# Accident 20161122022959A: Piper PA-18-150, Bethel, AK, November 22, 2016

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: November 22, 2016, 14:00 local time
- Place: Bethel, AK
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Takeoff: Climb Out
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Operator: X9ZC
- Location: 61.4147° N, 161.9581° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=61.4147&lon=-161.9581&mi=10
- Aircraft: N83641 (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-18-150
- Reported engine: LYCOMING 0-320 SERIES
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 5,170 total, 187 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ANC17LA007](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC17LA007) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20161122022959A

## Narrative

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

ON 22 NOV 2016, N83641  (A PIPER PA-18-150), DEPARTED A SAND BAR SHORTLY AFTER LANDING FOR A BREAK AT 1330 HOURS. ON CLIMB OUT IT WAS NOTICED THAT ENGINE OIL PRESSURE HAD RED LINED AT 100 PSI. POWER WAS REDUCED TO 2150 RPM'S AND OIL PRESSURE CAME DOWN TO 90 PSI. PIC DECIDED TO HEAD BACK TO BETHEL ALASKA TO INVESTIGATE REASON FOR HIGH OIL PRESSURE. THE AIRCRAFT SLOWLY CLIMBED TO 1000' AGL AND ENGINE GAUGES WERE MONITORED. ALL GAUGES WERE READING IN THE GREEN WITH EXCEPTION OF OIL PRESSURE, WHICH REMAINED IN THE YELLOW ARC. CARBURETOR HEAT WAS PULLED TO CHECK FOR CARBURETOR ICING. AT APPROX. 1347 HOURS SMOKE STARTED TO ENTER CABIN. PIC STATED THAT HE COULD IDENTIFY BY THE SMELL THAT THE SMOKE WAS NOT FROM AN ELECTRICAL SOURCE. PIC TURNED AIRCRAFT INTO THE WIND, PULLED POWER TO IDLE, PUT IN FULL FLAPS, AND DESCENDED PLANNING TO LAND IMMEDIATELY  IF HE SAW FLAMES. AFTER A COUPLE OF SECONDS, NO FLAMES WERE NOTICED AND THE ENGINE CONTINUED TO RUN SMOOTHLY WITH NO NOISES OUT OF THE ORDINARY. PIC MADE THE DECISION TO LAND ON A SMALL FROZEN LAKE NEARBY. PIC ADDED POWER AND AS THE AIRCRAFT WAS TURNED CROSSWIND TO DOWNWIND, THE ENGINE QUIT. A FORCED LANDING WAS MADE ON THE TUNDRA. SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE TO THE AIRCRAFT OCCURRED.

## 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 ANC17LA007](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC17LA007), Nov 22, 2016: Piper PA-18 (N83641), Bethel, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The mechanic's failure to install a whistle slot in the engine breather tube, which resulted in a frozen tube, displacement of the crankshaft oil seal, a loss of oil, and smoke in the cockpit, which…

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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