# NTSB WPR09LA336: Thomas C. Piper Murphy Rebel, N5PQ, Idaho Falls, ID, July 5, 2009 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: July 5, 2009, 09:05 local (15:05 UTC) - Place: Idaho Falls, ID - Coordinates: 43.51361, -112.070831 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=43.5136&lon=-112.0708&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Initial climb: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report July 22, 2010 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 74234 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR09LA336 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/74234/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=74234 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR09LA336 ## Probable cause A total loss of engine power during initial climb due to fuel starvation. The underlying reason for the fuel starvation condition could not be determined. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Engine fuel and control: fuel distribution](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057310): Aircraft › Aircraft power plant · Not specified (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper Thomas C MURPHY REBEL, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057310/cases.md?model=05616I4), [All aircraft, 55 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057310/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Initial climb: Fuel starvation](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191); cases with it: [Piper Thomas C MURPHY REBEL, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191/sequence.md?model=05616I4), [All aircraft, 733 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191/sequence.md) - [Initial climb: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper Thomas C MURPHY REBEL, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=05616I4), [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md) - [Emergency descent: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440); cases with it: [Piper Thomas C MURPHY REBEL, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=05616I4), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092); cases with it: [Piper Thomas C MURPHY REBEL, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md?model=05616I4), [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md) ## Analysis All systems operated normally during a pre-takeoff checkout of the airplane. During the initial climb, the engine performed normally. According to the pilot, upon climbing to about 400 feet above the runway, the engine lost all power. He turned the airplane toward an adjacent runway, but did not have sufficient altitude and airspeed to complete the maneuver and the airplane impacted the ground hard. An examination of the airplane's controls and engine revealed no evidence of any mechanical malfunctions. A small amount of fuel was found in the engine's flow divider, and no fuel was found in the fuel injector lines. The engine ran during a postaccident test run. No mechanical reason was found for the interruption of fuel flow to the engine. According to the pilot, the fuel tanks contained about 31 gallons of fuel when he took off. ## Factual narrative On July 5, 2009, about 0905 mountain daylight time, a T. Piper Murphy Rebel, N5PQ, experimental airplane, experienced a sudden and total loss of engine power during initial climb from runway 35 at the Idaho Falls Regional Airport, Idaho Falls, Idaho. The home-built airplane touched down hard during the ensuing forced landing on the airport, and it was substantially damaged. The private pilot received a minor injury. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the personal flight, and no flight plan had been filed. The flight was performed under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91, and it was originating at the time of the accident. The pilot reported to the National Transportation Safety Board investigator that he built and maintained the airplane. All systems operated normally during his pretakeoff checkout of the airplane. The fuel tanks contained about 31 gallons of fuel. During the initial climb, the engine performed normally. According to the pilot, upon climbing about 400 feet over the runway, the engine "abruptly quit." The pilot stated that he made a forced landing on runway 20. However, while turning toward that runway airspeed was lost, and the airplane touched down very hard. It slid off the runway and came to rest on the adjacent grass, about 100 feet off the runway. During the impact sequence, the fuselage and wings broke. A Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector subsequently examined the airplane. According to the FAA inspector, all controls had retained their continuity, the fuel was clean with no contamination, oil was in the sump, and the engine's crankshaft rotated. There was very little fuel in the engine's flow divider, and no fuel in the injector lines. The FAA inspector noted that the airplane was equipped with an electric fuel valve control switch that turned the fuel on and off. The switch's position could be easily moved. Following the FAA's examination, the pilot had the engine examined. During that examination the engine was operated, and it appeared to function normally. The pilot reported that he believes the engine had lost power due to an interruption of fuel flow. It appears to have been "cut off." ## Aircraft - Registration: [N5PQ](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5PQ-2010-08-17), registration cancelled 2010-08-17, S/N 113, built 2004 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Thomas C. Piper Murphy Rebel - Registry model: [Piper Thomas C MURPHY REBEL](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-thomas-c-murphy-rebel) (registry code 05616I4) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Amateur-built UNKNOWN ENG](https://openairdocs.org/engine/amateur-built-unknown-eng) (registry code 99999) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 113 - Airframe hours: 55 - Engines: Lycoming TMX IO-320 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Condition, April 16, 2009, 2 hours before - Departed: IDA, Idaho Falls, ID - Destination: IDA, Idaho Falls, ID - Airport: IDA, Idaho Falls Regional, runway 35, 4,051 × 75 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 73; injuries: minor; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; last flight review May 14, 2007; seat: left; flight hours: 506 total, 59 in this make and model, 506 as pilot in command, 2 in the last 90 days, 2 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 350° at 4 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 63 °F, dew point 54 °F - Altimeter: 30.15 inHg - Observed at: IDA ## 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 20090705011829A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20090705011829A), Jul 5, 2009: Amtr MURPHYREBEL, Idaho Falls, ID, Substantial damage. (-23) Pilot conducted ground runups on the engine and systems before taking the active runway for take-off, these runups went smoothly and no problems occured.… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on May 6, 2010, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=74234. 643 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 602 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40316345&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Statement from T. Piper (item 2, .PDF, 41 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40328591&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Statement%20from%20T.%20Piper-Master.PDF 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.