# NTSB NYC02LA048: Piper PA-28, N6315R, Nantucket, MA, January 12, 2002 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: January 12, 2002, 11:20 local (16:20 UTC) - Place: Nantucket, MA - Coordinates: 41.26979, -70.100181 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.2698&lon=-70.1002&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report May 1, 2003 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 54020 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC02LA048 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/54020/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=54020 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC02LA048 ## Probable cause a loss of engine power for undetermined reasons. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, approach - vfr pattern - downwind - reason for occurrence undetermined (cause) - Forced landing, descent - emergency - In flight collision with terrain/water, emergency landing - terrain condition - grass ## Analysis The pilot departed on a VFR flight. The departure, climb, and en route portions were "uneventful." Once in the terminal area, the pilot was cleared to land on runway 30, so he initiated a descent to 1,000 feet agl. Once on a right downwind, the pilot reduced engine power to 1,500 to 1,700 rpm. He set the mixture control to full rich, and selected the fuel pump and carburetor heat to "ON." On "base," the pilot noticed he was approximately 200 feet low. He increased power to maintain altitude, but the engine did not respond. The pilot checked the mixture control, fuel selector, fuel pump switch, and magneto switches, but did not identify any configuration problems. He then selected the carburetor heat to "OFF" and set the throttle to full open. The engine still did not respond. Unable to make the airport, the pilot identified an open field, and selected full flaps. The airplane touched down, bounced once, touch down again, and then struck a tree with the left wing before coming to a stop. An engine run was performed after the accident. During the run, the engine ran "normally," but idled between 450 and 500 rpm, instead of the recommended 750 rpm. With carburetor heat "ON" and the throttle in the idle position, the engine "almost quit." In addition, weather conditions at the accident site were conducive for serious icing with glide power. ## Factual narrative On January 12, 2002, about 1120 eastern standard time, a Piper PA-28, N6315R, was substantially damaged while executing a forced landing near the Nantucket Memorial Airport (ACK), Nantucket, Massachusetts. The certificated private pilot was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the personal flight that departed Barnstable Muni-Boardman/Polando Field (HYA), Hyannis, Massachusetts, destined for Nantucket. No flight plan was filed, and the flight was conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. According to the pilot, he departed Hyannis and proceeded to Nantucket. The departure, climb, and en route portions were "uneventful." Once in the terminal area, the pilot was cleared to land on runway 30, so he initiated a descent to 1,000 feet agl. After entering a right downwind, the pilot reduced engine power to 1,500 to 1,700 rpm. He set the mixture control to full rich, and selected the fuel pump and carburetor heat to "ON." On "base," the pilot noticed he was approximately 200 feet low. He increased power to maintain altitude, but the engine did not respond. The pilot checked the mixture control, fuel selector, fuel pump switch, and magneto switches, but did not identify any configuration problems. He then selected the carburetor heat to "OFF" and set the throttle to full open. The engine still did not respond. Unable to make the airport, the pilot identified an open field, and selected full flaps. The airplane touched down, bounced once, touch down again, and then struck a tree with the left wing before coming to a stop. According to a Federal Aviation Administration inspector, an engine run was performed after the accident. No fuel was added, and each tank had approximately 15 gallons of fuel at the time of the run. During the run, the engine ran "normally," but the idle speed was set between 450 and 500 rpm, instead of the recommended 750 rpm. The inspector added that with carburetor heat "ON" and the throttle in the idle position, the engine "almost quit." The pilot commented to the inspector that he felt the engine was idling lower than normal prior to the flight. A weather observation taken at the airport 33 minutes before the accident, recorded the wind as 290 degrees at 18 knots, visibility 10 miles, clear skies, temperature 45 degrees Fahrenheit, dew point 27 degrees Fahrenheit, and an altimeter setting of 29.89 Hg. According to the FAA publication, "Tips On Winter Flying," the accident weather conditions were conducive for serious icing with glide power. In addition, the publication stated that, "It is recommended that carburetor heat be applied before reducing power...." ## Aircraft - Registration: [N6315R](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N6315R-2003-12-15), registration cancelled 2003-12-15, S/N 28-21481, built 1966 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Piper PA-28 - Registry model: [Piper PA-28-140](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-140) (registry code 7102802) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 28-21481 - Airframe hours: 3800 - Engines: Lycoming O-320-E2A 150 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, January 9, 2002, 86 hours before - Departed: HYA, HYANNIS, MA - Destination: ACK, Nantucket, MA - Airport: ACK, Nantucket Memorial ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 37; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; last flight review November 9, 2001; seat: left; flight hours: 994 total, 900 in this make and model, 883 as pilot in command, 84 in the last 90 days, 23 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 290° at 18 knots, gusting 23 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 45 °F, dew point 27 °F - Altimeter: 29.88 inHg - Observed at: ACK ## 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 20020112000119A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20020112000119A), Jan 12, 2002: Piper PA28140, Nantucket, MA, No damage. (-23) N6315R, Piper PA-28-140, on final approach to runway 30 at Nantucket ma. Was unable to make the runway and landed approximately 1 1/2 miles east of the… ## Other investigations on N6315R (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 DIA69D0148](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DIA69D0148), Feb 14, 1969: Piper PA-28 (N6315R), Cheswold, DE, destroyed ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on February 6, 2003, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=54020. 648 KB in all. - Record of Interview with FAA Inspector (item 1, .PDF, 89 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40378853&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Interview%20with%20FAA%20Inspector-Redacted.PDF - Written Statement from FAA Inspector (item 2, .PDF, 90 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40147183&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Written%20Statement%20from%20FAA%20Inspector-Master.PDF - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 3, .PDF, 469 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40378854&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.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.