# NTSB ERA11LA200: Piper PA-18A 150, N9692D, Hollywood, FL, March 19, 2011 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: March 19, 2011, 15:15 local (19:15 UTC) - Place: Hollywood, FL - Coordinates: 26.000555, -80.237777 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=26.0006&lon=-80.2378&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Emergency descent](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/600) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Emergency descent: Aerodynamic stall/spin](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report March 8, 2012 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - SAIBs cited in the narratives: [SAIB CE-09-35](https://openairdocs.org/saib/CE-09-35) (OpenAirDocs) - NTSB case key (mKey): 78605 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA11LA200 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/78605/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=78605 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA11LA200 ## Probable cause A total loss of engine power for undetermined reasons. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Aircraft](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01050000): Aircraft › Aircraft power plant · Failure (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-18A 150, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01050000/cases.md?model=7101837), [All aircraft, 151 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01050000/cases.md) - [Not determined](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000): Not determined › Not determined · Unknown/Not determined (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-18A 150, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md?model=7101837), [All aircraft, 2,247 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md) - [Temp/humidity/pressure: conducive to carburetor icing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03031030): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on operation; cases with it: [Piper PA-18A 150, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03031030/cases.md?model=7101837), [All aircraft, 435 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03031030/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Initial climb: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341); cases with it: [Piper PA-18A 150, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=7101837), [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md) - [Emergency descent: Aerodynamic stall/spin](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-18A 150, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241/sequence.md?model=7101837), [All aircraft, 1,529 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241/sequence.md) - [Uncontrolled descent: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Piper PA-18A 150, 16 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=7101837), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot departed on a banner tow flight with an adequate supply of fuel, and flew for about 1.5 hours before returning to the departure airport. He dropped the first banner, descended, then climbed to pick up the second banner. As he applied power, the engine initially responded, but then it lost power about 50 to 100 feet above ground level with no sputtering noted. The pilot applied forward elevator control input and verified that the mixture was full rich and that the fuel selector was on the left tank. Prior to touchdown, he applied aft elevator control input, but there was no response, and the airplane landed hard. Operator personnel reported that both magneto switches were in the on position, the fuel selector was in the left tank position, the carburetor heat was pulled slightly, the throttle was full forward, and the mixture control was slightly leaned. Postaccident examination of the airplane revealed that the inboard and outboard fuel tanks contained fuel; however, the amount in each tank was not quantified. However, the amount was adequate to sustain engine power. No fuel was found in the fuel strainer; however, fuel was in the carburetor bowl. A replacement propeller was installed, and the engine was test run and it operated satisfactorily. The conditions about the time of the accident were favorable for serious carburetor icing at glide power. The reason for the lack of fuel in the fuel strainer and the loss of engine power could not be determined. ## Factual narrative On March 19, 2011, about 1515 eastern daylight time, a Piper PA-18A “150”, N9692D, registered to and operated by Van Wagner Aerial Media LLC, was landed hard during a forced landing, following a reported total loss of engine power, at North Perry Airport, Hollywood, Florida. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan was filed for the 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 91 banner tow flight. The airplane sustained substantial damage and the commercial pilot, who was the sole occupant, was not injured. The flight originated about 1 hour 20 minutes earlier from North Perry Airport. The pilot stated that after departure he flew a banner for the prescribed time and proceeded to return to North Perry Airport where he intended to drop the first banner and pick up a second banner. About 1 mile before arrival at the airport, he moved the fuel selector to the left tank position and placed the mixture control to the full rich. After dropping the first banner he remained in the banner traffic pattern and deployed a hook for the second banner. He turned base and final then descended in order for the hook to catch the banner tow rope suspended between poles. He slowly added full power and rotated to begin to climb but the engine, which powered up some, “completely shut off”, with no sputtering noted. At that time the airplane was between 50 and 100 feet above ground level. He immediately applied forward elevator control input and verified that the mixture was full rich and the fuel selector was on the left tank. Prior