL AND WAS ABLE TO RUN THE ENGINE AT IDLE. DUE TO THE DAMAGE TO THE PROPELLER CAUSING AN IMBALANCE CONDITION THE ENGINE OPERATION ABOVE 1,000 RPM WAS NOT POSSIBLE. CAUSE IN STILL UNDER INVESTIGATION. UPDATE 12/20/01:INVESTIGATION COULD NOT CONFIRM COMPONENT FAILURE. WATER INJESTION IS SUSPECTED.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.
Other reports on N43551 · 1
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.