# NTSB SEA02LA163: Piper PA-14, N5170H, Eastsound, WA, August 24, 2002 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: August 23, 2002, 20:15 local (Aug 24, 2002, 03:15 UTC) - Place: Eastsound, WA - Coordinates: 48.610553, -122.860557 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=48.6106&lon=-122.8606&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report April 8, 2003 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA-FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 55568 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA02LA163 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/55568/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA02LA163 ## Probable cause 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, climb - reason for occurrence undetermined (cause) - Forced landing, descent - emergency - Ditching, emergency descent/landing - terrain condition - water ## Analysis The pilot reported that after about 15 minutes of flight time to warm the oil for an oil change, he was returning to the airport when the engine suddenly lost power. The pilot was unable to restart the engine and initiated a forced landing to the water near the shoreline. After the ditching, the pilot escaped with minor injuries. The aircraft sank in about 60 feet of water and has not been recovered. The pilot stated that the aircraft was full of fuel and that during the preflight, there was no water noted in the gascolator. ## Factual narrative On August 23, 2002, approximately 2015 Pacific daylight time, a privately owned Piper PA-14 airplane, N5170H, was ditched offshore near Eastsound, Washington, following a reported loss of engine power. The private pilot, a resident of Orcas, Washington, who owned the aircraft and was its sole occupant, escaped the aircraft with minor injuries following the ditching and was rescued by a private individual in a boat. According to a witness, the airplane was substantially damaged in the ditching; it subsequently sank in about 60 feet of water. Visual meteorological conditions were reported at Friday Harbor, Washington, at 1953, and no flight plan had been filed for the 14 CFR 91 personal flight, which the pilot reported had been airborne for about 15 minutes at the time the loss of power occurred. In a written statement, the pilot reported that the purpose of the flight was to warm the oil for an oil change. After about 15 minutes, the pilot was returning to the airport when the engine suddenly lost power. The pilot set-up for the best glide at 70 mph and checked the fuel valve, carburetor heat, magnetos, and pumped the primer and throttle. The engine would not start and the pilot set-up for a forced landing to the beach on the west side of Eastsound. As the aircraft continued to approach the beach, the pilot decided that he was too high and opted to ditch the aircraft instead. As the aircraft descended to about 100 feet above the water level, the engine started. The pilot immediately entered a climb and attained an altitude of about 200 feet when the engine quit again. The pilot then set-up again for a three point stall landing to the water. When the aircraft contacted the water, the left wing dug into the water and the aircraft immediately stopped. The pilot was able to evacuate the aircraft before it sank. The pilot stated that the aircraft was full of fuel and that during the preflight, there was no water noted in the gascolator. To this date, the aircraft has not been recovered. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N5170H](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5170H-2005-04-07), registration cancelled 2005-04-07, S/N 14-178, built 1948 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Piper PA-14 - Registry model: [Piper PA-14](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-14) (registry code 7101402) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 14-178 - Engines: Lycoming O-320 160 hp reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: William R. Munich - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, May 15, 2002 - Departed: ORS, Eastsound, WA ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 60; injuries: minor; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review May 30, 2002; seat: left; flight hours: 300 in the last 90 days, 40 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 160° at 12 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none ## 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 20020823023289A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20020823023289A), Aug 23, 2002: Piper PA14, Eastsound, WA, Destroyed. (-23) The aircraft engine shutdown during flight at about 1500 feet. The pilot was unable to restart the engine and subsequently ditched the aircraft in the… 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.