# NTSB ATL97LA066: Piper PA-22-180, N5778Z, Russellville, AL, May 1, 1997 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: May 1, 1997, 11:00 local (16:00 UTC) - Place: Russellville, AL - Coordinates: 34.500988, -87.720474 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.5010&lon=-87.7205&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report January 7, 1998 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 3843 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL97LA066 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/3843/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL97LA066 ## Probable cause The loss of engine power for undetermined reasons. A factor was conditions were favorable 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(total) - nonmechanical, descent - reason for occurrence undetermined (cause) - weather condition - carburetor icing conditions (contributing factor) - Forced landing, descent - emergency - On ground/water collision with object, landing - roll - Nose over, landing - roll ## Analysis Approximately 4 hours into the flight, while on a long descent to the destination airport, the pilot experienced a reduction in engine power. The power reduction continued over a period of eight minutes and resulted in a complete loss of engine power. Following the loss of power, the pilot's attempts to restore full engine power, which included the application of carburetor heat, failed. The pilot selected a nearby paved road for an emergency landing. During the landing roll out, the right wing collided with a road sign, and the airplane swerved into an adjacent ditch and nosed over. Examination of the airplane failed to disclose a mechanical problem. Fuel was recovered from the fuel system. During the functional test of the engine, the engine operated normally through all power ranges. A review of current weather information revealed that weather conditions were favorable for the formation of carburetor icing. ## Factual narrative On May 1, 1997, at 1100 central daylight time, a Piper PA-28-180, N5778Z, collided with a road sign during an emergency landing roll, and nosed over into a ditch five miles west of Russellville, Alabama. The personal flight operated under the provisions of Title 14 CFR Part 91 with a flight plan filed. Visual weather conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The airplane sustained substantial damage; the pilot was not injured. The flight departed Quincy, Louisiana, at 0700. According to the pilot, approximately four hours into the flight, while on a long descent to Muscle Shoals, Alabama, he experienced a reduction in engine power. The power reduction continued over a period of eight minutes and resulted in a complete loss of engine power. Following the loss of power, the pilot's attempts to restore full engine power, which included the application of carburetor heat, failed. The pilot selected a nearby paved road for an emergency landing. During the landing roll out, the right wing collided with a road sign, and the airplane swerved into an adjacent ditch and nosed over. During the examination of the airplane approximately twelve gallons of fuel were recovered from the fuel system. During the functional test of the engine, the engine operated normally through all power ranges. A review of current weather information revealed that weather conditions were favorable for the formation of carburetor icing. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N5778Z](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N5778Z), registered now, S/N 22-9623, built 1963 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Piper PA-22-180 - Registry model: [Piper PA-22-108](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-22-108) (registry code 7102204) (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: 22-9623 - Airframe hours: 2065 - Engines: Lycoming O-235-C1B 108 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Richard S. Robarge - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility - Departed: 5R8, QUINCY, LA - Destination: MSL, MUSCLE SHOALS, AL - Flight plan: VFR ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 43; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 140 total, 45 in this make and model, 7 in the last 90 days, 5 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 290° at 9 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 61 °F, dew point 43 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: MSL, 20 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 19970501007389A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19970501007389A), May 1, 1997: Piper PA22108, Russellville, AL, Substantial damage. Made long descent sans carb heat lost power. Landed on road. Hit sign. Swerved into ditch. (-23) on may 1, 1997, N5778Z departed quincy la, intending to stop… ## Other investigations on N5778Z (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 CHI66D0036](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI66D0036), Jun 11, 1965: Piper PA-22 (N5778Z), Plymouth, MI, substantial damage 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.