# NTSB NYC03LA098: Piper PA-18-150, N9834P, Ava, NY, May 4, 2003 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: May 4, 2003, 10:30 local (14:30 UTC) - Place: Ava, NY - Coordinates: 43.330001, -75.389999 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=43.3300&lon=-75.3900&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report February 5, 2004 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 56948 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC03LA098 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/56948/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC03LA098 ## Probable cause The pilot's inadequate preflight which did not detect the contamination in the fuel, and subsequent power loss due to contaminated fuel while operating over unsuitable terrain. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, takeoff - initial climb - preflight planning/preparation - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - fluid,fuel - contamination,other than water (cause) - Forced landing, descent - emergency - In flight collision with object, emergency descent/landing - object - tree(s) ## Analysis The airplane experienced a power loss on initial climb at an altitude of about 150 feet AGL. He was unable to reach a suitable landing area and landed in the tops of trees. The investigation revealed the fuel selector valve had recently been replaced. To accomplishment the maintenance, the fuel in the tanks were drained into 5 gallon cans, and then after the replacement, it was poured back into the wing tanks. The gascolator was found filled with contamination. Only trace fuel was found forward of he gascolator, and in the carburetor. The pilot reported he had pre-flighted the airplane prior to departure. In addition, the pilot's medical had expired several years ago, and he had not completed a flight review in several years. ## Factual narrative On May 4, 2003, about 1030 eastern daylight time, a Piper PA-18-150, N9834P, was substantially damaged during a forced landing in Ava, New York. The certificated private pilot and the passenger were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the personal flight. No flight plan had been filed for the local flight that was conducted from a private airstrip under 14 CFR Part 91. In a written statement, the pilot reported: "...while taking off from my private airstrip...I experienced engine failure at approximately 150 feet." According to an inspector from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), the pilot departed to the west from the airstrip, which was on his property. The turf runway was about 2,000 feet long, and trees were located to the west, north, and south of the departure end of the runway. The takeoff was initiated, and after the airplane reached an altitude of about 150 feet above ground level (AGL), the engine lost power, started to regain power, and lost power again. The pilot reported that he was too low to attempt an engine restart, and he concentrated on maintaining airplane control. The pilot turned left toward an open field. However, he was unable to reach it due to his low altitude, and landed the airplane in the tops of trees under control. When asked, the pilot reported that he had performed his usual pre-flight examination of the airplane prior to departure. The pilot subsequently reported that he performed the run-up and takeoff on the right fuel tank. The FAA inspector also reported that the fuel selector valve had recently been replaced. The fuel was drained from the wing fuel tanks into 5-gallon cans and the new fuel shutoff valve was installed. The fuel was then poured back into the wing tanks and the shutoff valve was checked for proper operation and fuel flow. Examination of the airplane revealed contamination in the right fuel tank and the gascolator bowl. The fuel line leading to the carburetor, and the carburetor, contained trace amounts of fuel, and the fuel shutoff valve was checked and found to operate properly. The pilot did not possess a current FAA airman medical certificate, and he had not received a flight review within the preceding 24 calendar months. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N9834P](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N9834P), registered now, S/N 18-7609034, built 1976 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Piper PA-18-150 - Registry model: [Piper PA-18-150](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-18-150) (registry code 7101828) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming O&VO-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-vo-360-series) (registry code 41514, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 18-7600034 - Airframe hours: 893.5 - Engines: Lycoming O-320-A2B 150 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, January 20, 2003, 3 hours before - Departed: NONE, Ava, NY - Destination: NONE - Airport: NONE, Private Airfield, runway 27, 2,000 × 100 ft, grass/turf ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 55; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, expired; last flight review June 1, 1989; seat: front; flight hours: 800 total, 650 in this make and model, 3 in the last 90 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 0° at 5 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 55 °F, dew point 25 °F - Altimeter: 30.22 inHg - Observed at: UCA, 11 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 20030504017749A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20030504017749A), May 4, 2003: Piper PA18150, Ava, NY, Substantial damage. (-23) Aircraft lost power after takeoff approximately 150 feet AGL. Pilot maintained controlled flight of aircraft and landed into treed area short of an open… 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.