# NTSB DFW05LA113: Piper PA-25-235, N4514Y, Houston, TX, April 29, 2005 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: April 29, 2005, 16:00 local (21:00 UTC) - Place: Houston, TX - Coordinates: 29.52111, -95.241943 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.5211&lon=-95.2419&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report September 13, 2005 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Houston, Texas - NTSB case key (mKey): 61387 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DFW05LA113 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/61387/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DFW05LA113 ## Probable cause A loss of engine power due to the pilot's inadequate preflight planning/preparation in detecting contaminated fuel. A contributing factor was the lack of suitable terrain for the forced landing. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power, cruise - preflight planning/preparation - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - fluid,fuel - contamination (cause) - Forced landing, descent - emergency - In flight collision with object, emergency descent/landing - object - fence ## Analysis The 2,580-hour pilot reported a loss of engine power while towing a banner in cruise flight. The pilot released the banner and initiated a forced landing to a vacant school yard. During the forced landing, the main landing gear of the tailwheel-equipped airplane collided with the chain link fence installed around the school tennis court. The airplane touched down within the school yard, and came to a stop in the upright position after a ground roll of approximately 200 feet. Examination of the aircraft fuel system revealed water and solid contaminants in the gascolator and carburetor bowl, as well as an obvious "winged insect" trapped in the transparent inline fuel filter. ## Factual narrative On April 29, 2005, at 1600 central daylight time, Piper PA-25-235 single-engine airplane, N4514Y, was substantially damaged during a forced landing following a reported loss of engine power while on a banner-towing flight near Houston, Texas. The instrument-rated commercial pilot, sole occupant of the airplane, sustained minor injuries. The airplane was owned and operated by Nighthawk Aerial Advertising, Inc., of Pearland, Texas. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and a flight plan was not filed for the 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 banner-towing flight. The local flight originated from the Pearland Regional Airport (LVJ), approximately 30 minutes prior to the accident. In a written statement, the 2,580-hour commercial pilot reported that he was tracking eastbound and was being followed by two other aircraft that were part of the banner towing flight. After approximately one hour and 20 minutes of flight, while at approximately 1,000 feet above ground level (agl), the engine stopped producing power "without making any noise or sputtering." The pilot stated that he "immediately looked down and saw and empty high school field and made a 180-degree turn back to the field, westbound." At approximately 300 feet agl, the pilot determined that he was "not going to make the field," so he manually released the banner to "increase his glide, which accelerated the airplane." The pilot then "put the airplane into a slip" and touched down about 200 feet east of a tennis court. "The aircraft bounced due to an airspeed of about 70 to 80 miles per hour (mph)." The airplane then collided with a fence, with the right wing first, and came to rest nose-down on the tennis court. Examination of the 1966 model airplane revealed structural damage to the fuselage and both wings. Fuel was found in both fuel cells. There was no external damage or deformation to the Lycoming O-540 engine. Further examination of the aircraft fuel system by a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector revealed water and solid contaminants in the gascolator and carburetor bowl, as well as an obvious "winged insect" trapped in the transparent inline fuel filter. The Houston Hobby Airport (HOU), located approximately 15 miles from the accident site, was reporting at 1553 local, the following weather conditions: wind from 190 degrees at 12 knots, gusting to 18 knots, visibility of 6 statute miles in haze, a broken ceiling at 2,800 feet, 5,500 feet overcast, with a temperature 28 degrees Centigrade , and a dew point of 22 degrees Centigrade. The altimeter setting was reported at 29.72 inches of Mercury. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N4514Y](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4514Y-2013-09-16), registration cancelled 2013-09-16, S/N 25-4066, built 1966 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Piper PA-25-235 - Registry model: [Piper PA-25-235](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-25-235) (registry code 7102504) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-540 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-540-series) (registry code 41532, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 25-4066 - Engines: Lycoming O-540 260 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Other work use, Part 91 - Registered owner: Nighthawk Aerial Advertising Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special) - Departed: LVJ, Pearland, TX - Airport: LVJ, Pearland Regional Airport ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 25; injuries: minor; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; last flight review July 1, 2004; seat: center; flight hours: 2,580 total, 1,200 in this make and model, 2,520 as pilot in command, 180 in the last 90 days, 50 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC) - Wind: 190° at 12 knots, gusting 18 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 2,800 ft broken - Temperature: 82 °F, dew point 72 °F - Altimeter: 29.71 inHg - Observed at: HOU ## 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 20050429006799A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20050429006799A), Apr 29, 2005: Piper PA25235, Houston, TX, Substantial damage. (-23) The PA-25-235 pawnee was at approximately 1,000 feet AGL and towing a 40' tall x 120' long, 4,800 square foot "billboard banner" over a congested area on… ## Other investigations on N4514Y (2) 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 FTW01LA094](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW01LA094), Apr 7, 2001: Piper PA-25-235 (N4514Y), Pearland, TX, substantial damage. Probable cause: the pilot's failure to refuel the airplane, which resulted in fuel exhaustion while in the traffic pattern. - [NTSB MKC70D0030](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MKC70D0030), May 27, 1969: Piper PA-25 (N4514Y), Wilsonville, NE, substantial damage 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.