# NTSB CEN13LA287: Piper PA-28-161, N47539, Oskaloosa, IA, May 18, 2013 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: May 18, 2013, 12:30 local (17:30 UTC) - Place: Oskaloosa, IA - Coordinates: 41.200443, -92.499183 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.2004&lon=-92.4992&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Enroute-cruise: Loss of engine power (partial)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 3 minor - Status: Completed, report December 11, 2013 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA FSDO - SAIBs cited in the narratives: [SAIB CE-09-35](https://openairdocs.org/saib/CE-09-35) (OpenAirDocs) - NTSB case key (mKey): 86944 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN13LA287 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/86944/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=86944 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN13LA287 ## Probable cause The loss of engine power for reasons that could not be determined because the engine examination did not reveal any malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Not determined](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000): Not determined › Not determined · Unknown/Not determined (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-161, 14 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md?model=7102803), [All aircraft, 2,247 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Unknown: Unknown or undetermined](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/000); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-161, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/000/sequence.md?model=7102803), [All aircraft, 1,703 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/000/sequence.md) - [Enroute-cruise: Loss of engine power (partial)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-161, 13 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342/sequence.md?model=7102803), [All aircraft, 1,858 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342/sequence.md) - [Emergency descent: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-161, 19 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=7102803), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot and two passengers were in cruise flight when the airplane’s engine lost power. The pilot turned on the electric-driven fuel pump, switched fuel tanks, and applied carburetor heat. The engine did not respond; therefore, he performed a forced landing in a field. A postaccident examination of the engine did not reveal any preexisting malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. Although the atmospheric conditions at the time of the accident were conducive to serious carburetor icing at glide power settings, the airplane was operating at cruise power. The reason for the loss of engine power could not be determined. ## Factual narrative On May 18, 2013, about 1230 central daylight time, a Piper PA-28-161 airplane, N47539, experienced a loss of engine power and the pilot performed a forced landing near Oskaloosa, Iowa. The commercial rated pilot and the two passengers received minor injuries. The airplane was substantially damaged. The airplane was registered to and operated by a private individual under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the flight that operated without a flight plan. The flight originated from Washington Municipal Airport (KAWG), Washington, Iowa about 1200. According to the pilot, during cruise flight he felt a slight “bump” in the engine. He switched fuel tanks and turned on the fuel boost pump. He noted that the engine was down to about 1,500 rpm. He checked the magnetos, applied carburetor heat, and switched back to the first fuel tank; the engine did not respond to the changes. He added that when the engine was down to 1,000 rpm, he knew they wouldn’t make an airport, so he selected a field for the forced landing. During the landing the airplane impacted a berm and came to rest on its belly. The responding Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector examined the airplane on site and noted that the airplane’s landing gear had collapsed and there was substantial damage to the fuselage. A subsequent examination of the engine was conducted by an A&P mechanic under the supervision of the FAA inspector. The engine’s compression, fuel and ignition systems were checked. The engine’s electric driven pump appeared to operate when turned on, the carburetor bowl was empty of fuel, and minor debris was found in the inlet screen. The engine’s spark plugs were worn, but would fire on the left magneto, when the engine was rotated by hand. The intake box was crushed in the accident; however, the heat cables were in operational condition. No anomalies were noted during the examination that would have precluded normal engine operation. The carburetor icing probability chart included in the Federal Aviation Administration Special Airworthiness Information Bulletin No. CE-09-35, Carburetor Icing Prevention, indicated that the airplane was operating in an area that was associated with a serious risk of carburetor ice at glide power settings. A reason for the loss of engine power was not determined. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N47539](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N47539-2016-07-11), registration cancelled 2016-07-11, S/N 28-7816093, built 1977 (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: 28-7816093 - Airframe hours: 3813 - Engines: LYCOMING O-320 SERIES 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, September 24, 2012 - Departed: KAWG, Washington, IA - Destination: I75, Osceola, IA ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 78; injuries: minor; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review October 12, 2012; seat: left; flight hours: 3,792 total, 245 in this make and model, 3 in the last 90 days, 3 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 140° at 11 knots - Visibility: 3 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 4,400 ft broken - Temperature: 79 °F, dew point 61 °F - Altimeter: 29.94 inHg - Observed at: KOOA ## 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 20130518010789A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20130518010789A), May 18, 2013: Piper PA-28-161, Oskaloosa, IA, Substantial damage. Following departure from the Washington municipal airport, Washington, Iowa, during cruise flight the engine began to lose power. The pilot switched fuel… ## Other investigations on N47539 (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 CEN09CA532](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN09CA532), Aug 16, 2009: Piper PA-28-161 (N47539), Washington, IA, substantial damage. Probable cause: A loss of engine power due to carburetor icing as a result of the pilot's failure to use carburetor heat in conditions that were conducive to carburetor icing. ## Docket (5 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 5, 2013, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=86944. 617 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 413 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40397293&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Reports from Federal Agencies (Inspector's statement) (item 2, .PDF, 23 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40397287&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Reports%20from%20Federal%20Agencies%20(Inspector%27s%20statement)-Master.PDF - Weather Reports and Records (item 3, .PDF, 20 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40397288&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Weather%20Reports%20and%20Records-Master.PDF - Weather Reports and Records (carb ice chart) (item 4, .PDF, 97 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40397289&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Weather%20Reports%20and%20Records%20%20(carb%20ice%20chart)-Master.PDF - Photo: Accident airplane (FAA photo) (item 5, .PDF, 64 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40397292&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%3A%20Accident%20airplane%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20(FAA%20photo)-Master.PDF 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.