# NTSB SEA04LA051: Piper PA-18, N2553S, Sisters, OR, March 17, 2004 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: March 17, 2004, 11:30 local (19:30 UTC) - Place: Sisters, OR - Coordinates: 44.316665, -121.599998 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=44.3167&lon=-121.6000&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 2 minor, 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report June 30, 2004 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Portland FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 58936 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA04LA051 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/58936/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA04LA051 ## Probable cause The loss of engine power for undetermined reasons. Factors include no suitable place for a forced landing, and trees in the area where the pilot found it necessary to attempt the forced landing. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power, descent - normal - reason for occurrence undetermined (cause) - Forced landing, emergency descent/landing - In flight collision with object, emergency descent/landing - terrain condition - none suitable (contributing factor) - object - tree(s) (contributing factor) ## Analysis The pilot, who had been cruising at 7,500 feet while en route, had been in a gradual descent for about 10 minutes as he proceeded toward his intended point of landing. During the descent, he realized that the engine had lost power, so he switched fuel tanks, applied carburetor heat for about 20 seconds, and moved the throttle in and out. Since these actions did not restore power to the engine, he looked for a place to execute a power-off forced landing. Because there was no suitable smooth terrain in the area upon which to land, he slowed the aircraft and flew it onto the forested terrain in a landing attitude. During that sequence the aircraft collided with several trees. A post-accident inspection of the aircraft revealed that the wire from the carburetor heat control was no longer attached to the bolt in the fitting on the carburetor heat box actuation lever. Although the wire had come out of the hole in the bolt, the crush washer, the castle nut, and the cotter pin were all still attached to the bolt. The carburetor heat control wire housing was also found to be disconnected from its mounting point. According to the pilot, the carburetor heat was tested as part of his pre-takeoff check, and at that time there was a significant drop in rpm when the carburetor heat was actuated. ## Factual narrative On March 17, 2004, approximately 1130 Pacific standard time, a Piper PA-18, N2553S, collided with trees during an attempted forced landing in forested terrain near Sisters, Oregon, after experiencing a loss of engine power. The private pilot and his passenger received minor injuries, and the aircraft, which is owned and operated by the pilot, sustained substantial damage. The 14 CFR Part 91 personal pleasure flight, which departed Corvallis, Oregon, about 45 minutes earlier, and was en route to Prineville, Oregon, was being operated in visual meteorological conditions. No flight plan had been filed. According to the pilot, who had been cruising at 7,500 feet en route, he had been in a gradual descent for about 10 minutes as he proceeded toward Prineville for landing. During the descent, he realized that the engine had lost power, so he switched fuel tanks, applied carburetor heat for about 20 seconds, and moved the throttle in and out. Since these actions did not restore power to the engine, he looked for a place to execute a power-off forced landing. Because there was no suitable smooth terrain in the area upon which to land, he slowed the aircraft and flew it onto the forested terrain in a landing attitude. During that sequence the aircraft collided with several trees. A post-accident inspection of the aircraft by a Federal Aviation Administration Inspector from the Hillsboro, Oregon, Flight Standards District Office, revealed that the wire from the carburetor heat control knob was no longer attached to the bolt in the fitting where it was attached to the carburetor heat box actuation lever. Although the wire had come out of the hole in the bolt, the crush washer, the castle nut, and the cotter pin were all still attached to the bolt. The carburetor heat control wire housing was also found to be disconnected from its mounting point. According to the pilot, he always performed a carburetor heat check during his pre-takeoff check, and he stated that during the check performed at the beginning of this flight there was a significant rpm drop when the carburetor heat was activated. ## Aircraft - Registration: N2553S (not matched to a registry record) - Reported make and model: Piper PA-18 - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 7909159 - Airframe hours: 1704 - Engines: Lycoming O-320-A2B 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Larry D. Goodman - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, May 15, 2003, 78 hours before - Departed: CVO, Corvallis, OR - Destination: S39, Prineville, OR ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 55; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: front; flight hours: 240 total, 240 in this make and model, 240 as pilot in command, 10 in the last 90 days, 4 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 50 °F ## 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 20040317004119A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20040317004119A), Mar 17, 2004: Piper PA18150, Sisters, OR, Substantial damage. (-23) [privacy data omitted] departed corvallis, OR to prineville, OR. Enroute at 7500FT after crossing the cascade mountains [privacy data omitted] began a… 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.