# NTSB ANC02LA069: Piper PA-32-300, N2947N, Kake, AK, June 25, 2002 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: June 25, 2002, 11:45 local (19:45 UTC) - Place: Kake, AK - Coordinates: 57.056667, -133.631668 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=57.0567&lon=-133.6317&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 3 minor, 3 uninjured - Status: Completed, report April 29, 2003 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - Parties: FAA Juneau FSDO-05 - NTSB case key (mKey): 55163 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC02LA069 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/55163/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=55163 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC02LA069 ## Probable cause The in-flight separation of the upper engine cowling from the airplane. A factor contributing to the accident was the soft, sandy terrain of the landing area. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Airframe/component/system failure/malfunction, cruise - miscellaneous,bolt/nut/fastener/clamp/spring - worn - cooling system,cowling - separation (cause) - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, emergency landing - terrain condition - loose gravel/sandy (contributing factor) - landing gear,nose gear - collapsed ## Analysis During a scheduled 14 CFR Part 135 commuter flight, an engine cowling latch disengaged in cruise flight, and the upper cowling opened and separated from the airplane. Wind passing over the open engine compartment extracted the engine oil dipstick, and oil siphoned from the dipstick tube covered the airplane's windscreen. The pilot declared an emergency, and was joined in-flight by a U. S. Coast Guard helicopter. The helicopter guided the airplane to a beach for an emergency landing. During the landing, the nose wheel of the airplane sank into the soft sand, and the nose gear collapsed, damaging the airplane's firewall. According to a report issued by the FAA aviation safety inspector, who inspected the accident airplane, the cowling latch receptacles displayed significant wear patterns. ## Factual narrative On June 25, 2002, about 1145 Alaska daylight time, a Piper PA-32-300 airplane, N2947N, sustained substantial damage when it encountered soft sandy terrain during an emergency landing on a beach about 10 miles southeast of Kake, Alaska. The airplane was being operated as a visual flight rules (VFR) scheduled passenger flight under Title 14, CFR Part 135, when the accident occurred. The airplane was operated by L A B Flying Service Inc., Haines, Alaska, as Flight 523. The commercial pilot received minor injuries, two passengers received minor injuries, and the three other passengers were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and company VFR flight following procedures were in effect. The flight originated at Kake, about 1129, and was bound for Petersburg, Alaska. During a telephone conversation with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigator-in-charge (IIC) on June 25, the director of maintenance for the operator said the accident airplane was in cruise flight when the upper engine cowling separated from the airplane. He said he believed the wind passing over the open engine compartment extracted the engine oil dipstick, which also departed the airplane. He said oil siphoned from the dipstick tube covered the windscreen, and the pilot declared an emergency. A U. S. Coast Guard helicopter flying in the area joined up with the accident airplane in-flight, and directed the pilot to a sandy beach suitable for an emergency landing. During landing, the nose wheel sank into the soft sand and collapsed, damaging the airplane's firewall. During a telephone conversation with the IIC on July 8, the director of maintenance said the airplane's damaged firewall would have to be replaced. In a written statement to the NTSB, the pilot reported that he believed the engine cowling separation from the airplane was the result of a bird strike. None of the individuals previously interviewed during the course of the investigation mentioned a bird strike. A report issued by the FAA aviation safety inspector, who examined the accident airplane, noted that the upper cowling assembly was missing except for a full length section from the left side approximately 10 inches wide. The report further noted significant wear patterns on the right-side lower cowling receptacles, at the points where the upper cowling latch levers contacted the receptacles. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N2947N](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N2947N-2018-03-13), registration cancelled 2018-03-13, S/N 32-7940225, built 1979 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Piper PA-32-300 - Registry model: [Piper PA-32-300](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-32-300) (registry code 7103212) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming IO-540 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-540-series) (registry code 41530, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 32-7940225 - Airframe hours: 8965 - Engines: Lycoming IO-540 300 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Part 135 - Operator: L A B Flying Service Inc, doing business as L A B Flying Service Inc. - Registered owner: Layton A. Bennett - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: AAIP, June 23, 2002, 5.6 hours before - Departed: PAFE, Kake, AK - Destination: PAPG, Petersburg, AK - Flight plan: Company VFR ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 25; injuries: minor; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; last flight review March 15, 2002; seat: left; flight hours: 1,358 total, 320 in this make and model, 1,262 as pilot in command, 239 in the last 90 days, 132 in the last 30 days, 5 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 170° at 8 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 57 °F, dew point 50 °F - Altimeter: 29.79 inHg - Observed at: PAFE ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20020625035959A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20020625035959A), Jun 25, 2002: Piper PA32300, Kake, AK, Substantial damage. (-23) Right side of engine cowling separated from the aircraft in flight. The dipstick was also lost resultin in oil being scavenged from the engine. Oil… ## Other investigations on N2947N (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 SEA82DA098](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA82DA098), Jun 29, 1982: Piper PA-32-300 (N2947N), Glacier Bay, AK, substantial damage ## Docket (7 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on February 6, 2003, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=55163. 3.4 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 274 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40447057&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Reports from Federal Agencies (item 2, .PDF, 81 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40447058&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Reports%20from%20Federal%20Agencies-Master.PDF - Photo 1: Left side fuselage damage. (FAA Paper Photo. (No Negative or Digital) (item 3, .PDF, 1 photo, 597 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40175978&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201%3A%20Left%20side%20fuselage%20damage.%20(FAA%20Paper%20Photo.%20(No%20Negative%20or%20Digital)-Master.PDF - Photo 2: Right side fuselage damage. (FAA Paper Photo; No Negative or Digital) (item 4, .PDF, 1 photo, 588 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40176041&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%202%3A%20Right%20side%20fuselage%20damage.%20%20(FAA%20Paper%20Photo;%20No%20Negative%20or%20Digital)-Master.PDF - Photo 3: Rear fairing latch. (FAA Paper Photo; No Negative or Digital) (item 5, .PDF, 1 photo, 649 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40176046&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%203%3A%20Rear%20fairing%20latch.%20(FAA%20Paper%20Photo;%20No%20Negative%20or%20Digital)-Master.PDF - Photo 4: Forward fairing latch. (FAA Paper Photo; No Negative or Digital) (item 6, .PDF, 1 photo, 621 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40176053&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%204%3A%20Forward%20fairing%20latch.%20(FAA%20Paper%20Photo;%20No%20Negative%20or%20Digital)-Master.PDF - Photo 5: Typical latch. (FAA Paper Photo; No Negative or Digital) (item 7, .PDF, 1 photo, 592 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40176061&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%205%3A%20Typical%20latch.%20(FAA%20Paper%20Photo;%20No%20Negative%20or%20Digital)-Master.PDF 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.