- Date
- August 14, 2002, 11:30 local (18:30 UTC)
- Place
- Darrington, WA
- Injuries
- 2 minor
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Initial climb
- Aircraft
- N4334EPiper PA-38-112
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report April 23, 2003
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- Parties
- FAA-FSDO
- FAA report
- 20020814023229A
- Case key
- 55489
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The NTSB’s determination of the probable cause, and any contributing factors.
Loss of engine power during takeoff due to an undersized gascolator gasket resulting in a loss of fuel flow to the engine. A ditch was a factor.
Analysis
In a written statement the private pilot reported that shortly after takeoff from the airport the airplane's engine lost power. He reported that the engine regained power, but again quit. This continued 15-17 times and the pilot elected to make an off-airport landing to a nearby field. He reported that during the landing rollout the airplane collided with a fence and drainage ditch resulting in substantial damage. Post accident examination of the aircraft by maintenance personnel from Aviation Inspection and Repair, Inc, disclosed that the gascolator gasket found on the accident airplane was the incorrect size. The gasket measured 1-3/8 inches (inside diameter) by 1-15/16 inches (outside diameter). According to Piper Aircraft, the airplane manufacture, the gascolator gasket (part number 462-049) measures 1-7/8 by 2-3/16 inches respectively. Maintenance personnel reported that the undersized gasket allowed the passage of air into the closed fuel system resulting in irregular fuel pressure to the engine.
Factual narrative
On August 14, 2002, at 1130 Pacific daylight time, a Piper PA-38-112 Tomahawk, N4334E, sustained substantial damage during an off airport forced landing following a loss of engine power approximately one-half mile west of the Darrington Airport, Darrington, Washington. The private pilot and passenger sustained minor injuries. The airplane was being operated as a visual flight rules (VFR) personal pleasure flight under the provisions of Title 14, CFR Part 91, when the accident occurred. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan had been filed.
In a written statement dated October 26, 2002, the pilot reported that shortly after takeoff from the Darrington Airport the airplane's engine "…momentarily lost power." He reported that the engine regained power, but again quit. This continued 15-17 times and the pilot elected to make an off-airport landing to a nearby field. He reported that during the landing rollout the airplane collided with a fence and drainage ditch resulting in substantial damage.
In his written statement the pilot reported that the airplane lost power during the previous takeoff attempt. Following the loss of power, and aborted takeoff, the pilot completed a run up and full power check with no noted anomalies or malfunctions. Following the power check, the pilot initiated the second takeoff attempt (accident flight).
Post accident examination of the aircraft by maintenance personnel from Aviation Inspection and Repair, Inc, disclosed that the gascolator gasket found on the accident airplane was the incorrect size. The gasket measured 1-3/8 inches (inside diameter) by 1-15/16 inches (outside diameter). According to Piper Aircraft, the airplane manufacture, the gascolator gasket (part number 462-049) measures 1-7/8 by 2-3/16 inches respectively. Maintenance personnel reported that the undersized gasket allowed the passage of air into the closed fuel system resulting in irregular fuel pressure to the engine (report attached).
Maintenance records indicated that the aircraft's last inspection, an annual inspection, was completed on June 15, 2002.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N4334E
- Reported as
- Piper PA-38-112
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 38-78AO558
- Airframe hours
- 3,375
- Engine
- Lycoming O-235, 112 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- James H. Casey
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · June 15, 2002 · 7 hours before
- Departed
- 1S2 · Darrington, WA
- Destination
- BLI · Bellingham, WA
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 75
- Injuries
- Minor
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Last flight review
- April 3, 2002
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 612 total · 97 in this make and model · 612 as pilot in command · 12 in the last 90 days · 2 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 330° at 9 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 75 °F, dew point 55 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.90 inHg
- Observed at
- KAWO, 23 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.
Other investigations on N4334E · 1
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.