# NTSB ANC05LA120: Piper PA-18-150, N717DR, Chickaloon, AK, August 9, 2005 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: August 9, 2005, 09:15 local (17:15 UTC) - Place: Chickaloon, AK - Coordinates: 61.938056, -147.168609 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=61.9381&lon=-147.1686&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 February 28, 2006 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - Parties: FAA Anchorage FSDO-03 - NTSB case key (mKey): 62256 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC05LA120 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/62256/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC05LA120 ## Probable cause A loss of engine power for an undetermined reason during initial climb after takeoff, which resulted in a emergency landing/collision with terrain. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power, takeoff - initial climb - reason for occurrence undetermined (cause) - Forced landing, descent - emergency - In flight collision with terrain/water, emergency landing after takeoff - terrain condition - ground - terrain condition - rough/uneven ## Analysis The commercial pilot was conducting a Title 14 CFR Part 91 local personal flight in a float-equipped airplane. The pilot reported the airplane lost engine power during the initial climb after takeoff from a small lake, and he made a forced landing on tundra-covered terrain. An inspection of the airplane revealed no obvious reason for the loss of engine power. The gascolator was breached during the accident, but about one-half ounce of fuel was collected from the gascolator. The sample was clear, light blue, appeared uncontaminated, and smelled like avgas. Fuel samples taken from the operator's supply tank were light colored and cloudy, with visible signs of contamination. The owner had the engine and carburetor disassembled and inspected at a certified aircraft engine repair station, and nothing was found that would result in a loss of engine power. The pilot said there were no known mechanical anomalies with the airplane prior to the accident. The airplane sustained structural damage to the right wing and fuselage during the accident. ## Factual narrative On August 9, 2005, about 0915 Alaska daylight time, a float-equipped Piper PA-18-150 airplane, N717DR, sustained substantial damage during an in-flight collision with terrain, following a loss of engine power during initial climb after takeoff from a lake, about 43 miles northeast of Chickaloon, Alaska. The airplane was being operated by the pilot as a visual flight rules (VFR) personal local flight under Title 14, CFR Part 91 when the accident occurred. The commercial pilot and sole passenger were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed. During a telephone conversation with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigator-in-charge (IIC) on August 9, the pilot said during takeoff initial climb from a small lake in a float-equipped airplane, the engine lost power. He said he was unable to return to the lake, and the airplane impacted on tundra-covered terrain. He said the airplane sustained structural damage to the right wing, float, and fuselage. During an inspection of the airplane by the IIC on August 11, no obvious reason for the engine's loss of power was discovered. The gascolator was breached during the accident, and about one-half ounce of fuel was collected from the gascolator. The sample appeared to be clear, light blue, uncontaminated, and smelled like avgas. Fuel samples taken from the operator's supply tank were light colored and cloudy, with visible signs of contamination. The airplane's engine was taken to certified aircraft engine repair station by the owner to be rebuilt. During a telephone conversation with the IIC on September 23, the mechanic who disassembled and inspected the engine and carburetor said aside from normal wear, one cylinder was found to be cracked. According to the mechanic who examined the engine and carburetor, nothing was found that would explain the loss of engine power. ## Aircraft - Registration: N717DR (not matched to a registry record) - Reported make and model: Piper PA-18-150 - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 18-4387 - Airframe hours: 1442 - Engines: Lycoming O-320 150 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Ray E. McCarty - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility; Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, March 1, 2005, 24 hours before - Departed: Chickaloon, AK ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 66; injuries: none; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land, single-engine sea; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review July 1, 2004; seat: front; flight hours: 3,200 total, 2,100 in this make and model, 3,190 as pilot in command ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 100 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 55 °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 20050809017439A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20050809017439A), Aug 9, 2005: Piper PA18150, Eureka, AK, Substantial damage. (-23) Engine quit on takeoff. It started to run again and pilot turned to return to the lake he had departed from. The engine quit a second time and the pilot… 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.