20130716011689A

Accident · Substantial damage

FAA accident report · Piper PA-22 · Mapleton, MN · July 16, 2013

Date: July 16, 2013 · 17:00 local
Place: Mapleton, MN
Phase of flight: Cruise/Level Flight
Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
Damage: Substantial damage
Aircraft: N663A
NTSB investigation: NTSBCEN13LA417
Reported as: Piper PA-22
Reported engine: Lycoming 0-290 series
People aboard: 2
Fatal injuries: 0
Other injuries: 0
Pilot’s certificates: Commercial pilot, flight instructor
Pilot’s flight hours: 1,180 total6 in this make and model2 in the last 90 days

N663ARegistration cancelled Sep 13, 2018 · Piper PA-22S/N 22-66 · Built 1951 Airframe modelPiper PA-22 Engine modelLycoming 0-290 series4 cycle

From the FAA’s Accident/Incident Data System (AIDS), through its Aviation Safety Information Portal, as reported. The NTSB investigates accidents separately, and its record of an accident is the fuller one. The aircraft is matched to the registry 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.

What happened

The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.

Pilot reported that he performed 3 takeoffs and landings with the aircraft staying in the airport pattern. He then went for a short flight of about .2 hours with a passenger. After landing, he again departed with another passenger. On that flight the engine began running rough and seemed to stop and start. The pilot applied carb heat and throttle which did not appear to make a difference. The pilot stated that he then switched the selector valve to the right fuel tank and the engine almost died completely. He then switched back to the left fuel tank and the engine proceeded to cycle on and off again. The pilot decided to make an off airport landing in a corn field. After a short landing roll, the pilot reported that the aircraft stopped abruptly and flipped over onto it's back. Pilot and passenger were uninjured and were able to exit the aircraft on their own.

As the FAA filed it

PILOT REPORTED THAT HE PERFORMED 3 TAKEOFFS AND LANDINGS WITH THE AIRCRAFT STAYING IN THE AIRPORT PATTERN. HE THEN WENT FOR A SHORT FLIGHT OF ABOUT .2 HOURS WITH A PASSENGER. AFTER LANDING, HE AGAIN DEPARTED WITH ANOTHER PASSENGER. ON THAT FLIGHT THE ENGINE BEGAN RUNNING ROUGH AND SEEMED TO STOP AND START. THE PILOT APPLIED CARB HEAT AND THROTTLE WHICH DID NOT APPEAR TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE. THE PILOT STATED THAT HE THEN SWITCHED THE SELECTOR VALVE TO THE RIGHT FUEL TANK AND THE ENGINE ALMOST DIED COMPLETELY. HE THEN SWITCHED BACK TO THE LEFT FUEL TANK AND THE ENGINE PROCEEDED TO CYCLE ON AND OFF AGAIN. THE PILOT DECIDED TO MAKE AN OFF AIRPORT LANDING IN A CORN FIELD. AFTER A SHORT LANDING ROLL, THE PILOT REPORTED THAT THE AIRCRAFT STOPPED ABRUPTLY AND FLIPPED OVER ONTO IT'S BACK. PILOT AND PASSENGER WERE UNINJURED AND WERE ABLE TO EXIT THE AIRCRAFT ON THEIR OWN.

NTSB investigation

The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.

NTSB CEN13LA417Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportMapleton, MNThe total loss of engine power due to water contamination of the fuel, which resulted in the pilot's forced landing to unsuitable terrain.Jul 16, 2013 · Substantial damage