# NTSB DEN83LA189: Piper PA-22-135, N2183A, Parker, CO, August 13, 1983

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: August 12, 1983, 19:45 local (Aug 13, 1983, 01:45 UTC)
- Place: Parker, CO
- Coordinates: 39.499794, -104.760978 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.4998&lon=-104.7610&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 16136
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN83LA189
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/16136/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN83LA189

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, cruise - normal
  - fluid,fuel - water (cause)
  - aircraft preflight - inadequate, dual student (cause)
  - supervision - inadequate, pilot in command(cfi) (cause)
- Forced landing, landing - flare/touchdown
- Nose gear collapsed, landing - flare/touchdown
  - landing gear,nose gear assembly - overload

## Analysis

THE ACFT NOSE GEAR COLLAPSED DURING A FORCED LANDING AFTER THE ENGINE QUIT. NEITHER THE ACFT OWNER NOR THE ACFT HAD FLOWN FOR OVER 9 MONTHS. THE OWNER WAS ON A RECHECK FLT WITH A CFI FOR CURRENCY. THE OWNER HAD PREFLIGHTED THE ACFT AND FOUND NO WATER IN THE FUEL SUMPS. THE CFI DID NOT PARTICIPATE IN THE PREFLIGHT OR EVEN WITNESS IT BUT ACCEPTED THE OWNERS ASSESSMENT SINCE HE HAD SEEN THE OWNER PREFLT ON A PRIOR OCCASION. THE FLT PROCEEDED NORMALLY UNTIL THE CFI MADE SOME STEEP TURNS. THE ENGINE FAILED TO RESPOND TO THROTTLE A SHORT WHILE AFTER THE TURNS WHILE THE OWNER WAS FLYING. THECFI TOOK OVER FOR THE EMERGENCY AND FAILED TO GET A RESTART SO A FORCED LANDING WAS MADE. POST ACCIDENT INVESTIGATION REVEALED WATER IN THE FUEL LINES AND CARBURETOR. ONE CUP OF WATER WAS DRAINED FROM THE GASCOLATOR. THE ACFT HAS TWO 18 GALLON FUEL TANKS SITUATED IN THE WINGS LEVEL ENOUGH SO THAT WATER COULD COLLECT OVER THE ENTIRE BOTTOM WITHOUT COLLECTING AT THE FUEL OUTLET LINES.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N2183A (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-22-135
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 22-603
- Airframe hours: 1746
- Engines: LYCOMING O-290-62 135 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Dawson Fine Jewelry Ltd.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, September 6, 1982, 6 hours before
- Departed: APA, ENGLEWOOD, CO
- Airport: Everitt Pvt Airstrip

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 35; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 65 total, 42 in this make and model, 39 as pilot in command

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 210° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 15,000 ft overcast
- Temperature: 73 °F, dew point 57 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: APA, 11 nm away

## 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 19830812043629A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19830812043629A), Aug 12, 1983: Piper PA22135, Parker, CO, Substantial damage. Engine quit on sales demo flight. Nosed over on landing. Water in fuel. Aircraft or pilot not flown for past year.

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.

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