# NTSB ANC23LA013: Taylorcraft BL-65, N29886, Wasilla, AK, January 14, 2023 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report - Date: January 13, 2023, 15:30 local (Jan 14, 2023, 00:30 UTC) - Place: Wasilla, AK · Guernsey Road - Coordinates: 61.332529, -150.07709 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=61.3325&lon=-150.0771&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Enroute: Fuel contamination](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/193) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 3 - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 106592 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC23LA013 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/106592/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=106592 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC23LA013 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to remove all water from the fuel tank, which resulted in fuel contamination and a subsequent partial loss of engine power. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Ceiling/visibility/precip: snow](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03035045): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on operation; cases with it: [Taylorcraft BL-65, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03035045/cases.md?model=8850350), [All aircraft, 43 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03035045/cases.md) - [Fluids: fuel](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010): Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware · Fluid condition (probable cause); cases with it: [Taylorcraft BL-65, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md?model=8850350), [All aircraft, 1,695 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md) - [Inspection: preflight inspection](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061510): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Taylorcraft BL-65, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061510/cases.md?model=8850350), [All aircraft, 551 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061510/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing: Loss of engine power (partial)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342); cases with it: [Taylorcraft BL-65, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342/sequence.md?model=8850350), [All aircraft, 1,858 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342/sequence.md) - [Prior to flight: Aircraft inspection event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/050); cases with it: [Taylorcraft BL-65, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/050/sequence.md?model=8850350), [All aircraft, 229 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/050/sequence.md) - [Takeoff: Fuel contamination](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/193); cases with it: [Taylorcraft BL-65, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/193/sequence.md?model=8850350), [All aircraft, 225 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/193/sequence.md) - [Landing: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440); cases with it: [Taylorcraft BL-65, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=8850350), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md) - [Enroute: Fuel contamination](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/193) (defining event); cases with it: [Taylorcraft BL-65, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/193/sequence.md?model=8850350), [All aircraft, 225 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/193/sequence.md) ## Analysis Before the day of the accident, the nose fuel tank cap had been dislodged during a snowstorm, which allowed snow to enter the fuel tank. During preflight inspection, the pilot drained fuel from the fuel tank and discovered water in the fuel. He continued to drain the fuel until no water was visible. The pilot took off and during cruise flight the engine began to run rough so he performed a precautionary landing on a road. He drained fuel from the fuel tank again and once again found water in the fuel. He continued to drain fuel until there was no more sign of water. The pilot’s mechanic responded to the site to assist the pilot. The mechanic drained all of the fuel from the carburetor to ensure there was no water. They started the engine, and it ran normally again so the pilot decided to take off. Shortly after departure from the road, the engine began to run rough again. The pilot landed back on the road. During the landing roll, the right wing impacted a street sign, and the airplane came to rest in a ditch. Postaccident examination of the engine revealed water in fuel samples drained from the gascolator and carburetor. Other than the presence of water, no anomalies were noted with the engine that would have precluded normal operation. ## Factual narrative On January 13, 2023, about 1530 Alaska daylight time, a Taylorcraft BL-65 airplane, N29886, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Point Mackenzie, Alaska. The pilot was not injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. According to the pilot, last month after a heavy snow fall, the nose fuel tank cap was found dislodged, allowing snow to accumulate into the tank. On the day of the accident, during the airplane preflight inspection, the pilot sampled fuel from the fuel tank and found water in the fuel. He drained fuel until there was no more sign of water. He departed from Lake hood Airport (LHD) and during cruise flight the engine began to run rough. He performed a precautionary landing to a road. The pilot drained fuel from the fuel tank again and found water in the fuel. He drained fuel until there was no more sign of water. His mechanic responded to the site to assist the pilot. The mechanic drained all the fuel from the carburetor to ensure there was no water. They started the engine, and it ran smoothly for 10 minutes. The pilot departed from the road to fly back to LHD and shortly after departure the engine began to run rough again. The pilot performed a precautionary landing back on the road. During the landing roll the right wing impacted a street sign, and the airplane came to rest in a ditch. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing. Postaccident examination of the engine revealed water in fuel samples drained from the gascolator and carburetor. Other than the presence of water, no anomalies were noted with the engine that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N29886](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N29886), registered now, S/N 2737, built 1941 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: TAYLORCRAFT BL-65 - Registry model: [Taylorcraft BL-65](https://openairdocs.org/model/taylorcraft-bl-65) (registry code 8850350) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-145B series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-145b-series) (registry code 41502, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 2737 - Year built: 1941 - Airframe hours: 5700 - Engines: Continental O-200 90 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, January 1, 2022, 66 hours before - Departed: PALH, Anchorage, AK - Equipment: Satellite tracking device, Handheld GPS ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 69; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land, single-engine sea; medical: basicmed, unknown; seat: left ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 50° at 7 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 5,500 ft broken - Temperature: 21 °F, dew point 16 °F - Altimeter: 29.45 inHg - Observed at: PALH, 10 nm away - METAR: METAR PALH 140053Z AUTO 05007KT 10SM BKN055 OVC100 M06/M09 A2945 RMK AO2 SLP975 T10611094 TSNO= ## 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 20230113000599A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20230113000599A), Jan 13, 2023: Taylorcraft BL-65, Point Mackenzie, AK, Substantial damage. Pilot stated that on 01/13/2023 at approximately 1345 he departed lake hood departing to the north. The engine suddenly lost power over Point mckenzie and made… ## Docket (5 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 5, 2023, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=106592. 3.0 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 9 pages, 1.5 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15176420&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=ANC23LA013%206120_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Witness statements - pilot (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 66 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15176774&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=ANC23KA013%20Pilot%20interview%20memo-Rel.pdf - Engine examination (item 3, PDF, 9 pages, 1.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15176784&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=ANC23LA013%20Engine%20examiination-Rel.pdf - Release of aircraft wreckage, NTSB form 6120.15 (item 4, PDF, 2 pages, 28 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15175779&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=ANC23LA013%20Release-of-Wreckage-Form-Rel.pdf - Investigative photographs (item 5, PDF, 2 pages, 402 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15176667&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=ANC23LA013%20Investigation%20photographs-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.