to touchdown, he applied aft elevator control input but there was no response and the airplane landed hard. Personnel from the operator arrived immediately after the crash and secured the airplane which included moving the fuel selector from the left to off position, and moving both magneto switches from on to off positions. The battery was placed from the on to off position, and the throttle control which was in the full forward position was moved to the idle or throttle closed position. The mixture control which was leaned out slightly was moved to the idle cut-off position, and the carburetor heat which was extended approximately 1/2 inch, was pulled out to 3/4 inch extension. With the fuel selector in the off position, the fuel strainer was checked and only drips of fuel were noted. The fuel selector was placed in the left and right positions and fuel flowed normal. A Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) airworthiness inspector reported the airplane impacted the ground west of runway 18R, slide 23 feet, nosed up striking the propeller, then came to rest upright. Both wings and fuselage sustained substantial damage. An adequate quantity of fuel was noted in the left, and two right fuel tanks. No fuel leakage was noted at the accident site. During recovery of the airplane fuel leakage was noted from the right fuel vent. Following recovery of the airplane, with FAA oversight, fuel was noted in thecarburetor bowl. Throttle control cable continuity was confirmed from the cockpit to the carburetor. With the engine installed in the airframe, a replacement propeller was installed, and the engine was started and operated to 1,500 rpm. During the engine run, the fuel selector was moved to the left and right positions with no engine discrepancies noted. A surface observation weather report taken at the accident airport at 1453, or approximately 22 minutes before the accident, indicates in part that the temperature and dew point were 26 and 14 degrees Celsius, respectively. Federal Aviation Administration Special Airworthiness Information Bulletin (SAIB) CE-09-35, dated June 30, 2009, related to carburetor icing prevention, indicates that based on the temperature and dew point readings about the time of the accident, the conditions were favorable for serious icing at glide power. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N9692D](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N9692D), registered now, S/N 18-6800, built 1959 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA-18A 150 - Registry model: [Piper PA-18A 150](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-18a-150) (registry code 7101837) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Amateur-built UNKNOWN ENG](https://openairdocs.org/engine/amateur-built-unknown-eng) (registry code 99999) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 18-6800 - Airframe hours: 14678 - Engines: Lycoming O-360-C2A 180 hp reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Banner tow, Part 91 - Operator: Van Wagner Aerial Media LLC - Registered owner: Van Wagner Aerial Media LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special) - Last inspection: 100 hour, March 8, 2011 - Departed: HWO, Hollywood, FL - Destination: HWO, Hollywood, FL - Airport: HWO, North Perry Airport ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 26; injuries: none; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; last flight review January 7, 2010; seat: front; flight hours: 1,040 total, 25 in this make and model, 900 as pilot in command, 25 in the last 90 days, 25 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 50° at 11 knots, gusting 17 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 79 °F, dew point 57 °F - Altimeter: 30.20 inHg - Observed at: HWO ## 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 20110319004129A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20110319004129A), Mar 19, 2011: Piper PA-18A 150, Hollywood, FL, Substantial damage. On 03/19/2011 during an attempt to pick up a banner, pilot reported loss of power at about 100 feet. Pilot reported he did not have time to build enough speed… ## Docket (7 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on December 28, 2011, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=78605. 1.3 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 855 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40346469&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Weather Reports and Records (item 2, .PDF, 9 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40346482&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Weather%20Reports%20and%20Records-Master.PDF - FAA Inspector Statement (item 3, .PDF, 34 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40359831&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=FAA%20Inspector%20Statement-Redacted.PDF - Record of NTSB Conversation with FAA Inspector Jaunita Corbin (item 4, .PDF, 53 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40359834&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20NTSB%20Conversation%20with%20FAA%20Inspector%20Jaunita%20Corbin-Master.PDF - Statements from Jaunita Corbin (item 5, .PDF, 98 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40359835&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Statements%20from%20Jaunita%20Corbin-Redacted.PDF - Statements Provided by Federal Aviation Administration (item 6, .PDF, 165 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40359836&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Statements%20Provided%20by%20Federal%20Aviation%20Administration-Redacted.PDF - Federal Aviation Administration Special Airworthiness Information Bulletin Pertaining to Carburetor Icing (item 7, .PDF, 111 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40360740&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Federal%20Aviation%20Administration%20Special%20Airworthiness%20Information%20Bulletin%20Pertaining%20to%20Carburetor%20Icing-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.