# NTSB ANC05LA006: Piper J-3, N92469, North Pole, AK, October 14, 2004 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: October 13, 2004, 18:05 local (Oct 14, 2004, 02:05 UTC) - Place: North Pole, AK - Coordinates: 64.833335, -147.449996 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=64.8333&lon=-147.4500&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report June 8, 2005 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - Parties: FAA, Fairbanks Flight Standards District Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 60407 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC05LA006 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/60407/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC05LA006 ## Probable cause An inadequate annual inspection by other maintenance personnel, which resulted in a loss of engine power during takeoff-initial climb, and subsequent collision with trees during the ensuing emergency landing. Factors associated with the accident are a contaminated fuel system, a missing fuel screen, and a clogged fuel gascolator. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, takeoff - initial climb - fuel system - contamination,other than water (contributing factor) - fuel system,screen - missing (contributing factor) - fuel system,gascolator - foreign material/substance (contributing factor) - fuel system,gascolator - flow restricted - fuel system,carburetor - incorrect - maintenance,100-hour inspection - inadequate, other maintenance personnel (cause) - Forced landing, emergency landing after takeoff - In flight collision with object, emergency landing after takeoff - object - tree(s) ## Analysis The commercial certificated flight instructor was giving flight instruction for a tailwheel endorsement to the commercial certificated airplane owner. Shortly after takeoff from the private airstrip, the airplane lost all engine power. The flight instructor assumed control of the airplane, and made a forced landing into adjacent trees. The airplane received structural damage to both wings and the rudder. Postaccident inspection of the airplane by an FAA airworthiness inspector disclosed that the airplane had completed an annual inspection about 9 flight hours prior to the accident flight. The inspector discovered that an incorrect size carburetor had been installed by the mechanic who did the annual inspection, and that the center fuel tank had corrosion and rust contamination, and was missing its outlet fuel screen. The inspector disassembled the fuel gascolator screen, and discovered it was clogged with foreign debris. After the gascolator was cleaned, the inspector reported that "the engine started and ran fine." ## Factual narrative On October 13, 2004, about 1805 Alaska daylight time, a wheel equipped Piper J-3 airplane, N92469, received substantial damage when it collided with trees following a loss of engine power during the initial climb after takeoff from Wright Field, a private airstrip at North Pole, Alaska. The certificated flight instructor and the commercial pilot were not injured. The local instructional flight was operated under Title 14, CFR Part 91, by the airplane owner/commercial pilot. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was in effect. During a telephone conversation with the NTSB investigator-in-charge (IIC) on October 14, the flight instructor related that he was giving instruction to the commercial pilot for a tailwheel endorsement. He related that he had observed the commercial pilot preflight the airplane, which included a check of the center fuel tank for water. He said they started the engine, warmed it up, and taxied to the opposite end of the field where a complete run-up was accomplished, and no anomalies noted. During the ensuing takeoff to the south, the instructor reported the commercial pilot allowed the airplane to drift slightly to the right, over the adjacent trees. About 200 feet above the ground (agl), he said the engine suddenly stopped running. Emergency procedures failed to restart the engine, and the instructor turned the airplane to the left, towards the runway. He was unable to complete the 180 degree turn without risk of stalling the airplane, and he elected to fly into the trees alongside the runway. The airplane received damage to the wings and fuselage during the collision. An FAA inspector from the Fairbanks Flight Standards District Office traveled to the site on October 13 and 14, and interviewed both pilots and inspected the airplane. During an inspection of the engine's fuel system, he discovered that the fuel gascolator was contaminated with rust-like particulate matter and other foreign debris, effectively clogging the fuel outlet screen to the engine, and depriving the engine of fuel. He cleaned the gascolator screen, and the engine "started and ran fine." The inspector noted that the interior of the nose (center) fuel tank had some internal corrosion and debris, and that it was missing its outlet fuel screen. He also discovered that the engine was a C-90 Continental, but that a C-85 carburetor was installed. According to the inspector, the airplane was operating on aviation 100 octane low-lead fuel, and had undergone an annual inspection October 1, 2004, about nine flight hours prior to the accident. He reported that the aviation mechanic who conducted the annual inspection had also installed the incorrect size carburetor (C-85). ## Aircraft - Registration: [N92469](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N92469-2018-01-29), registration cancelled 2018-01-29, S/N 16939, built 1946 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Piper J-3 - Registry model: [Piper J3C-65](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-j3c-65) (registry code 7100510) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental A&C65 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-a-c65-series) (registry code 17003, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 16939 - Airframe hours: 3482 - Engines: Continental O-200ACC90 90 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Registered owner: Adria Zuccaro - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, September 30, 2004, 9 hours before - Departed: North Pole, AK - Airport: Wright Field, runway 15, 2,500 × 100 ft, gravel ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Flight instructor; age 43; injuries: minor; commercial, flight instructor, military; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land, single-engine sea; instrument ratings: helicopter; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; last flight review July 9, 2003; seat: rear; flight hours: 7,000 total, 200 in this make and model, 100 in the last 90 days, 27 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours - Student pilot; age 33; injuries: none; military, commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: front; flight hours: 1,600 total, 740 as pilot in command, 25 in the last 90 days, 10 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 7 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 10,000 ft overcast - Temperature: 34 °F ## 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 20041013025059A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20041013025059A), Oct 13, 2004: Piper J3C65, North Pole, AK, Substantial damage. (-23) [privacy data omitted] engine quit running during climbout shortly after takeoff. Aircraft crashed into 50FT. Tall trees while maneuvering to return to… 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.