# NTSB CHI99LA109: Piper J5A, N40888, Wausau, WI, March 15, 1999 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: March 15, 1999, 14:20 local (20:20 UTC) - Place: Wausau, WI - Coordinates: 45.020229, -89.529945 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=45.0202&lon=-89.5299&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report May 12, 2000 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 45916 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI99LA109 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/45916/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI99LA109 ## Probable cause the loss of engine power for undetermined reasons and the lack of suitable terrain for landing. A factor to the accident was the aircraft owner not performing necessary maintenance to the aircraft. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power, cruise - maintenance - not performed, owner/builder (contributing factor) - reason for occurrence undetermined (cause) - Forced landing, emergency descent/landing - Nose over, landing - roll - terrain condition - none suitable (cause) ## Analysis The aircraft experienced a loss of engine power while in cruise flight. The pilot, after noticing a drop in rpm, applied carburetor heat and the engine quit. The airplane nosed over during a forced landing in a snow-covered field. The aircraft owner stated, in a telephone conversation, he had flown the airplane the previous day when the engine quit after a normal landing. After exiting the plane he noticed that there was fuel running out of the carburetor and that tapping on the carburetor stopped the fuel from running. The owner contacted a mechanic, who was not an aircraft mechanic, and was told that the problem was from dirt in the carburetor. The mechanic advised running the engine and then shutting off the fuel to purge the dirt from the carburetor. On the day of the accident, the pilot and the aircraft owner started the engine and shut off the fuel allowing the engine to quit. The pilot stated that the owner said that this would fix the problem. The fuel system was inspected and no anomalies were found. The main fuel tank contained between six and seven gallons of fuel. A post accident inspection of the carburetor revealed no anomalies that could be associated with the reported problem of float sticking. ## Factual narrative On March 15, 1999, at 1420 central standard time (cst), a Piper J5A, N40888, piloted by a private pilot, sustained substantial damage during a forced landing near Wausau, Wisconsin, after a loss of engine power during cruise flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The personal 14 CFR Part 91 flight was not operating on a flight plan. The pilot reported no injuries to himself or his passenger. The flight originated at Wausau Downtown Airport, Wausau, Wisconsin, at 1400 cst for a local flight. The aircraft came to rest in an inverted attitude in a snow-covered field within one-half mile of the Wausau Downtown Airport. In a written report, the pilot stated that the aircraft owner informed him that the carburetor had previously experienced problems with the float sticking. The pilot stated that the aircraft owner and he started the engine and shut off the fuel allowing the engine to quit. The pilot stated that the owner said that this would fix the problem. The pilot stated that after leveling off, after takeoff, the engine rpm dropped and he applied carburetor heat and the engine quit. The aircraft owner stated, in a telephone conversation, the aircraft had experienced problems with the carburetor float sticking. The aircraft owner stated that he had flown the airplane the previous day when the engine quit after a normal landing. He stated that, after exiting the airplane he noticed that there was fuel running out of the carburetor. He stated that, tapping on the carburetor stopped the fuel from running out of the carburetor and the engine then ran normally. The owner stated that he contacted a mechanic, who was not an aircraft mechanic, and was told that the problem was from dirt in the carburetor. The owner stated that the mechanic advised running the engine and then shutting off the fuel to purge the dirt from the carburetor. Inspection of the aircraft revealed 6 to 7 gallons of fuel remaining in the fuselage mounted fuel tank. The fuel screens were found to be clean. The magnetos were tested and produced a spark. The spark plugs were examined and no abnormalities were noted. Further examination of the airplane revealed no other anomalies. A post accident inspection of the carburetor was performed. No mechanical anomalies were found that could be associated with the reported problem of float sticking. The fuel screen was found to be clean and no sediment was found in the float bowl. However, the carburetor had been previously disassembled prior to this inspection. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N40888](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N40888), registered now, S/N 5-1198, built 1941 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Piper J5A - Registry model: [Piper J5A](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-j5a) (registry code 7100702) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental A&C75 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-a-c75-series) (registry code 17005, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 5-1198 - Airframe hours: 3608 - Engines: Continental A75-9C8 75 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: John Chmiel - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, October 14, 1998, 36 hours before - Departed: AUW ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 26; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: front; flight hours: 160 total, 10 in this make and model, 96 as pilot in command, 3 in the last 90 days, 2 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 210° at 12 knots, gusting 18 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 46 °F, dew point 14 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: AUW ## 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 19990315002479A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19990315002479A), Mar 15, 1999: Piper J5A, Wausau, WI, Substantial damage. Acft took off, climbed to 1200 feet AGL, and began to lose power, the pilot tried to return to the arpt but was unable to do so, the acft crashed into a field… ## Other investigations on N40888 (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 CHI95LA194](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI95LA194), Jun 23, 1995: Piper J-5A (N40888), Wausau, WI, substantial damage. Probable cause: the pilot's misjudgment of the clearance between the airplane and the fuel pumps. 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.