# NTSB ATL04LA124: Piper PA-28-161, N8149Q, St. Marys, GA, May 31, 2004 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: May 31, 2004, 09:30 local (13:30 UTC) - Place: St. Marys, GA - Coordinates: 30.883888, -81.400833 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.8839&lon=-81.4008&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report February 24, 2005 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Atlanta FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 59449 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL04LA124 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/59449/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL04LA124 ## Probable cause The pilot failure to use carburetor heat when weather condition were favorable for the for the formation of carburetor ice. . ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power, cruise - weather condition - carburetor icing conditions (cause) - fuel system,carburetor - ice (cause) - carburetor heat - not used, pilot in command (cause) - Forced landing, emergency landing - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, emergency landing - terrain condition - water - Nose gear collapsed, landing - roll ## Analysis While climbing to cruise, at 2800 feet, the pilot stated the engine lost power. The pilot trimmed for the best glide rate and selected an area of beach to land on. The pilot went through the emergency procedures, but his efforts to restart the engine were unsuccessful. The airplane landed successfully, but during landing roll encountered a large pool of standing water, and the nose gear collapsed. The pilot did not report any mechanical malfunctions with the airplane prior to the accident. Examination of the airplane revealed the nose gear collapsed, the engine mounts were broken, the right wing was damaged and detached from the fuselage. There were 17 gallons of fuel recovered from the right fuel tank and 10 gallons of fuel were recovered from the left fuel tank. Further examination found no blockage in the exhaust, no defects with either magneto and a functional check of the engine was accomplished. At the time of the accident, the nearest weather facility reported clouds at 2500 feet, temperature at 29-degrees Celsius and the dew point at 24-degrees Celsius. The weather conditions were favorable for the formation of ice. According to Advisory Circular 20-113, the pilot is advised to, "remain alert for indications of induction system icing during takeoff and climb-out, especially when the relative humidity is above 50 percent, or when visible moisture is present in the atmosphere." ## Factual narrative On May 31, 2004 at 0930 eastern daylight time, a Piper PA-28-161, N8149Q, registered to and operated by Ormond Beach Aviation Inc, nose gear collapsed during an emergency landing following a loss of engine power in St. Marys, Georgia. The flight operated under provisions of Title 14 CFR Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. The airplane was substantially damaged. The pilot and passenger were not injured. The flight departed Jekyll Island Airport, Jekyll Island, Georgia, on May 31, 2004 at 0915. The personal flight was enroute to Ormond Beach Municipal Airport, Ormond Beach, Florida. While climbing to cruise, at 2800 feet, the pilot stated the engine lost power. The pilot stated he trimmed for the best glide rate and selected an area of beach for an emergency landing. The pilot went through the emergency procedures, which included applying carburetor heat, but his efforts to restart the engine were unsuccessful. The pilot made a "mayday" radio call and secured the airplane for a forced landing. The airplane landed successfully, but during landing roll encountered a large pool of standing water, and the nose gear collapsed. The pilot did not report any mechanical malfunctions with the airplane prior to the accident. Examination of the airplane revealed the nose gear collapsed, the engine mounts broken and the right wing damaged and detached from the fuselage. There were 17 gallons of fuel recovered from the right fuel tank and 10 gallons of fuel recovered from the left fuel tank. Further examination found no blockage in the exhaust, no defects with either magneto and the engine started and ran. At the time of the accident, the Jacksonville weather facility reported clouds at 2500 feet, temperature at 29-degrees Celsius and the dew point at 24-degrees Celsius. The weather conditions were favorable for the formation of carburetor ice. The pilot did not report applying carburetor heat prior to the total loss of engine power. However, according to the pilot, he applied carburetor heat during the emergency procedures. According to Advisory Circular 20-113, the pilot is advised to, "remain alert for indications of induction system icing during takeoff and climb-out, especially when the relative humidity is above 50 percent, or when visible moisture is present in the atmosphere." ## Aircraft - Registration: [N8149Q](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8149Q-2007-10-15), registration cancelled 2007-10-15, S/N 28-8016253, built 1979 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Piper PA-28-161 - Registry model: [Piper PA-28-161](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-161) (registry code 7102803) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 28-8016253 - Airframe hours: 18058.4 - Engines: Lycoming O-320-038 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Ormond Beach Aviation, INC - Registered owner: Ormond Beach Aviation, INC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, May 6, 2004, 52.9 hours before - Departed: 09J, Jekyll Island, GA - Destination: OMN, Ormond Beach, FL ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 33; injuries: none; private, foreign; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review January 25, 2004; seat: left; flight hours: 116 total, 46 in this make and model, 52 as pilot in command, 8 in the last 90 days, 8 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 250° at 11 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 25,000 ft broken - Temperature: 84 °F, dew point 75 °F - Altimeter: 29.95 inHg - Observed at: KJAX, 18 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 20040531030589A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20040531030589A), May 31, 2004: Piper PA28161, St Marys, GA, Substantial damage. (-23) On may 31, 2004, at approximately 1330 UTC, N8149Q reported mayday with an engine failure over cumberland island, 10 miles south of brunswick, Georgia.… ## Other investigations on N8149Q (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 MIA06CA111](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA06CA111), May 16, 2006: Piper PA-28-161 (N8149Q), Ormond Beach, FL, substantial damage. Probable cause: A loss of engine power due to the student pilot's improper positioning of the fuel selector during takeoff. A contributing factor was the pilot's failure to abort the takeoff. 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.