- Date
- June 9, 2008, 13:35 local (21:35 UTC)
- Place
- Girdwood, AK
- Injuries
- 2 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Initial climb
- Aircraft
- N13RZLake L-4
- Defining event
- Initial climb: Loss of engine power (partial)
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report April 15, 2009
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- Alaska Regional Office
- Parties
- FAA-AL-ANC FSDO 03
- FAA report
- 20080609838539A
- Case key
- 68206
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
A partial loss of engine power for an undetermined reason, which resulted in a forced landing. Contributing to the accident was rough and uneven terrain.
Findings · 3
NTSB’s coded findings. Those marked are part of the probable cause; the rest are factors or other findings. Under each, the cases with the same finding.
Sequence of events
The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event is the one that best describes the accident. Under each, the cases with the same event anywhere in their sequence.
Analysis
During the initial climb after takeoff in an amphibious airplane on a personal flight, the pilot reported that as the airplane reached about 300 feet above ground level, the engine began to lose power. He said that the airplane was unable to climb, and that he selected an emergency landing spot in a creek about 3/4 mile south of the departure airport. The airplane received structural damage to the left wing, the hull, and the fuselage. After recovery, the airplane's engine and airframe were examined by two Federal Aviation Administration airworthiness inspectors. The engine was started and it ran at idle, but when full power was applied the engine rpm decreased from 2,600 to 2,200 after about 12 seconds. The engine fuel pressure remained within normal limits, and the magneto check was normal. No other mechanical malfunction was observed. The propeller governor and the engine-driven fuel pump were sent to their respective manufacturers for examination. No mechanical malfunction of either component was observed.
Factual narrative
On June 9, 2008, about 1335 Alaska daylight time, an amphibious Lake L-4 airplane, N13RZ, sustained substantial damage following a loss of engine power after takeoff from the Girdwood Airport, Girdwood, Alaska. The airplane was being operated as a visual flight rules (VFR) cross-country personal flight under Title 14, CFR Part 91, when the accident occurred. The airplane was operated by the pilot. The private certificated pilot, and the sole passenger, were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. The flight was en route to Valdez, Alaska, and a VFR flight plan was filed.
During a telephone conversation with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigator-in-charge (IIC), on June 9, the pilot reported that he was departing to the south, and as the airplane reached about 300 feet agl, the engine began to lose power. The airplane was unable to climb, and the pilot selected an emergency landing spot in Glacier Creek, about 3/4 mile south of the Girdwood Airport. The airplane received structural damage to the left wing, the hull, and fuselage.
On June 11, two Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) airworthiness inspectors examined the airplane after it was recovered to the airport. The inspectors observed while the pilot, who holds an FAA mechanic certificate with airframe and powerplant ratings, started the engine. It ran at idle, but when full power was applied, the engine rpm decreased from 2,600 to 2,200 after about 12 seconds. The engine fuel pressure remained within normal limits, and the magneto check was normal. No other mechanical malfunction was observed.
The propeller governor was sent to the manufacturer for examination, which was accomplished on August 26, 2008. No malfunction of the governor was observed. The engine driven fuel pump was sent to the manufacturer for examination, which was accomplished on December 10, 2008. No malfunction of the fuel pump was observed.
The governor and fuel pump were released to the owner on December 16, 2008.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N13RZ
- Reported as
- Lake L-4
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 57
- Airframe hours
- 2,454
- Engine
- Lycoming IO-360 A1B, 200 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- Eugene N. Bjornstad
- Registered owner
- Eugene N. Bjornstad
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- 100 hour · May 31, 2008 · 1 hours before
- Departed
- AQY · Girdwood, AK
- Destination
- PAVD · Valdez, AK
- Flight plan
- VFR
- Airport
- AQY · Girdwood
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 70
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land, Single-engine sea
- Medical
- Class 3, With waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- October 27, 2007
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 1,107 total · 502 in this make and model · 1,060 as pilot in command · 7 in the last 90 days · 2 in the last 30 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 55 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.04 inHg
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.