# NTSB DEN88LA024: Piper PA-24-260B, N9039P, Akron, CO, November 15, 1987

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: November 15, 1987, 15:42 local (22:42 UTC)
- Place: Akron, CO
- Coordinates: 40.160808, -103.210884 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.1608&lon=-103.2109&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 3 minor
- Status: Completed, report March 14, 1989
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Safety recommendations: Yes
- NTSB case key (mKey): 17416
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN88LA024
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/17416/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN88LA024

## Analysis

BFR TKOF, SNOW WAS MELTED OFF THE ACFT IN A HEATED HANGAR. THE FLT WAS BGN IN BLOWING SNOW WITH A FORECAST OF OCNL MOD ICING TO 20,000'. THE PLT SAID THE SNOW LASTED ONLY 5 TO 10 MIN & ONLY A TRACE OF ICE (LESS 1/16 INCH) ACCUMULATED DRG THE 1ST 15 MIN OF FLT. NO FURTHER ACCUMULATION OF ICE WAS NOTED. APRX 45 MIN AFTER TKOF, WHILE CRUISING IN IMC CONDUCIVETO INDUCTION SYS ICING, THE ENG SUDDENLY LOST PWR & WOULD NOT RESTART. THE PLT DSCNDD TWD AN ARPT IN IMC TO APRX 400' AGL, BUT MADE A WHEELS-UP LNDG WHEN HE COULD NOT SEE THE ARPT. HE ATTRIBUTED THE LOSS OF PWR TO BLOCKAGE OF THE AIR INDUCTION FILTER. THE INDUCTION SYS WAS EQUIPPED WITH A SPRING LOADED DOOR WHICH WAS INTENDED TO OPEN AUTOMATICALLY & ALLOW HEATED ALTN AIR TO FLOW TO THE ENG IN THE EVENT THE FILTER BCM BLOCKED. NONETHELESS, PIPER INDCD THAT OPN IN ICINGCONDS COULD CAUSE ICE TO ACCUMULATE IN THE FUEL INJECTION SYS & RESULT IN LOSS OF PWR. TO AVOID THIS, PIPER SVC BULLETINNO: 861 WAS ISSUED ON 5/4/87 FOR INSTLN OF AN IMPROVED MANUALLY OPERATED ALTN AIR SYS ON FUEL INJECTED PA-24-260 ACFT.

## 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
  - induction air control/system
  - maintenance,service bulletin/letter - not performed, company/operator management (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - icing conditions (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - snow (contributing factor)
  - induction air control/system - ice (cause)
  - induction air control,air filter/screen - blocked(total) (cause)
- Forced landing, descent - emergency
- In flight collision with terrain/water, landing - flare/touchdown
  - weather condition - low ceiling (contributing factor)
  - wheels up landing

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N9039P](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N9039P-2013-09-11), registration cancelled 2013-09-11, S/N 24-4502, built 1966 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-24-260B
- Registry model: [Piper PA-24-260](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-24-260) (registry code 7102406) (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: 24-4502
- Airframe hours: 3127
- Engines: LYCOMING IO-540-D4A5 260 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Bruce G. Deckinga, doing business as Eagles, Ltd.
- Registered owner: Eagles, Ltd.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, May 22, 1987, 108 hours before
- Departed: APA, ENGLEWOOD, CO
- Destination: DSM, DES MOINES, IA
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: AKO, Akron-Washington County

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 42; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 1,091 total, 249 in this make and model, 996 as pilot in command, 37 in the last 90 days, 7 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Day
- Wind: 330° at 16 knots, gusting 22
- Visibility: 1 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 400 ft overcast
- Temperature: 30 °F, dew point 30 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: AKO, 2 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 19871115080619A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19871115080619A), Nov 15, 1987: Piper PA24260, Akron, CO, Substantial damage. Operated IFR in known icing condition. Engine lost power when induction alternate door iced and failed to open.

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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