# Accident 20170813013369A: Piper J3C-65, Salsbury, CT, August 13, 2017

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: August 13, 2017, 17:00 local time
- Place: Salsbury, CT
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Cruise/Level Flight
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 42.0350° N, 73.4339° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.0350&lon=-73.4339&mi=10
- Aircraft: N98550, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N98550-2020-01-10) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Piper J3C-65 (registry code 7100510, https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-j3c-65) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Continental A&C65 series (registry code 17003, https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-a-c65-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER J3C-65
- Reported engine: CONT MOTOR C90-8F
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 2
- Pilot certificates: Flight instructor
- Pilot flight hours: 1,216 total
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ERA17LA275](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA17LA275) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20170813013369A

## Narrative

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

ON AUGUST 13, 2017 AT APPROXIMATELY 16:40 LOCAL, AIRCRAFT N98550 DEPARTED KGBR FROM RUNWAY 29 CLIMBING STRAIGHT OUT TO THE WEST WITH A PILOT AND STUDENT.

APPROXIMATELY 20 MILES SOUTH OF KGBR AT APPROXIMATELY 2800 FEET MSL, ON A WESTERLY HEADING OVER THE TOWN OF SALISBURY, CT, THE ENGINE SUDDENLY STOPPED DEVELOPING POWER.  UP TO THAT POINT THERE WERE NO INDICATIONS OF AN ENGINE PROBLEM.  THE PILOT IMMEDIATELY APPLIED CARBURETOR HEAT,  PITCHED FOR BEST GLIDE, CONFIRMED THAT THE FUEL SELECTOR WAS ON BOTH TANKS, AND CONFIRMED MAGNETOS WERE ON BOTH.  THE PILOT ATTEMPTED TO ISOLATE THE LEFT OR RIGHT MAGNETOS TO NO AVAIL.  HE MOVED THE THROTTLE BACK AND FORTH WITH NO CHANGE TO THE CONDITION.  HE SELECTED THE LEFT AND RIGHT FUEL TANKS WITH NO EFFECT.

THE PILOT DETERMINED THAT HIS BEST OPTION WAS TO TURN INTO THE WIND AND HEAD TO A SMALL FIELD WITH A HOUSE NEARBY.  KNOWING THE FIELD WAS TOO SMALL, HE ELECTED TO ACCOMPLISH A TREE TOP FORCED LANDING.  BEFORE LANDING HE MADE A MAYDAY CALL ON 122.8 AND REPORTED HIS POSITION AND INTENTIONS.

JUST PRIOR TO IMPACT HE NOSED THE AIRCRAFT UP IN PITCH AND STALLED THE AIRCRAFT INTO THE TREES.

THE TAIL CAUGHT A TREE BRANCH CAUSING THE AIRCRAFT TO NOSE DOWN.  THE AIRCRAFT CAME TO A STOP IN THE TREE. THE PILOT TURNED THE FUEL SELECTOR SWITCH AND MAGNETOS TO THE OFF POSITION.  FUEL WAS LEAKING FROM THE LEFT WING TANK. THE PILOT AND PASSENGER EXITED THE AIRCRAFT WITH MINOR INJURIES.

## 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 ERA17LA275](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA17LA275), Aug 13, 2017: Piper J3C (N98550), Salisbury, CT, substantial damage. Probable cause: An improper replacement of the crankshaft by maintenance personnel, which resulted in a failure of the crankshaft gear and total loss of engine power.

## Other reports on N98550 (1)

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

- [Accident 20110705013859A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20110705013859A), Jul 5, 2011: Piper J3C-65 (N98550), Egremont, MA, Substantial damage. On July 5, 2011 at approximately 1748 local, the certificated airline transport pilot took off from runway 29 at the walter j. koladza airport (kgbr) in great…

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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