# NTSB CEN13LA417: Piper PA-22-125, N663A, Mapleton, MN, July 16, 2013 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: July 16, 2013, 17:00 local (22:00 UTC) - Place: Mapleton, MN - Coordinates: 43.968612, -91.90139 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=43.9686&lon=-91.9014&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Enroute-cruise: Fuel contamination](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/193) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report January 30, 2014 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA Flight Standards District Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 87505 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN13LA417 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/87505/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=87505 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN13LA417 ## Probable cause The total loss of engine power due to water contamination of the fuel, which resulted in the pilot's forced landing to unsuitable terrain. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Fluids: fuel](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010): Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware · Fluid condition (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-22, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md?model=7102202), [All aircraft, 1,695 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md) - [Terrain: rough terrain](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021015): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Effect on equipment (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-22, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021015/cases.md?model=7102202), [All aircraft, 442 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021015/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Enroute-cruise: Fuel contamination](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/193) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-22, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/193/sequence.md?model=7102202), [All aircraft, 225 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/193/sequence.md) - [Emergency descent: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440); cases with it: [Piper PA-22, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=7102202), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md) - [Landing: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096); cases with it: [Piper PA-22, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md?model=7102202), [All aircraft, 2,287 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot said the airplane's engine started "sputtering" then lost total power. He made a forced landing in a corn field, and the airplane nosed over. The pilot stated that he performed a thorough preflight inspection of the airplane, during which he drained fuel from all three fuel sumps, and he found no evidence of water or sediment contamination. However, postaccident examination of fuel samples taken from both the left and right wing fuel tanks and from the gascolator fuel line revealed a substantial amount of water. The investigation revealed that the airplane had been parked outside and there had been recent heavy rains in the area. ## Factual narrative On July 16, 2013, about 1700 central daylight time, the pilot of a Piper PA-22-125, N663A, made a forced landing in a cornfield after the engine lost power near Mapleton, Minnesota. The pilot and a passenger were not injured. 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 at the time of the accident, and no flight plan had been filed. The flight originated at an undetermined time from Wells (68Y), Minnesota, and was en route to Mankato (KMKT), Minnesota.The following is based on the pilot's accident report, an interview he had with Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspectors, the passenger's statement, and witness statements: The pilot said he telephone the Flight Service Station and obtained a weather briefing, then he performed a thorough preflight inspection of the airplane that included draining all three fuel sumps. He said there was no water or sediment in the tanks. No fuel was added. He made one solo flight to regain currency, then flew his father around the city of Wells. The pilot then took his brother and departed for Mankato. North of Mapleton at 2,500 feet, the engine "sputtered." The pilot applied carburetor heat and adjusted the fuel mixture to full rich. The engine continued to sputter. The pilot then switched to the right tank. The engine then "quit." The pilot made a forced landing in a corn field and nosed over. FAA inspectors took fuel samples from both the left and right wing fuel tanks, and from the gascolator fuel line. A substantial amount of water was recovered. According to the inspector, the airplane had been parked outside and there had been recent heavy rainfalls in the area. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N663A](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N663A-2018-09-13), registration cancelled 2018-09-13, S/N 22-66, built 1951 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA-22-125 - Registry model: [Piper PA-22](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-22) (registry code 7102202) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-290 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-290-series) (registry code 41506, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 22-66 - Airframe hours: 2972 - Engines: Lycoming O290D 125 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Mccarty Michael H - Registered owner: Mccarty Michael H - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, July 13, 2012, 282 hours before - Departed: 68Y, Wells, MN - Destination: KMKT, Mankato, MN ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 26; injuries: none; private, commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; last flight review January 30, 2012; seat: right; flight hours: 1,126 total, 6 in this make and model, 1,082 as pilot in command, 2 in the last 90 days, 2 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Visibility: 10 statute miles ## 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 20130716011689A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20130716011689A), Jul 16, 2013: Piper PA-22, Mapleton, MN, Substantial damage. Pilot reported that he performed 3 takeoffs and landings with the aircraft staying in the airport pattern. He then went for a short flight of about .2 hours… ## Docket (7 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on December 5, 2013, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=87505. 9.7 MB in all. - NTSB Form 6120.1-2, Pilot-Operator Aircraft Accident Report (item 1, .PDF, 223 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40397607&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=NTSB%20Form%206120.1-2,%20Pilot-Operator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report-Redacted.PDF - FAA Form 1360-33, Pilot interview (item 2, .PDF, 504 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40397608&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=FAA%20Form%201360-33,%20Pilot%20interview-Redacted.PDF - Passenger's Statement (item 3, .PDF, 78 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40397611&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Passenger%27s%20Statement-Redacted.PDF - FAA Form 1360-33, Witness statement (item 4, .PDF, 355 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40397613&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=FAA%20Form%201360-33,%20Witness%20statement-Master.PDF - Record of Conversation with FAA Inspector (item 5, .PDF, 50 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40397841&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation%20with%20FAA%20Inspector-Master.PDF - Photo 1 - Fuel retrieved from right fuel tank and from line between gascolator and carburetor (item 6, .PDF, 4.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40397835&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201%20-%20Fuel%20retrieved%20from%20right%20fuel%20tank%20and%20from%20line%20between%20gascolator%20and%20carburetor-Master.PDF - Photo 2 - Fuel retrieved from left fuel tank and gascolator line (item 7, .PDF, 4.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40397837&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%202%20-%20Fuel%20retrieved%20from%20left%20fuel%20tank%20and%20gascolator%20line-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.