# Accident 20120723018699A: Piper PA-25-235, Off Of Westerly, RI, July 23, 2012

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: July 23, 2012, 14:55 local time
- Place: Off Of Westerly, RI
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Cruise/Level Flight
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 41.2842° N, 71.6672° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.2842&lon=-71.6672&mi=10
- Aircraft: N7313Z, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N7313Z) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Piper PA-25-235 (registry code 7102504, https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-25-235) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming O-540-B4B5 (registry code 42340, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-540-b4b5) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-25-235
- Reported engine: LYCOMING O-540-B4B5
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Airline transport
- Pilot flight hours: 9,250 total, 700 in this make and model, 20 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ERA12LA474](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA12LA474) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20120723018699A

## Narrative

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

AIRCRAFT DEPARTED WESTERLY, RI (WST) FOR A BANNER TOWING OPERATION ALONG THE SHORE OF BLOCK ISLAND, RI. THE PILOT REPORTS THAT WHILE IN CRUISE FLIGHT AT 650 FEET OVER BLOCK ISLAND SOUND, THE ENGINE SHUDDERED VIOLENTLY AND IMMEDIATELY BEGAN LOSING POWER. CARBURATOR HEAT WAS APPLIED WITH NO EFFECT. THE PILOT ISSUED A MAYDAY CALL AND PREPARED FOR A WATER LANDING. THE IMPACT CAUSED THE MAIN LANDING GEAR ASSEMBLIES TO SEPERATE FROM THE AIRCRAFT. THE PILOT JUMPED INTO THE WATER AND REPORTS THAT THE AIRCRAFT SANK ALMOST IMMEDIATELY. USING THE TWO LANDING GEAR ASSEMBLIES FOR FLOTATION, THE PILOT REMAINED IN THE WATER FOR ABOUT AN HOUR BEFORE BEING PICKED UP BY A GOOD SAMARITAN.

## 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 ERA12LA474](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA12LA474), Jul 23, 2012: Piper PA-25-235 (N7313Z), Westerly, RI, substantial damage. Probable cause: A total loss of engine power for reasons that could not be determined due to the postaccident salt water-damaged state of the engine.

## Other reports on N7313Z (1)

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

- [Accident 19851113056879A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19851113056879A), Nov 13, 1985: Piper PA25235 (N7313Z), Holly, CO, Destroyed. Struck powerlines, fell to ground and burned during simulated spraying run. No mechanical malfunction found.

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.

---
OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.