# NTSB NYC07LA192: Piper J-3, N6429H, Frenchtown, NJ, August 12, 2007

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: August 12, 2007, 18:30 local (22:30 UTC)
- Place: Frenchtown, NJ
- Coordinates: 40.501388, -75.059448
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.5014&lon=-75.0594&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 2 minor
- Status: Completed, report September 26, 2008
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Parties: FAA/FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 66448
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC07LA192
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/66448/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC07LA192

## Probable cause

A partial 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(partial) - nonmechanical, descent - normal
  - reason for occurrence undetermined (cause)
- Forced landing, emergency descent/landing
- In flight collision with object, descent - emergency
  - object - tree(s)

## Analysis

The pilot climbed the airplane to 1,400 feet above mean sea level. He turned left over a river, applied carburetor heat to the engine, and descended the airplane to approximately 500 feet above the water. He then secured the carburetor heat and opened the throttle, but there was no engine response. The engine "sounded o.k." but remained at idle power regardless of throttle position. The pilot checked that the fuel selector was on, and 300 to 400 feet above the river, turned the airplane toward a shoreline. The pilot attempted a forced landing to a field; however, prior to reaching it, the airplane descended into a tree. No examination of the airplane was performed at the accident scene, and a cursory examination by the owner at a later date yielded no preaccident mechanical anomalies. Ambient temperature and dew point values indicated a probability of serious carburetor icing at glide power.

## Factual narrative

On August 12, 2007, about 1830 eastern daylight time, a Piper J-3, N6429H, was substantially damaged during a forced landing in Frenchtown, New Jersey. The certificated private pilot and the passenger incurred minor injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed for the local flight from Vansant Airport (9N1), Erwinna, Pennsylvania. The personal flight was conducted under 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91.

According to the pilot, he took off about 1815, and climbed the airplane to 1,400 feet above mean sea level. He then turned left over the Delaware River, applied carburetor heat to the Continental C85-12 engine, and descended to approximately 500 feet above the water. He then secured the carburetor heat and opened the throttle, but there was no engine response. The engine "sounded o.k." but remained at idle power regardless of throttle position.

The pilot checked that the fuel selector was on, and 300 to 400 feet above the river, turned toward the shoreline. He attempted a forced landing to a field; however, prior to reaching it, the airplane descended into a tree.

There was no on-scene examination of the airplane. It was removed from the tree, transported to a storage facility in Delaware, and subsequently sold for salvage. While in the storage facility, the owners performed a cursory examination, with no preaccident mechanical anomalies noted.

Weather, reported at an airport 12 nautical miles to the east, at 1854, included winds from 260 degrees true at 6 knots, visibility 10 miles, a broken cloud layer at 7,000 feet, temperature 30 degrees Celsius (C), dew point 13 degrees C, and an altimeter setting of 29.96 inches Hg. Plotting the temperature and dew point values on a carburetor icing chart yielded a probability of serious carburetor icing at glide power.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N6429H](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N6429H-2014-04-15), registration cancelled 2014-04-15, S/N 19612, built 1946 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Piper J-3
- Registry model: [Piper J3C-65](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-j3c-65) (registry code 7100510) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental C85 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-c85-series) (registry code 17008, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 19612
- Airframe hours: 1449
- Engines: Continental C85-12 85 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Stewart Nicholson
- Registered owner: Flyboys Partners, LP
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, May 1, 2007
- Departed: 9N1, Erwinna, PA
- Destination: 9N1

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 47; injuries: minor; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3; last flight review September 1, 2005; seat: front; flight hours: 300 total, 115 in this make and model, 234 as pilot in command, 15 in the last 90 days, 5 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 260° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 7,000 ft broken
- Temperature: 86 °F, dew point 55 °F
- Altimeter: 29.95 inHg
- Observed at: DYL, 12 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 20070812015869A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20070812015869A), Aug 12, 2007: Piper J3C65, Frenchtown, NJ, Substantial damage. (-23) The pilot stated prior to his descent from 1,400 feet MSL to approximately 700 feet MSL over the deleware river near Frenchtown NJ, he applied carburetor…

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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