# NTSB NYC06LA142: Weatherly 201B, N1281W, Southampton, NJ, May 31, 2006

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: May 31, 2006, 15:30 local (19:30 UTC)
- Place: Southampton, NJ
- Coordinates: 39.916667, -74.683334
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.9167&lon=-74.6833&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 1 minor
- Status: Completed, report January 31, 2008
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Parties: FAA/FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 63854
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC06LA142
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/63854/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC06LA142

## Probable cause

The failure of the engine's supercharger, which resulted in a loss of engine power, and subsequent forced landing.

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Loss of engine power, maneuvering - aerial application
  - exhaust system,external supercharger - failure (cause)
- Forced landing, descent - emergency
- In flight collision with object, descent - emergency
  - object - tree(s)
  - terrain condition - swampy

## Analysis

The pilot was conducting his third aerial application flight of the day, when the airplane experienced a loss of engine power.  The pilot attempted a forced landing to a field; however, during the landing, the airplane impacted shrubs and came to rest in a marsh area.  Examination of the airplane's Pratt & Whitney R985-AN3 radial engine revealed that when the crankshaft was rotated by hand, thumb compression was attained on all cylinders; however, the supercharger did not rotate.

## Factual narrative

On May 31, 2006, about 1530 eastern daylight time, a Weatherly 201B, N1281W, was substantially damaged during a forced landing, after it experienced a loss of engine power while maneuvering near Southampton, New Jersey.  The certificated commercial pilot sustained minor injuries.  Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed for the local aerial application flight that was conducted under 14 CFR Part 137.

According to a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector, the pilot was conducting his third aerial application of the day, when the airplane experienced a loss of engine power.  The pilot attempted a forced landing to a field; however, during the landing, the airplane impacted shrubs and came to rest in a marsh area.

The airplane was manufactured in 1975, and equipped with a Pratt & Whitney R985-AN3 radial engine.

Examination of the engine by an FAA inspector revealed that when the crankshaft was rotated by hand, thumb compression was attained on all cylinders; however, the supercharger did not rotate.  The carburetor was dissembled and no preimpact discrepancies were noted.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N1281W](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N1281W), registered now, S/N 635, built 1975 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Weatherly 201B
- Registry model: [Weatherly 201B](https://openairdocs.org/model/weatherly-201b) (registry code 9630408) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Pratt & Whitney R-985 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-r-985-series) (registry code 52008, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 635
- Airframe hours: 826
- Engines: Pratt & Whitney R985-AN3 450 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Aerial application, Part 137
- Registered owner: Jersey Devil Dusters, llc
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special)
- Departed: NONE, South Hampton, NJ
- Destination: Southampton, NJ

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 43; injuries: minor; commercial, sport pilot; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; last flight review May 1, 2006; seat: front; flight hours: 8,600 total, 400 in this make and model

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 82 °F, dew point 66 °F
- Altimeter: 30.10 inHg
- Observed at: SMQ, 35 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 20060531021579A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20060531021579A), May 31, 2006: Wthrly 201B, Southampton, NJ, Substantial damage. (-23) On 31 may 2006 at approximately 1530 eastern daylight time (EDT) a weatherly 201B N1281W impacted the terrain while performing an aerial application of…

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.

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