# NTSB ANC97LA137: Piper PA-12, N7894H, Healy, AK, September 14, 1997 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: September 14, 1997, 08:30 local (16:30 UTC) - Place: Healy, AK - Coordinates: 63.680572, -150.03067 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=63.6806&lon=-150.0307&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report November 6, 1998 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 3058 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC97LA137 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/3058/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC97LA137 ## Probable cause The pilot's inadequate preflight which failed to detect water contamination in the fuel tanks. Factors were the worn gaskets on the fuel tank caps, and the pilot's decision to abort the partial power precautionary landing. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(partial) - nonmechanical, climb - to cruise - fuel system,cap - leak (contributing factor) - fluid,fuel - contamination,water (cause) - aircraft preflight - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - In flight collision with terrain/water, landing - aborted - precautionary landing - aborted, pilot in command (contributing factor) - terrain condition - berm - Nose over, landing - aborted - landing gear,main gear - separation ## Analysis The pilot reported that during cruise climb, the engine rpm began to decrease. Application of carburetor heat and varying the mixture did not improve the performance. During a precautionary landing, the pilot attempted to abort the landing because of horses on the landing strip. The main landing gear subsequently struck a berm, and the airplane nosed over. Postaccident inspection revealed an unknown quantity of water in the fuel and worn fuel cap gaskets. Engine tests resulted in minimum static rpm required by the type certificate and low cylinder compression. ## Factual narrative On September 14, 1997, at 0830 Alaska daylight time, a Piper PA-12 airplane, N7894H, sustained substantial damage when it nosed over during a precautionary landing on an 800 foot long gravel strip on the Moody River, about 20 miles east of Healy, Alaska. The airline transport certificated pilot was uninjured. The flight was conducted under 14 CFR Part 91 as a personal, local flight, and departed the Healy River Airport, Healy, at 0800. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident, and no flight plan was filed. The pilot stated in an interview with the NTSB investigator, that during climb to cruise, the engine rpm began to decrease. He said that application of carburetor heat, and switching magnetos did not correct the problem. The pilot indicated that he was making a precautionary landing at an 800 foot landing strip, and that horses were on the strip. After flying over the horses, the airplane landed on the remaining strip and bounced. The pilot attempted to abort the landing, the landing gear contacted a berm, and the airplane nosed over. The NTSB investigator interviewed the persons who recovered the airplane. They reported an unknown quantity of water in the fuel, and worn fuel tank cap gaskets. The engine was tested at an engine shop in Anchorage, Alaska, and witnessed by an FAA airworthiness inspector. The engine produced a static rpm of 1,900 rpm, which is the minimum required by the type certificate. The inspector stated that cylinder compression was low, and the engine was "tired." ## Aircraft - Registration: [N7894H](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N7894H-2013-05-09), registration cancelled 2013-05-09, S/N 12-800, built 1946 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Piper PA-12 - Registry model: [Piper PA-12](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-12) (registry code 7101202) (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: 12-800 - Airframe hours: 2511 - Engines: Lycoming O-235-C 100 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: James Burdeaux - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, May 6, 1997, 6 hours before - Departed: HRR, HEALY RIVER, AK ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 36; airline transport, commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: front; flight hours: 3,700 total, 50 in this make and model, 3,600 as pilot in command ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 50 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 19970914026909A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19970914026909A), Sep 14, 1997: Piper PA12, Healy River, AK, Substantial damage. Aircraft crashed on landing. (.4) on September 14, 1997, at 0830 Alaska daylight time, a Piper PA-12 airplane, N7894H, sustained substantial damage when it… 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.