# Incident 20210101000429I: Piper PA-12, Fairbanks, AK, January 1, 2021

- Type: FAA incident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: January 1, 2021, 13:52 local time
- Place: Fairbanks, AK
- Damage: Minor damage
- Phase of flight: Cruise/Level Flight
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 64.8378° N, 147.7164° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Fairbanks, AK, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=64.8378&lon=-147.7164&mi=10
- Aircraft: N3937M, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N3937M) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Piper PA-12 (registry code 7101202, https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-12) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming 0-235 series (registry code 41505, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-235-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-12
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Private pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 436 total, 345 in this make and model, 8 in the last 90 days
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20210101000429I

## Narrative

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

SIX TO EIGHT MILES AWAY FROM THE AIRPORT AND AT APPROXIMATELY 1200-1300 FEET MSL, AIRCRAFT ENGINE CRANKSHAFT SEAL BECAME DISLODGED CAUSING A DISCHARGE OF OIL ONTO THE COWLING AND WINDSCREEN. AIRMAN TURNED BACK TO RETURN TO FAIRBANKS INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT. AFTER AN INITIAL CLIMBING TURN, THE AIRMAN ENTERED A DECENT TO THE AIRPORT. THE DESIRED LANDING SURFACE COMMUNICATED TO ATC WAS "SKI 2".  AT A POINT PRIOR TO REACHING "SKI 2", THE AIRMAN FELT HE WAS IN A POSITION TO SAFELY MAKE THE RUNWAY AND ELECTED TO SHUT DOWN THE ENGINE TO PREVENT IT FROM SEIZING.  THIS PRECAUTIONARY SHUTDOWN RESULTED IN HIS INABILITY TO REACH THE SKI STRIP. THE PILOT NOTIFIED ATC THAT HE WOULD BE LANDING ON TAXIWAY C. DURING ATTEMPT TO LAND ON THE TAXIWAY, HE FLARED TOO EARLY RESULTING IN A HIGHER THAN NORMAL SINK RATE AND POSSIBLE STALL.  THE RESULT WAS A HARD LANDING WHICH COLLAPSED THE AIRCRAFT'S LANDING GEAR.

## Other reports on N3937M (2)

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

- [Accident 20220811014469A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20220811014469A), Aug 11, 2022: Piper PA-12 (N3937M), Arctic Village, AK, Substantial damage, 1 fatal. Pilot in command (PIC) messaged [privacy data omitted]at 0045L on 8/11/2022 requesting her to check weather cams for artic Village. [privacy data omitted]…
- [Accident 20180601006809A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20180601006809A), Jun 1, 2018: Piper PA-12 (N3937M), Nulato, AK, Substantial damage. Pilot decided to land on a ridge top. He made a first pass and drug a wheel to check the surface. On the second pass, he miss judged his height and speed. He…

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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