# Accident 20210329004679A: Piper PA-28-140, Yacolt, WA, March 29, 2021

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: March 29, 2021, 16:47 local time
- Place: Yacolt, WA
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Cruise/Level Flight
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 45.8519° N, 122.2613° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=45.8519&lon=-122.2613&mi=10
- Aircraft: N665FL, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N665FL-2023-08-23) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Piper PA-28-140 (registry code 7102802, https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-140) (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-28-140
- Reported engine: LYCOMING O-360 SERIES
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Airline transport, flight instructor
- Pilot flight hours: 19,427 total, 500 in this make and model, 11 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB WPR21LA151](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR21LA151) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20210329004679A

## Narrative

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

CORRECTION TO 8020-9. AIRCRAFT IS A PA-28.

DURING A PERSONAL FLIGHT FROM BDN TO TIW, N665FL, A PA-28, STARTED TO EXPERIENCE ENGINE TROUBLE. ACCORDING TO THE PILOT, DURING CRUISE FLIGHT IN IMC, THE ENGINE STARTED TO RUN ROUGH AS POSSIBLY HAVING A CYLINDER FAILURE. THE PILOT STATES THAT HE COULD NOT MAINTAIN SUSTAINED CRUISE FLIGHT AND WAS STARTING A DESCENT. THE PILOT VERIFIED THE FUEL WAS ON AND PLACED THE MIXTURE TO FULL RICH. HE PULLED CARB HEAT A COUPLE TIMES BUT THAT DID NOT CORRECT THE ISSUE. ALL ATTEMPTS TO GET THE ENGINE TO RESPOND WERE UNSUCCESSFUL. AFTER THE PILOT BROKE OUT OF THE CLOUDS, HE POINTED THE AIRCRAFT TO THE LEAST FORESTED AREA THAT HE COULD SEE. HE SET THE AIRCRAFT UP IN A CONTROLLED DESCENT AND PREPARED FOR A LANDING INTO THE TREES. HE SLOWED THE AIRCRAFT DOWN TO JUST ABOVE STALL SPEED AND UPON CONTACT WITH THE TREES, THE AIRCRAFT STOPPED FORWARD MOTION AND FELL TO THE GROUND. THE AIRCRAFT CAME TO REST IN AN APPROXIMATE 45 DEGREE ANGLE UPSIDE-DOWN. THE PILOT AND PASSENGER WERE ABLE TO EGRESS THE AIRCRAFT. THERE WAS NO POST CRASH FIRE AND THE OCCUPANTS DID NOT SUSTAIN ANY 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 WPR21LA151](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR21LA151), Mar 29, 2021: Piper PA-28-140 (N665FL), Yacolt, WA, substantial damage. Probable cause: A partial loss of power caused by carbon build up in the cylinders, which prevented the exhaust valves from seating properly. Contributing to the accident was flying in moderate icing conditions…

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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