# NTSB LAX95LA253: Piper PA-25-235, N9188T, Maricopa, AZ, July 6, 1995 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: July 6, 1995, 13:14 local (20:14 UTC) - Place: Maricopa, AZ - Location: 33.0853° N, 112.1610° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs at ESTRELLA SAILPORT (E68), within about a mile (OpenAirDocs) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.0853&lon=-112.1610&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report February 8, 1996 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 29151 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX95LA253 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/29151/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX95LA253 ## Probable cause an undetermined internal failure of the carburetor. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(partial) - mech failure/malf, takeoff - initial climb - fuel system,carburetor - malfunction - reason for occurrence undetermined - Forced landing, emergency landing after takeoff - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - roll - terrain condition - soft - Gear collapsed, landing - roll ## Analysis THE PILOT REPORTED THAT HE WAS ABOUT 50 FEET AGL IN THE TAKEOFF INITIAL CLIMB TOWING A GLIDER ALOFT, WHEN HE BECAME AWARE OF A LOSS OF POWER ACCOMPANIED BY A BLACK SMOKE TRAILING FROM THE AIRCRAFT. THE PILOT RELEASED THE GLIDER, BUT DID NOT HAVE ENOUGH ALTITUDE OR AIRCRAFT ENERGY TO MAKE A RETURN TO RUNWAY MANEUVER. HE LANDED ON SOFT DESERT SOIL, AND DURING THE ROLLOUT, THE LANDING GEAR COLLAPSED AND THE LEFT WING WAS DAMAGED. ACCORDING TO THE PILOT, A PRELIMINARY EXAMINATION OF THE ENGINE DISCLOSED HEAVY SOOTING OF ALL SPARK PLUGS. NO EXTERNAL EVIDENCE OF A CATASTROPHIC FAILURE WAS NOTED. THE PILOT SAID HE BELIEVES AN INTERNAL MALFUNCTION OF THE CARBURETOR WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE POWER LOSS. THE ENGINE AND CARBURETOR WERE EXAMINED BY AN FAA AIRWORTHINESS INSPECTOR WHO REPORTED THAT THE CARBURETOR WAS TOO BADLY DAMAGED TO MAKE ANY DETERMINATION REGARDING POTENTIAL DISCREPANCIES. ## Factual narrative On July 6, 1995, at 1314 mountain standard time, a Piper PA-25- 235, N9188T, sustained substantial wing damage during an encounter with soft desert soil in a forced landing near Maricopa, Arizona. The forced landing was precipitated by a loss of engine power during the takeoff initial climb. The aircraft was owned and operated by Arizona Soaring, Inc., of Maricopa, Arizona, and was engaged in glider-tow operations. The certificated airline transport pilot was not injured. The flight was originating at the time of the accident. In a telephone interview, the pilot reported that he was about 50 feet agl in the takeoff initial climb towing a glider aloft, when he became aware of a loss of power accompanied by a black smoke trailing from the aircraft. The pilot released the glider, but did not have enough altitude or aircraft energy to make a return to runway maneuver. He landed on soft desert soil, and during the rollout, the landing gear collapsed and the left wing was damaged. According to the pilot, a preliminary examination of the engine disclosed heavy sooting of all spark plugs. No external evidence of a catastrophic failure was noted. The pilot said he believes an internal malfunction of the carburetor was responsible for the power loss. The engine and carburetor were examined by an FAA airworthiness inspector from the Scottsdale, Arizona, Flight Standards District Office. He reported that the carburetor was too badly damaged to make any determination regarding potential discrepancies. The pilot reported the accident to the Safety Board on July 14, 1995, following determination of the extent of wing structural damage incurred. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N9188T](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N9188T), registered now, S/N 25-7856039, built 1978 (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: 25-7856039 - Airframe hours: 8835 - Engines: LYCOMING O-540 250 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Other work use, Part 91 - Registered owner: Arizona Soaring, Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, January 1, 1995, 293 hours before - Departed: E68 - Airport: E68, Estrella Sailport, runway 24L, 2,520 × 30 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 35; commercial, airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine sea, single-engine sea, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: center; flight hours: 7,200 total, 2,000 in this make and model, 6,532 as pilot in command, 150 in the last 90 days, 50 in the last 30 days, 8 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 270° at 5 knots - Visibility: 30 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 109 °F ## 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 19950706022529A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19950706022529A), Jul 6, 1995: Piper PA25235, Maricopa, AZ, Substantial damage. Lost power on glider tow takeoff. Black smoke trail. Released tow. Landed soft sand. Collapsed gear. Carb too rich. 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.