# Accident 20230113000599A: Taylorcraft BL-65, Point Mackenzie, AK, January 13, 2023

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: January 13, 2023, 15:45 local time
- Place: Point Mackenzie, AK
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Cruise/Level Flight
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 61.3325° N, 150.0771° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=61.3325&lon=-150.0771&mi=10
- Aircraft: N29886, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N29886) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Taylorcraft BL-65 (registry code 8850350, https://openairdocs.org/model/taylorcraft-bl-65) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming 0-145B series (registry code 41502, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-145b-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: TAYLORCRAFT BL-65
- Reported engine: LYCOMING 0-145B SERIES
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Private pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 724 total, 700 in this make and model, 11 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ANC23LA013](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC23LA013) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20230113000599A

## Narrative

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

PILOT STATED THAT ON 01/13/2023 AT APPROXIMATELY 1345 HE DEPARTED LAKE HOOD DEPARTING TO THE NORTH. THE ENGINE SUDDENLY LOST POWER OVER POINT MCKENZIE AND MADE A EMERGENCY LANDING ON A NEARBY ROAD.  HE PUSHED THE PLANE TO A WIDE SPOT ON THE ROADSIDE TO BE OUT OF THE WAY OF VEHICLE TRAFFIC AND CALLED HIS MECHANIC WHO STATED HE WOULD BE OUT TO THE SITE.  WHILE WAITING FOR HIS MECHANIC, THE PILOT SAMPLED THE MAIN TANK AND FOUND WATER PRESENT, HE DRAINED THE TANK UNTIL NO WATER WAS PRESENT. WHEN HIS MECHANIC ARRIVED HE TOLD HIM ABOUT THE WATER IN THE FUEL. THEY PULLED OFF THE COWLING AND DRAINED FUEL FROM THE CARBURETOR BOWL. THEY PERFORMED AN ENGINE RUN UP AT 2000 RPM’S FOR APPROXIMATELY 5 MINUTES. NO ISSUES WERE NOTED.  THE PILOT THEN DEPARTED FROM THE ROAD WITH HIS AIRCRAFT AND HEADED BACK TOWARDS LAKE HOOD. WHEN HE WAS OVER TWIN ISLAND LAKE THE ENGINE ONCE AGAIN LOST POWER, HE TURNED AND ONCE AGAIN MADE A SECOND EMERGENCY LANDING ON THE SAME ROAD.  ON ROLL OUT THE RIGHT WING HIT A SIGN AND TURNED THE PLAN TO THE RIGHT AND INTO THE SOFT SNOW OF THE SHOULDER. THE PLANE STOPPED IN A NOSE DOWN ATTITUDE. THE PILOT EXITED THE PLANE AND REMOVED ALL GEAR FROM THE PLANE, CALLED HIS MECHANIC WHO CAME AND PICKED HIM UP. AFTER ARRIVING TO THE SCENE SEVERAL BYSTANDERS ALONG WITH THE PILOT AND MECHANIC PULLED THE TAIL DOWN TO AN UPRIGHT POSITION WITH A ROPE AND VEHICLE, MOVED IT TO A NEARBY DRIVEWAY AND RETURNED THE NEXT MORNING TO REMOVE THE WINGS AND TOW THE AIRCRAFT TO THE WASILLA AIRPORT. PILOT DID SAY HE SUMPED HIS TANKS IN THE MORNING AS PART OF HIS PREFLIGHT PRIOR TO HIS FLIGHT OUT OF LAKE HOOD.

## 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 ANC23LA013](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC23LA013), Jan 14, 2023: Taylorcraft BL-65 (N29886), Wasilla, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to remove all water from the fuel tank, which resulted in fuel contamination and a subsequent partial 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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