# NTSB DEN02LA018: Piper PA-23-250, N6935Y, Pagosa Springs, CO, January 14, 2002 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: January 14, 2002, 11:30 local (18:30 UTC) - Place: Pagosa Springs, CO - Coordinates: 37.244445, -107.0625 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.2444&lon=-107.0625&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 4 minor - Status: Completed, report April 1, 2003 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 54028 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN02LA018 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/54028/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=54028 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN02LA018 ## Probable cause the total power failure of the right engine due to the failure of its lubricating system. Contributing factors were the lack of suitable terrain for a forced landing, and the terrain being above the airplane's single engine performance capability. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power, takeoff - initial climb - 1 engine - failure,total (cause) - lubricating system - failure,total (cause) - Forced landing, emergency descent/landing - aircraft performance,engine out capability - exceeded (contributing factor) - In flight collision with terrain/water, emergency landing - terrain condition - mountainous/hilly - terrain condition - none suitable (contributing factor) ## Analysis The pilot said that both engines developed good power during the takeoff roll. After climbing to 8,400 feet, the right engine started missing badly and blue smoke was observed coming from the inboard side of the engine cowling. The pilot said that he shut the engine down, and turned back towards the airport. He decided to restart the right engine, but the engine seized up approximately 20 seconds after he restarted it. He performed a forced landing to a small field on a heavy forested ridge approximately 2 miles south of the airport. Both wings were bent, and the fuselage was wrinkled. The airplane's Pilot Owners Handbook indicates that the airplane's single engine absolute ceiling is 6,400 feet. The salvage/recovery team reported that they found excessive oil on and around the right engine nacelle. The exact cause of the oil system failure was never determined. ## Factual narrative On January 14, 2002, at approximately 1130 mountain standard time, a Piper PA-23-250, N6935Y, was substantially damaged during a forced landing following a power loss in the right engine near Pagosa Springs, Colorado. The private pilot and his three passengers received minor injures. The pilot was operating the airplane under Title 14 CFR Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the cross-country flight that was originating at the time of the accident. The pilot had not filed a flight plan. The pilot said that both engines developed good power during the takeoff roll. After climbing to 8,400 feet, the right engine started missing badly and blue smoke was observed coming from the inboard side of the engine cowling. The pilot said that he shut the engine down, and turned back towards the airport. He decided to restart the right engine, but the engine seized up approximately 20 seconds after he restarted it. He performed a forced landing to a small field on a heavy forested ridge approximately 2 miles south of the airport. Both wings were bent, and the fuselage was wrinkled. In the emergency section of the airplane's Pilot Owners Handbook (POH), the procedure for engine failure indicates that the second thing a pilot should do is feather the propeller. The POH does indicate that the airplane's single engine absolute ceiling is 6,400 feet. The salvage/recovery team reported that they found excessive oil on and around the right engine nacelle. The exact cause of the oil system failure was never determined. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N6935Y](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N6935Y-2003-06-16), registration cancelled 2003-06-16, S/N 27-4292, built 1969 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Piper PA-23-250 - Registry model: [Piper PA-23-250](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-23-250) (registry code 7102308) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming TI0-540 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-ti0-540-series) (registry code 41533, turbo-prop) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 27-4292 - Airframe hours: 5006 - Engines: Lycoming IO-540-C4B5 250 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Robert D. Hagberg - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, May 31, 2001, 104 hours before - Departed: 2V1, Pagosa Springs, CO - Destination: SAF, Santa Fe, NM ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review August 28, 2000; flight hours: 2,215 total, 470 in this make and model, 2,016 as pilot in command, 24 in the last 90 days, 13 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 120° at 5 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 30 °F, dew point 10 °F - Altimeter: 30.07 inHg - Observed at: DRO ## 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 20020114000739A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20020114000739A), Jan 14, 2002: Piper PA23250, Pagosa Springs, CO, No damage. (-23) Departed Pagosa Springs airport. During climb out the right engine started to run rough, passenger noticed blue smoke coming from right engine. Pilot… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on December 10, 2002, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=54028. 388 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 353 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40379337&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Supplement S (item 2, .PDF, 35 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40172007&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Supplement%20S-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.