# NTSB ANC93LA151: Piper PA-12, N123TL, Goose Bay, AK, August 18, 1993 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: August 17, 1993, 20:15 local (Aug 18, 1993, 04:15 UTC) - Place: Goose Bay, AK - Coordinates: 61.200702, -149.749435 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=61.2007&lon=-149.7494&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious - Status: Completed, report December 2, 1994 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 2408 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC93LA151 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/2408/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC93LA151 ## Probable cause THE LOSS OF ENGINE POWER DUE TO FUEL STARVATION. A FACTOR IN THE ACCIDENT WAS THE INADEQUATE INSTALLATION INFORMATION SUPPLIED WITH THE STC FOR THE ENGINE UPGRADE. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, takeoff - initial climb - fuel system - starvation (cause) - maintenance,modification - information insufficient, other maintenance personnel (contributing factor) - Forced landing, descent - emergency - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - emergency ## Analysis THE MODIFIED PA-12 COLLIDED WITH TERRAIN DURING AN ATTEMPTED EMERGENCY LANDING FOLLOWING FUEL STARVATION. THE AIRPLANE HAD BEEN MODIFIED WITH A 160 HP ENGINE REQUIRING EXTENSIVE UPGRADE OF THE FUEL SYSTEM. THE AIRPLANE HAD A HISTORY OF SUDDEN AND COMPLETE STARVATION ENGINE STOPPAGES WITHOUT ASSOCIATED MECHANICAL, IGNITION OR CARBURATION ANOMALIES. ## Factual narrative On August 17, 1993, at approximately 2015 Alaska daylight time, a wheeled equipped Piper PA-12 airplane, N123TL, experienced total power loss during a climb after a full stop practice landing. The private pilot was operating under 14 CFR Part 91 and had made two uneventful touch and go landings at the unattended Goose Bay airstrip near Elmendorf AFB, Alaska, when at 100 foot altitude, abrupt cessation of engine power occurred. While attempting to return for a runway landing, the airplane entered aerodynamic stall and impacted off-runway in a brushy level area. Visual meteorological conditions existed and no flight plan was filed. The pilot, as sole occupant on board, was seriously injured and the airplane was substantially damaged. The pilot told investigators that he believed it to be "fuel starvation," and related that he learned of previous sudden stoppages of the engine when the history of the airplane was reviewed with previous operators of that aircraft. The owner/pilot told the NTSB that despite a previous carburetor change and a subsequent engine replacement, the modified aircraft (upgraded from its original Type Certificated [TC] 100 HP to a Lycoming 160 HP O-320) had experienced yet another sudden stoppage, while FAA-Certificated inspectors found no mechanical anomalies to have pre-existed the stoppage. FAA inspectors found an undetermined amount of fuel on board the airplane at the accident site and evidence that the impact had compromised the fuel system at the wing roots. The pilot produced a copy of a fueling receipt in his name on the day of the flight which indicated that he had uploaded 31.06 gallons of aviation fuel. In a review of the events with investigators and engineers at the Piper Aircraft Corporation, the NTSB was told that "in Piper's opinion, the PA-12 fuel system was never designed or capable of providing fuel at a rate beyond which was required for 100 HP." The accident airplane, as modified with both after-market STC's (structural changes for mounting higher horsepower engines) and parts from other Piper airplanes (such as the PA-18 header tank) is different in system and structure to the original type- certificated PA-12 "Super Cruiser" with its 100 HP engine. An STC (Supplemental Type Certificate) (SA644AL) exists to upgrade the PA-12 to the Lycoming 160 HP engine. That STC is a multiple authorization. The STC stipulates that extensive modifications to the fuel system of the airplane be completed in order to satisfy the requirements of the STC changes in order to supply adequate fuel pressure throughout the test range specified and with the stipulated minimum fuel levels. The NTSB was not able to determine to what extent the fuel system of the accident airplane had been modified to satisfy the fuel flow requirements stipulated by the STC. Some of the changes, but not all, to the basic airplane include the addition of a certain size header tank, fuel line sizes, modifications to the valves and fuel switches. Subsequent to the accident the airplane was sold, as is, and is reportedly being rebuilt with a Lycoming 160 HP engine installed. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N123TL](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N123TL-1998-04-17), registration cancelled 1998-04-17, S/N 123969 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA-12 - Registry model: [Piper PA-12](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-12) (registry code 7101202) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 12-3969 - Engines: LYCOMING O-360 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Williams, David E. - Registered owner: David & Donna Williams - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal; Standard, Utility - Last inspection: Annual, August 1, 1993, 0 hours before - Airport: Z40, Goose Bay, runway 7, 3,000 × 75 ft, gravel ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 45; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: front; flight hours: 420 total, 70 in this make and model, 376 as pilot in command, 39 in the last 90 days, 13 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 330° at 3 knots - Visibility: 20 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 61 °F ## 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 19930817029679A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19930817029679A), Aug 17, 1993: Piper STCPA12, Goose Bay, AK, Substantial damage. Lost power on climbout. Stall mushed into brush trying to return. Fuel starvation due unmodified fuel system suspect ## Other investigations on N123TL (1) 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 ANC91LA048](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC91LA048), Apr 5, 1991: Piper PA-12 (N123TL), Anchorage, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: THE PILOT'S LACK OF CURRENCY WITH THE TYPE OF LANDING GEAR INVOLVED. 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.