# NTSB ANC10TA017: Piper PA-18-150, N278Z, King Cove, AK, February 11, 2010 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Final report - Date: February 11, 2010, 16:05 local (20:05 UTC) - Place: King Cove, AK - Coordinates: 55.116664, -162.266662 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=55.1167&lon=-162.2667&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Enroute-cruise: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report August 12, 2010 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - Parties: U.S. Department of the Interior, FAA FSDO-03 - NTSB case key (mKey): 75385 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC10TA017 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/75385/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=75385 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC10TA017 ## Probable cause A total loss of engine power due to the pilot's failure to use carburetor heat in conditions conducive to carburetor ice. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Power plant](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057100): Aircraft › Aircraft power plant · Incorrect use/operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-18-150, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057100/cases.md?model=7101828), [All aircraft, 198 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057100/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: directional control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained; cases with it: [Piper PA-18-150, 98 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=7101828), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: use of policy/procedure](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063032): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-18-150, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063032/cases.md?model=7101828), [All aircraft, 191 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063032/cases.md) - [Temp/humidity/pressure: conducive to carburetor icing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03031030): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Decision related to condition (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-18-150, 15 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03031030/cases.md?model=7101828), [All aircraft, 435 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03031030/cases.md) - [Terrain: sloped/uneven terrain](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021017): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome; cases with it: [Piper PA-18-150, 10 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021017/cases.md?model=7101828), [All aircraft, 270 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021017/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Enroute-cruise: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-18-150, 18 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=7101828), [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md) - [Emergency descent: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341); cases with it: [Piper PA-18-150, 18 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=7101828), [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230); cases with it: [Piper PA-18-150, 109 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=7101828), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Piper PA-18-150, 115 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=7101828), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot was doing aerial surveillance on a federal public use flight when the accident occurred. The pilot reported that he was flying at a reduced airspeed and engine rpm without using carburetor heat, and that when he further reduced the rpm the engine lost power. He said he immediately added carburetor heat, full throttle, and full rich mixture. He said that some power was restored, but the engine then quit. Unable to restart the engine, he concentrated on landing the airplane on a rough and uneven road. During the landing roll he was unable to maintain directional control and the airplane ran into a ditch where both wings struck the ground. The pilot said that prior to the loss of engine power there were no mechanical problems with the airplane. The airplane sustained substantial damage to both wings and the fuselage. During a subsequent engine run the engine started and ran normally. The carburetor was removed and sent to a maintenance shop where it was determined that the carburetor functioned normally, and all wear was within the serviceable limits. A carburetor icing chart showed that the operating conditions were conducive to serious carburetor icing at any power setting. ## Factual narrative On February 11, 2010, about 1605 Alaska standard time, a tailwheel equipped Piper PA-18-150 airplane, N278Z, sustained substantial damage when it collided with terrain during an emergency descent and off airport landing, about 3 miles northwest of King Cove, Alaska. The airplane was being operated by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, as a visual flight rules (VFR), public use flight under Title 14, CFR Part 91, when the accident occurred. In a written statement dated February 18, the pilot wrote that he and his passenger were doing an aerial observation/survey at a reduced airspeed and engine rpm. He said he further reduced the rpm to 1900, and shortly thereafter the engine lost power. He reported he thought that carburetor ice might be responsible, and he immediately added carburetor heat, full throttle, and full rich mixture. He said some power was restored, but then the engine lost all power. He wrote that he checked the fuel selector, tank gauges, and the ignition. The pilot said the engine did not respond, and he turned his attention to landing the airplane. The pilot reported he elected to land straight ahead on a rough, unimproved, winding road. During the landing roll he was unable to maintain directional control, and the airplane ran into a ditch on the right side of the roadway, where both wings struck the ground. The pilot said prior to the loss of engine power there were no mechanical problems with the airplane. He said during the accident, the airplane sustained substantial damage to both wings and the fuselage. Additional Information Due to the remote location of the airplane the NTSB did not examine the airplane. On February 14, an engine run was done at Cold Bay, Alaska, by the operator's certificated aircraft mechanics. The engine started and ran normally. The carburetor was removed and sent to an independent maintenance shop where it was determined that the carburetor functioned normally, and all wear was within the serviceable limits. According to a carburetor icing chart, (see attached) the conditions in which the airplane was operating, temperature 3 degrees C, dew point -1 degree C, were conducive to serious icing at any power setting. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N278Z](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N278Z), registered now, S/N 18-8109030, built 1981 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA-18-150 - Registry model: [Piper PA-18-150](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-18-150) (registry code 7101828) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 18-8109030 - Airframe hours: 4133 - Engines: LYCOMING O-320 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Public aircraft - federal, Public use - Operator: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service - Registered owner: United States Department Of Interior - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, February 9, 2010 - Departed: PACD, Cold Bay, AK - Destination: PACD, Cold Bay, AK - Flight plan: Company VFR ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 50; injuries: none; airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; last flight review December 6, 2008; seat: front; flight hours: 7,492 total, 150 in this make and model, 7,299 as pilot in command, 22 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 150° at 8 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 22,000 ft broken - Temperature: 37 °F, dew point 30 °F - Altimeter: 28.98 inHg - Observed at: PACD, 10 nm away ## 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 20100211028179A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20100211028179A), Feb 11, 2010: Piper PA-18-150, King Cove, AK, Substantial damage. Based on weather observation of temperature 4C, dewpoint -6C and relative humidity of 50 %, conditions conducive to carburetor icing were present during… ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on July 7, 2010, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=75385. 1.9 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 604 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40332571&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Pilot Statement (item 2, .PDF, 337 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40332572&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%20Statement-Redacted.PDF - Operator's Report (item 3, .PDF, 614 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40332573&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Operator%27s%20Report-Master.PDF - Icing Chart (item 4, .PDF, 297 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40332574&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Icing%20Chart-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.