# NTSB ATL07CA055: Piper PA-18-150, N4330Z, Myrtle Beach, SC, March 24, 2007 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: March 24, 2007, 12:40 local (16:40 UTC) - Place: Myrtle Beach, SC - Coordinates: 33.674446, -78.923614 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.6744&lon=-78.9236&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report June 27, 2007 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Columbia FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 65494 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL07CA055 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/65494/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL07CA055 ## Probable cause The loss of engine power due to undetermined reasons. A factor in the accident was the pilot's failure to follow emergency procedures when he failed to jettison the advertising banner prior to his forced landing in water. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, cruise - reason for occurrence undetermined (cause) - Forced landing, descent - emergency - emergency procedure - not followed, pilot in command (contributing factor) - In flight collision with terrain/water, emergency descent/landing - terrain condition - water ## Analysis The airplane collided with water following a loss of engine power. According to the pilot, he picked up a advertising banner at a private airport and proceeded at 1,000 feet agl to the beach. Upon arrival at the beach, he turned to a 250-degree heading and descended to 500 feet agl. The pilot stated that he switched to the right fuel tank, which was full, and experienced a power failure. He switched back to the left fuel tank but could not restore power. He landed in about two feet of water substantially damaging the airplane. Examination of the airplane by an FAA inspector found that the pilot had departed the private airport with 5-gallons of fuel in the left tank and 18-gallons of fuel in the right tank. When the pilot switched tanks the engine stalled. His attempt to restart the engine were unsuccessful. The engine was not equipped with an electric starter and it had stopped wind milling. The pilot conducted a forced landing onto the beach and did not drop the banner. Damage to the airplane consisted of the tail section, and damage to the airframe structure. There were no mechanical problems reported by the pilot or discovered during the post-accident examination of the airplane. ## Factual narrative According to the pilot, he picked up a advertising banner at a private airport south of Conway, South Carolina. He proceeded at 1,000 feet agl to the beach. Upon arrival at the beach, he turned to a 250-degree heading and descended to 500 feet agl. The pilot stated that he switched to the right fuel tank, which was full, and experienced a power failure. He switched back to the left fuel tank but could not restore power. He landed in about two feet of water substantially damaging the airplane. Examination of the airplane by an FAA inspector found that the pilot had departed the private airport with 5-gallons of fuel in the left tank and 18-gallons of fuel in the right tank. When the pilot switched tanks the engine stalled. His attempt to restart the engine were unsuccessful. The engine was not equipped with an electric starter and had stopped wind milling. The pilot conducted a forced landing onto the beach and did not drop the banner. Damage to the airplane consisted of the tail section, and damage to the airframe structure. There were no mechanical problems reported by the pilot or discovered during the post-accident examination of the airplane. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N4330Z](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N4330Z), registered now, S/N 18-8650, built 1968 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Piper PA-18-150 - Registry model: [Piper PA-18-150](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-18-150) (registry code 7101828) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming O&VO-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-vo-360-series) (registry code 41514, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 18-8650 - Airframe hours: 16000 - Engines: Lycoming O320-A2B 150 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Banner tow, Part 91 - Registered owner: Sky Signs LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, February 1, 2007 - Departed: PVT, Conway, SC ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 33; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; last flight review February 1, 2007; seat: front; flight hours: 437 total, 56 in this make and model, 353 as pilot in command, 102 in the last 90 days, 56 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 240° at 8 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 81 °F, dew point 59 °F - Altimeter: 30.31 inHg - Observed at: MYR ## 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 20070324003659A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20070324003659A), Mar 24, 2007: Piper PA18150, Surfside, SC, Substantial damage. (-23) Aircraft crashed on Surfside beach after pilot experienced power loss. No fire, minor injury. Substantial damage. ## Other investigations on N4330Z (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 ERA12FA465](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA12FA465), Jul 19, 2012: Piper PA-18-150 (N4330Z), Berlin, MD, substantial damage, 1 fatal. Probable cause: Pilot incapacitation of unknown origin, which resulted in the airplane’s loss of control and an inadvertent aerodynamic stall/spin. 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.