# Accident 20150129001179A: Piper PA-12, Ridgefield, WA, January 29, 2015

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: January 29, 2015, 15:35 local time
- Place: Ridgefield, WA
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Cruise/Level Flight
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 45.7686° N, 122.7200° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=45.7686&lon=-122.7200&mi=10
- Aircraft: N918TF, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N918TF) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Piper PA-12 (registry code 7101202, https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-12) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming 0-290 series (registry code 41506, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-290-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-12
- Reported engine: LYCOMING 0-290 SERIES
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Private pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 3,025 total, 172 in this make and model, 12 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB WPR15CA095](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR15CA095) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20150129001179A

## Narrative

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

WHILE FLYING NORTH FROM PEARSON FLD. (VUO) THE ENGINE HAD A SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER.

ACCORDING TO THE PILOT THE FLIGHT WAS FOR CURRENCY AND PRACTICE OF GROUND REFERENCE MANEUVERS.  WITHIN 15 MINUTES OF THE FLIGHT WAS WHEN THE ENGINE LOST 80% POWER.  THE NOSE OF THE AIRCRAFT DROPPED TO MAINTAIN THE TRIMMED AIRSPEED AND A DESCENT WAS ESTABLISHED.  THE PILOT ESTABLISHED A PATTERN OVER A SUITABLE FIELD USING A NORTHERLY HEADING AS DOWNWIND, TURNED EAST ON BASE LEG, AND THE FINAL APPROACH TO THE SOUTH INTO THE WIND TO A GRASSY FIELD FOR LANDING.  THE PLANE CAME TO A STOP IN THE BRUSH AT THE SOUTHERN EDGE OF THE FIELD.

ALTHOUGH THE PILOT APPLIED CARBURETOR HEAT TWICE DURING THE 15 MINUTE FLIGHT, ONCE AT LEVEL OFF WITH NO SIGNIFICANT CHANGE OF POWER AND THEN AT THE TIME OF SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER, THE NTSB CONCLUSION IS THAT THE POWER LOSS WAS DUE TO CARBURETOR ICING.

THE ONSITE INVESTIGATION PROVED THAT AT THE END OF THE ROLLOUT THE AIRCRAFT STRUCK A TREE LINE AND CAUSED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE TO BOTH WINGS AND SUPPORT STRUTS.  THE LANDING GEAR HAD MINOR DAMAGE.  A CONTINUITY CHECK OF ALL CONTROLS WAS PERFORMED. FUEL WAS SAMPLED FROM ALL SOURCES AND WAS FOUND CLEAR OF DEBRIS AND NO WATER WAS FOUND.  THE OIL SYSTEM SHOWED SUFFICIENT OIL QUANTITY.  WITH APPROVAL FORM THE NTSB THE ENGINE WAS STARTED AND RUN.  THE ENGINE APPEARED TO RUN NORMALLY, PRODUCED POWER (2400RPM) AND A MAGNETO CHECK WAS PERFORMED AND PASSED.  THE APPLICATION OF CARBURETOR HEAT PRODUCED A DROP IN RPM.

## 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 WPR15CA095](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR15CA095), Jan 29, 2015: Piper PA 12 (N918TF), Ridgefield, WA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's delayed action to use carburetor heat before the engine experienced a total loss of power while operating at cruise flight in conditions conducive to carburetor icing.

## Other reports on N918TF (1)

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

- [Accident 20010716016519A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20010716016519A), Jul 16, 2001: Piper PA12 (N918TF), Oregon City, OR, No damage. (.19) On July 16, 2001, approximately 1720 pacific daylight time, a Piper PA-12 floatplane, N918TF, registered to an individual, and being flown by a private…

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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