# NTSB CEN14LA443: Piper PA 28-181, N9681K, Waukesha, WI, July 13, 2014 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: July 13, 2014, 13:00 local (18:00 UTC) - Place: Waukesha, WI - Coordinates: 43.04111, -88.236946 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=43.0411&lon=-88.2369&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Approach-VFR pattern base: Loss of engine power (partial)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 2 minor - Status: Completed, report January 14, 2015 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA- Milwaukee FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 89922 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN14LA443 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/89922/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=89922 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN14LA443 ## Probable cause The loss of engine power for reasons that could not be determined because no anomalies were identified during postaccident examination. ## 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-28-181, 8 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md?model=7102807), [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. - [Approach-VFR pattern base: Loss of engine power (partial)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-181, 9 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342/sequence.md?model=7102807), [All aircraft, 1,858 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342/sequence.md) - [Landing: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-181, 70 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=7102807), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that he had entered the airport traffic pattern for landing. When the airplane was abeam the approach end of the runway, he reduced power, applied carburetor heat, and confirmed that the auxiliary fuel pump was on. When the airplane was on the base leg of the traffic pattern, the pilot attempted to increase engine power, but the engine did not respond; he stated that advancing the throttle to full did not result in an increase in power. He attempted moving the engine and carburetor heat controls to no avail. While attempting the remedial action, he turned toward the runway and declared an emergency. The airplane impacted trees short of the runway. A postaccident examination of the airplane confirmed that fuel was present. The engine was rotated and compression was verified on all cylinders, and the magnetos showed spark that was confirmed at all of the spark plug leads. No mechanical reason for the loss of engine power was discovered. At the time of the accident, the temperature and dew point were 24 degrees C and 17 degrees C, respectively. According to a carburetor icing probability chart, the temperature and dew point were in a range of susceptibility for moderate icing at cruise power settings and serious icing at descent power settings. Because the pilot reported using carburetor heat during the landing approach, the reason for the loss of engine power could not be determined. ## Factual narrative On July 13, 2014, about 1300 central daylight time, a Piper PA 28-181 airplane, N9681K, impacted trees and terrain during a forced landing following a loss of engine power while on approach to land at the Waukesha County Airport, Waukesha, Wisconsin. The pilot and passenger received minor injuries. The airplane was substantially damaged. The airplane was registered to and operated by Wisconsin Fox River Flyers, Inc., under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the flight, which was not on a flight plan. The flight originated from the Watertown Municipal Airport, Watertown, Wisconsin, about 1220.The pilot reported that he had entered the airport traffic pattern for landing. When the airplane was abeam the approach end of the runway, he reduced power, applied carburetor heat, and confirmed that the auxiliary fuel pump was on. When the airplane was on the base leg of the traffic pattern, the pilot attempted to increase engine power but the engine did not respond. He stated that even full throttle did not result in an increase in power. He attempted moving the engine and carburetor heat controls to no avail. While attempting the remedial actions he had turned toward the runway and declared an emergency. The airplane impacted trees and terrain short of the runway resulting in substantial damage to the wings and fuselage. A postaccident examination of the airplane confirmed that fuel was present. The engine was rotated and compression was verified on all cylinders. The magnetos showed spark that was confirmed at all of the spark plug leads. No mechanical reason for the loss of engine power was found. At the time of the accident the temperature and dew point were 24 degrees C and 17 degrees C respectively. According to a carburetor icing probability chart, the temperature and dew point were in a range of susceptibility for moderate icing at cruise power settings and serious icing at descent power settings. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N9681K](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N9681K-2014-11-13), registration cancelled 2014-11-13, S/N 28-7690274, built 1976 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA 28-181 (181) - Registry model: [Piper PA-28-181](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-181) (registry code 7102807) (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: 28-7690274 - Year built: 1976 - Airframe hours: 7291 - Engines: LYCOMING O&VO-360 SER reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Wisconsin Fox River Flyers Inc - Registered owner: Wisconsin Fox River Flyers Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, April 4, 2014 - Departed: RYV, Watertown, WI - Destination: UES, Waukesha, WI - Airport: UES, Waukesha County, runway 28, 5,849 × 100 ft, concrete ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 62; injuries: minor; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 292 total, 95 in this make and model, 200 as pilot in command, 24 in the last 90 days, 10 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 250° at 9 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 3,400 ft broken - Temperature: 75 °F, dew point 63 °F - Altimeter: 29.92 inHg - Observed at: UES ## 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 20140713012729A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20140713012729A), Jul 13, 2014: Piper PA-28-181, Waukesha, WI, Substantial damage. On July 13, 2014, at 1745 UTC, a Piper PA28-181, N9681K, was on right downwind turning to base for runway 28 at Waukesha county airport (ues), Waukesha, WI ,… ## Other investigations on N9681K (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 FTW80DPG05](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW80DPG05), Nov 26, 1979: Piper PA-28 (N9681K), Cherokee Vlg, AR, substantial damage ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on December 15, 2014, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=89922. 1.1 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 933 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40420052&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Record of Conversation - FAA Inspector (item 2, .PDF, 53 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40420053&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation%20-%20FAA%20Inspector-Master.PDF - Carburetor Icing Probability Chart (item 3, .PDF, 156 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40420054&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Carburetor%20Icing%20Probability%20Chart-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.