# NTSB ANC12LA103: Piper PA-18-150, N3214D, Homer, AK, September 8, 2012 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: September 7, 2012, 17:00 local (Sep 8, 2012, 01:00 UTC) - Place: Homer, AK - Coordinates: 59.562221, -150.353332 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=59.5622&lon=-150.3533&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Approach: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report February 27, 2013 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - Parties: FAA Anchorage FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 85005 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC12LA103 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/85005/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=85005 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC12LA103 ## Probable cause The total loss of engine power for reasons that could not be determined because the engine could not be examined because of the extent of time in salt water. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Not determined](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000): Not determined › Not determined · Unknown/Not determined (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-18-150, 9 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md?model=7101828), [All aircraft, 2,247 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Approach: 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: Ditching](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/441); cases with it: [Piper PA-18-150, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/441/sequence.md?model=7101828), [All aircraft, 186 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/441/sequence.md) ## Analysis The private pilot was attempting to land at an off-airport site in a coastal fjord. During the approach, he noticed that the propeller didn't seem to be spinning at the correct rpm. He applied carburetor heat and increased the throttle, but the engine did not respond. The airplane was unable to reach the intended landing area and impacted the water about 20 yards from shore. The pilot attempted to secure the airplane to the shore, but tides and water flow swept the airplane into open water. The airplane was later recovered by a fishing vessel, but, due to the length of time spent in salt water, the engine was not able to be examined. ## Factual narrative On September 7, 2012, about 1700 Alaska daylight time, a Piper PA-18-150 airplane, N3214D, presumably sustained substantial damage during a forced ditching, following a loss of engine power near Homer, Alaska. The certificated private pilot was not injured. The flight was being operated as a visual flight rules (VFR) personal cross-country flight under 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 when the accident occurred. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed. The flight originated at the Homer Airport, about 1600. In a telephone conversation with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigator-in-charge (IIC), the pilot stated that he was attempting to land at an off-airport site in a coastal fjord approximately 35 nautical miles east of Homer. During the approach, at approximately 400 feet above ground level, he noticed that "the propeller looked like it was not spinning at the right RPM." He applied carburetor heat, and increased the throttle control, but the engine did not respond. From that point, he was unable to reach the intended landing site, and the airplane impacted water about 20 yards from shore. The pilot was able to exit the airplane, and he activated his 121.5 MHz Emergency Locator Transmitter (ELT), but he was not located until September 10, when he was spotted by an overflying airplane. As of February 1, 2009, monitoring of 121.5 MHz ELT analog transmissions by all search and rescue satellites was terminated. On that date, only digital, 406 MHz ELT transmissions could be received by the satellites. The pilot reported that he attempted to secure the airplane to the shore, but tides and water flow swept the airplane into the fjord toward open water. The airplane was later recovered by a fishing vessel, but due to the length of time spent in salt water, the engine was not able to be examined. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N3214D](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N3214D), registered now, S/N 18-8209025 (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: 18-8209025 - Airframe hours: 2500 - Engines: LYCOMING O-320 SERIES 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, March 15, 2012, 40 hours before - Departed: Homer, AK - Destination: Homer, AK ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 49; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, single-engine land; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; last flight review May 1, 2012; seat: front; flight hours: 6,200 total, 4,200 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 170° at 4 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 11,000 ft broken - Temperature: 54 °F, dew point 36 °F - Altimeter: 29.94 inHg - Observed at: PAHO, 35 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 20120907020849A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20120907020849A), Sep 7, 2012: Piper PA-18-150, Mccarty Fjord, AK, Destroyed. The PIC went to Mccarty Fjord for a fishing trip. Upon reaching the Fjord he overflew the beach area which he has landed on many times before between 400 to… ## Docket (1 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on December 14, 2012, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=85005. 342 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 342 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40382938&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.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.