# Incident 20180517014249I: Piper PA-18A 150, Cordova, AK, May 17, 2018

- Type: FAA incident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: May 17, 2018, 19:20 local time
- Place: Cordova, AK
- Damage: Minor damage
- Phase of flight: Landing: Touchdown
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 60.5428° N, 145.7575° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Cordova, AK, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=60.5428&lon=-145.7575&mi=10
- Aircraft: N8086D, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N8086D) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Piper PA-18A 150 (registry code 7101837, https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-18a-150) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming 0-320 series (registry code 41508, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-18A 150
- Reported engine: LYCOMING 0-320 SERIES
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Private pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 320 total, 280 in this make and model, 20 in the last 90 days
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20180517014249I

## Narrative

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

THE PILOT DEPARTED CORDOVA AFTER WATCHING THE TIDE TABLES AND THE WEATHER.  HE PLANNED TO ARRIVE AT HIS CABIN ON THE BEACH WITH HIS CONVENTIONAL GEAR, WHEEL AIRPLANE WHEN THE TIDE WAS OUT.  THE PILOT RAN THE TIRES ALONG THE BEACH TO DETERMINE THE SUITABILITY OF THE LANDING AREA.  THEN, ON DOWNWIND FOR LANDING, THE PILOT RAN THE LANDING CHECKLIST.  AFTER PULLING OUT THE CARBURETOR HEAT, THE ENGINE LOST POWER AT APPROXIMATELY 500 FEET AGL.  THE PILOT INCREASED THE THROTTLE, BUT THE ENGINE THEN QUIT.  THE ENGINE DID START FOR A BRIEF PERIOD, BUT THEN QUIT AGAIN.  THE PILOT MAINTAINED AIRCRAFT CONTROL BUT LANDED SHORT OF HIS INTENDED LANDED AREA.  THE LANDING GEAR COLLAPSED AFTER CONTACTING A SAND DUNE.  THERE WERE NO INJURIES TO THE PILOT OR PASSENGER AND MINOR DAMAGE TO THE AIRCRAFT.  THE AIRCRAFT HAD NO PREIMPACT MECHANICAL MALFUNCTION HOWEVER, BASED UPON THE TEMPERATURE/ DEWPOINT SPREAD (48 DEG F/ 47 DEG F WITH 96% RELATIVE HUMIDITY), CARBURETOR ICING IS SUSPECTED TO HAVE CAUSED THE LOSS OF ENGINE POWER.

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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