# NTSB ANC21LA096: Piper PA-14, N4276H, Chickaloon, AK, September 23, 2021 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report - Date: September 22, 2021, 19:26 local (Sep 23, 2021, 03:26 UTC) - Place: Chickaloon, AK - Coordinates: 61.791111, -148.35166 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=61.7911&lon=-148.3517&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Takeoff: Unknown or undetermined](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/000) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor, 1 uninjured - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 3 - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 103972 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC21LA096 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/103972/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=103972 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC21LA096 ## Probable cause A total loss of engine power during takeoff for reasons that could not be determined based on the available information. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Engine (reciprocating)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058500): Aircraft › Aircraft power plant · Inoperative (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-14, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058500/cases.md?model=7101402), [All aircraft, 497 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058500/cases.md) - [Not determined](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000): Not determined › Not determined · Unknown/Not determined (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-14, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md?model=7101402), [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. - [Takeoff: Unknown or undetermined](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/000) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-14, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/000/sequence.md?model=7101402), [All aircraft, 1,703 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/000/sequence.md) - [Takeoff: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341); cases with it: [Piper PA-14, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=7101402), [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md) - [Takeoff-rejected takeoff: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300); cases with it: [Piper PA-14, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=7101402), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md) - [Takeoff-rejected takeoff: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Piper PA-14, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=7101402), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The accident flight was the first flight after the airplane’s annual inspection. The pilots completed a “thorough” preflight inspection, and an engine run-up revealed no anomalies. Just after the airplane became airborne during takeoff, the engine lost power, regained power momentarily, and then lost power again. Insufficient runway remained on which to land, and the airplane impacted an area of tree- and brush-covered terrain off the end of the runway and nosed over. Examination of the engine and fuel system did not reveal any anomalies that would have resulted in a loss of engine power. The reason for the loss of power could not be determined based on the available information. ## Factual narrative On September 22, 2021, about 1926 Alaska daylight time, a Piper PA-14 airplane, N4276H, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Chickaloon, Alaska. The commercial pilot seated in the left seat sustained minor injuries, and the commercial pilot in the right seat was not injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. According to the left-seat pilot, the accident flight was the first flight after the airplane’s annual inspection. The left-seat pilot was flying at the time of the accident; the right-seat pilot was the pilot-in-command. Before departure, the pilots completed a “thorough” preflight inspection, and an engine run-up revealed no anomalies. The takeoff was uneventful until immediately after lifting off, when the engine lost power, regained power momentarily, and then lost power again. Insufficient runway remained on which to land, and the airplane impacted an area of tree- and brush-covered terrain off and nosed over, resulting in substantial damage to the fuselage, wings, wing struts, and rudder. Examination of the engine and fuel system did not reveal any anomalies that would have resulted in a loss of engine power. Weather conditions were conducive to the development of carburetor icing at glide and cruise power. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N4276H](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N4276H), registered now, S/N 1480, built 1948 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA-14 - Registry model: [Piper PA-14](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-14) (registry code 7101402) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-235 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-235-series) (registry code 41505, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 1480 - Year built: 1948 - Airframe hours: 2339.4 - Engines: LYCOMING O-360-A2A 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Kingdom Air Corps - Registered owner: Kingdom Air Corps - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, September 22, 2021, 0.1 hours before - Departed: AK59, Sutton, AK - Airport: AK59, King Ranch, runway 24, 1,800 × 100 ft, grass/turf ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 27; injuries: none; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land, single-engine sea; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review August 29, 2021; seat: right; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 1,991 total, 4 in this make and model, 1,899 as pilot in command, 139 in the last 90 days, 41 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours - Co-pilot; age 79; injuries: minor; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine sea, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; last flight review February 1, 2020; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 9,600 total, 115 in this make and model, 9,500 as pilot in command, 0 in the last 90 days, 0 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 20° at 7 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 9,500 ft overcast - Temperature: 43 °F, dew point 23 °F - Altimeter: 29.83 inHg - Observed at: PAQ, 24 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 20210922016319A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20210922016319A), Sep 22, 2021: Piper PA-14, Sutton, AK, Substantial damage. Following a thorough preflight, at approximately 7:26 p.m., flight crewmember 1 assumed the left seat. Flight crewmember 2 assumed the right seat. Engine… ## Other investigations on N4276H (2) 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. - [NTSB ATL86FLT05](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL86FLT05), Mar 21, 1986: Piper PA-14 (N4276H), Memphis, TN, substantial damage - [NTSB NYC68D0350](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC68D0350), Sep 2, 1967: Piper PA-14 (N4276H), Henderson, NY, substantial damage ## Docket (5 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on March 29, 2023, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=103972. 2.0 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 9 pages, 908 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12774361&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Accident%20Repot%20--%20ANC21LA096_redacted-Rel.pdf - Conversation summary -- FAA inspector (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 131 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13013054&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=ROC%20--%20FAA_Danny%20Odom%20--%2005Oct2021-Rel.pdf - Airplane examination summary (item 3, PDF, 2 pages, 149 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12774761&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Examination%20Summary%20--%20ANC21LA096-Rel.pdf - FAA information bulletin -- carburetor icing (item 4, PDF, 4 pages, 134 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13023633&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Carburetor%20Icing%20SAIB%20(FAA%20CE-09-35)-Rel.pdf - Accident photos (item 5, PDF, 3 pages, 672 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12774380&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Accident%20Photos%20--%20ANC21LA096-Rel.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.