# Accident 20120224003619A: Piper PA-28-161, Rapid City, SD, February 24, 2012

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: February 24, 2012, 13:30 local time
- Place: Rapid City, SD
- Airport: Rapid City Regional
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Climb
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 44.0381° N, 102.8261° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=44.0381&lon=-102.8261&mi=10
- Aircraft: N20GG, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N20GG) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Piper PA-28-161 (registry code 7102803, https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-161) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming 0-320 series (registry code 41508, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28-161
- Reported engine: LYCOMING 0-320 SERIES
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CEN12LA175](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN12LA175) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20120224003619A

## Narrative

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

ON 2/24/2012, AT APPROXIMATELY 1330 LOCAL, THE FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR PILOT AND HIS INSTRUMENT STUDENT WERE ON AN IFR FLIGHT PLAN FROM RAP TO THEIR HOME BASE (HON).  THEY WERE ASSIGNED 9000'MSL.  THE PILOT REPORTED THEY WERE IN IMC CONDITIONS.  HE REPORTED THE AIRCRAFT QUIT CLIMBING AT 6500'MSL AND THE ENGINE STARTED LOSING RPM.  THE PILOT PULLED ON THE CARBURETOR HEAT, SWITCHED TANKS, PUT ON THE AUX FUEL PUMP.  THE PILOT TURNED OFF THE CARB HEAT AND HAD SOME POWER RETURN BY ADJUSTING THE MIXTURE.  THEY ATTEMPTED TO RETURN TO RAP.  WHEN THE PILOT PUT THE CARB HEAT BACK ON, HE STATED THE ENGINE QUIT ENTIRELY AND THEY WERE FORCED TO MAKE AN EMERGENCY OFF AIRPORT LANDING.  THE AIRCRAFT RECEIVED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE TO THE PROP, NOSE GEAR, ENGINE MOUNT, FIREWALL, FIREWALL LOWER BULKHEAD, AND THE BELLY SKIN.  THERE WERE NO INJURIES.  THE AIRCRAFT WAS NOT ACCESSIBLE TO THE FAA UNTIL 2/29/2012.

## 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 CEN12LA175](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN12LA175), Feb 24, 2012: Piper PA-28-161 (N20GG), Rapid City, SD, substantial damage. Probable cause: The loss of engine power during climb due to carburetor icing. Contributing to the accident was the limited travel of the carburetor heat valve which prevented application of maximum carburetor heat.

## Other reports on N20GG (1)

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

- [Incident 19900421021309I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19900421021309I), Apr 21, 1990: Piper PA28161 (N20GG), Huron, SD, Minor damage. Pilot missed turnoff while exiting runway. Stopped in grass. Nose wheel dropped in ditch taxiing back to taxiway.

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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