# NTSB ERA23LA133: Piper PA-12, N4433M, Ebeemee Township, ME, February 25, 2023 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report - Date: February 25, 2023, 12:45 local (17:45 UTC) - Place: Ebeemee Township, ME - Coordinates: 45.43172, -69.015042 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=45.4317&lon=-69.0150&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Initial climb: Unknown or undetermined](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/000) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 2 minor - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 3 - 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): 106802 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA23LA133 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/106802/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=106802 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA23LA133 ## Probable cause A partial power loss of engine power during initial climb for undetermined reasons. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Not determined](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000): Not determined › Not determined · Unknown/Not determined (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-12, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md?model=7101202), [All aircraft, 2,247 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Initial climb: Unknown or undetermined](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/000) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-12, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/000/sequence.md?model=7101202), [All aircraft, 1,703 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/000/sequence.md) - [Uncontrolled descent: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Piper PA-12, 42 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=7101202), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot was departing from a fly-in event on a frozen lake. During the initial climb, at an altitude of about 150 feet, the engine suddenly lost power completely. The pilot attempted to turn the airplane away from trees that were ahead but hesitated to lower the airplane’s nose. The airplane subsequently encountered and aerodynamic stall and impacted the ice below, resulting in substantial damage to the right wing. A postaccident examination of the wreckage revealed no evidence of any preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. Additionally, the temperature and dewpoint were not favorable to the formation of carburetor icing. Based on the available information, the reason for the loss of engine power could not be determined. ## Factual narrative On February 25, 2023, about 1245 eastern standard time, a Piper PA-12, N4433M, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident at Ebeemee Lake, Maine. The pilot and passenger received minor injuries. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. According to the pilot, after attending a fly-in event on a frozen lake, he prepared the airplane for departure. After taxiing away from the parking area to warm up the engine and test the magnetos, the pilot initiated the takeoff. He described that the engine developed fuel power and he was able to rotate the airplane as normal. As the airplane reached between 100 and 150 feet, the engine “quit suddenly.” The pilot stated that he initially “hesitated to lower the nose to maintain airspeed” and banked to the right to avoid trees that were straight ahead. The airplane subsequently stalled and impacted the ice below, with the airplane’s right wing sustaining substantial damage during the impact. A postaccident examination of the wreckage by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector confirmed continuity of the engine’s valvetrain and powertrain, with compression observed on all of the cylinders when the crankshaft was rotated. No anomalies of the ignition system were observed. Fuel was present in the fuel strainer and in the fuel lines to the carburetor. An estimated ¼-tank of fuel remained within the fuel tanks. Overall, the examination revealed no evidence of any mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. The temperature and dewpoint reported at Millinocket Municipal Airport (MLT), about 18 nautical miles east of the accident site, were -10 degrees C and -17 degrees C, respectively. The calculated relative humidity at this temperature and dewpoint was 56%. Review of the icing probability chart contained within Federal Aviation Administration Special Airworthiness Information Bulletin CE-09-35 revealed the atmospheric conditions at the time of the accident were not conducive to carburetor icing. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N4433M](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N4433M), registered now, S/N 12-3386, built 1947 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA-12 - Registry model: [Piper PA-12](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-12) (registry code 7101202) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-290 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-290-series) (registry code 41506, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 12-3386 - Year built: 1947 - Airframe hours: 3611 - Engines: Lycoming O-360-AFP 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Alberco LLC - Registered owner: Alberco LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, January 20, 2023, 4 hours before - Destination: IZG, Fryeburg, ME - Airport: N/A, runway 18, snow - Equipment: Electronic multifunction display, ADS-B ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 60; injuries: minor; private; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review June 5, 2022; seat: front; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 1,757 total, 100 in this make and model, 33 in the last 90 days, 12 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 360° at 11 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Temperature: 14 °F, dew point 1 °F - Altimeter: 29.65 inHg - Observed at: KMLT, 18 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 20230225001609A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20230225001609A), Feb 25, 2023: Piper PA-12, Ebeemee Twp, ME, Substantial damage. Pilot departed Ebeemee lake on skis to the southwest. Aircraft engine quit approximately 100-150 high on departure while the pilot was in a shallow right turn.… ## Other investigations on N4433M (1) 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 ANC84IA009](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC84IA009), Oct 19, 1983: Piper PA-12 (N4433M), Anchorage, AK, incident, minor damage ## Docket (5 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 23, 2024, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=106802. 4.0 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 9 pages, 2.8 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15653579&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=NTSB6120.1_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Memorandum for record - pilot statement (item 2, PDF, 2 pages, 108 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17647436&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=MOR%20LA133%20Albert_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Memorandum for record - engine examination (item 3, PDF, 3 pages, 99 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17753451&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Memorandum%20Of%20Record%20engine%20examination%20N4433M-Rel.pdf - Investigation photographs (item 4, PDF, 4 pages, 670 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17751395&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Investigative%20Photos%20LA133-Rel.pdf - Weather conditions at millinocket municipal airport (item 5, PDF, 8 pages, 339 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17755715&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Weather-Rel.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.