# NTSB WPR11LA095: Piper PA-22-150, N5850D, Lopez, WA, January 9, 2011 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: January 9, 2011, 13:15 local (21:15 UTC) - Place: Lopez, WA - Coordinates: 48.48389, -122.9375 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=48.4839&lon=-122.9375&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: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report August 7, 2012 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: FAA Seattle FSDO - SAIBs cited in the narratives: [SAIB CE-09-35](https://openairdocs.org/saib/CE-09-35) (OpenAirDocs) - NTSB case key (mKey): 78140 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR11LA095 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/78140/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=78140 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR11LA095 ## Probable cause A loss of engine power during initial climb for undetermined reasons. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Not determined](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000): Not determined › Not determined · Unknown/Not determined (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-22-150, 11 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md?model=7102210), [All aircraft, 2,247 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md) - [Power plant](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057100): Aircraft › Aircraft power plant · Not specified (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-22-150, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057100/cases.md?model=7102210), [All aircraft, 198 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057100/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Initial climb: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-22-150, 11 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=7102210), [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md) - [Landing: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Piper PA-22-150, 41 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=7102210), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The flight instructor reported that, shortly after takeoff during the instructional flight, the airplane began to lose engine power. The instructor lowered the airplane’s nose and began a turn toward open terrain. About 90 degrees into the turn, the engine lost total power. The pilots tried unsuccessfully to resolve the problem by applying carburetor heat, changing throttle positions, and switching fuel tanks. The instructor performed a forced landing in a nearby field, and the airplane collided with thick vegetation during the landing roll. Postaccident examination of the engine revealed no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded engine operation. The airplane was operating in conditions potentially conducive to carburetor icing at the time of the accident; however, this particular engine and its installation in this airframe is not known to be susceptible to carburetor icing. ## Factual narrative On January 9, 2011, at 1315 Pacific standard time, a Piper PA-22-150, N5850D, sustained substantial damage following a loss of engine power and subsequent forced landing near the Lopez Island Airport (S31), Lopez, Washington. The certified flight instructor and student pilot receiving instruction were not injured. The airplane was registered to the student pilot, and operated as an instructional flight under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 91, when the accident occurred. Visual meteorological conditions (VMC) prevailed in the area during the time frame of the accident. No flight plan was filed for the local instructional flight. In a written statement, the flight instructor reported that shortly after takeoff, approximately 500 feet above ground level, the airplane began to lose engine power. The instructor lowered the airplane’s nose and began a turn towards open terrain. Approximately 90 degrees into the turn, the engine quit developing power. The pilots attempted to resolve the problem by applying carburetor heat, changing throttle positions, and switching fuel tanks; however, they were unsuccessful. The instructor maneuvered the airplane to a nearby field and initiated an emergency off airport forced landing. During the landing roll, the airplane collided with thick vegetation and came to rest adjacent to the field's perimeter fence. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage and forward undercarriage. Postaccident examination of the airframe and engine revealed no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded engine operations. A detailed engine examination report is contained in the public docket for this case file. The airplane was operating in conditions potentially conducive to carburetor icing at the time of the accident. The carburetor icing probability chart included in Federal Aviation Administration Special Airworthiness Information Bulletin No. CE-09-35, Carburetor Icing Prevention, indicated that there was a risk of carburetor ice accumulation; however, it was not determined if carburetor ice contributed to the loss of engine power. The reported weather was, in part, temperature 2 degrees Celsius, dew point minus 6 degrees Celsius and a relative humidity of 57 percent. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N5850D](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5850D-2013-10-29), registration cancelled 2013-10-29, S/N 22-4529, built 1956 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA-22-150 - Registry model: [Piper PA-22-150](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-22-150) (registry code 7102210) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 22-4529 - Airframe hours: 3870 - Engines: LYCOMING O-320 SERIES 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Robert Wilson - Registered owner: Lopez Taildraggers LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, December 6, 2010, 6 hours before - Departed: S31, Lopez Island, WA - Destination: S31, Lopez, WA - Flight plan: Company VFR - Airport: S31, Lopez Island Airport ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Flight instructor; age 42; injuries: none; commercial, airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land, single-engine sea; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; last flight review December 14, 2010; seat: right; flight hours: 8,000 total, 25 in this make and model, 6,700 as pilot in command, 80 in the last 90 days, 20 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours - Student pilot; age 54; injuries: none; student; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; seat: left; flight hours: 124 total, 114 in this make and model, 90 as pilot in command, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 10° at 11 knots, gusting 18 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 600 ft overcast - Temperature: 36 °F, dew point 21 °F - Altimeter: 30.17 inHg - Observed at: KFHR, 5 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 20110109000629A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20110109000629A), Jan 9, 2011: Piper PA-22-150, Lopez Island, WA, Substantial damage. Asel trainin flight originating at Friday harbor airport on 1-09-2011 at 1245 hrs. CFI with student pilot who was in the left seat of the Piper PA-22 tripacer… ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 16, 2012, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=78140. 818 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 475 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40365847&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Weather Data (item 2, .PDF, 34 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40368616&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Weather%20Data-Master.PDF - Airframe and Engine Exam (item 3, .PDF, 198 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40368617&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Airframe%20and%20Engine%20Exam-Master.PDF - FAA Carb Ice SAIB CE-09-35 (item 4, .PDF, 111 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40368846&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=FAA%20Carb%20Ice%20SAIB%20CE-09-35-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.