# NTSB WPR12LA064: Piper PA-22, N1810P, Friday Harbor, WA, December 13, 2011 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: December 13, 2011, 09:00 local (17:00 UTC) - Place: Friday Harbor, WA - Coordinates: 48.494998, -123.046669 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=48.4950&lon=-123.0467&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Enroute-cruise: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report October 9, 2012 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 82511 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR12LA064 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/82511/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=82511 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR12LA064 ## Probable cause A total loss of engine power during initial climb for reasons that could not be determined because postaccident examination of the airframe and engine did not reveal any anomalies that would have precluded normal operation. ## 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, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md?model=7102202), [All aircraft, 2,247 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Enroute-cruise: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-22, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=7102202), [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md) - [Enroute-descent: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440); cases with it: [Piper PA-22, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=7102202), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Piper PA-22, 9 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=7102202), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that about 3 to 4 minutes after takeoff, the engine lost power with no indication of engine roughness. Unable to restart the engine, the pilot made a forced landing in a field, and the airplane collided with a pole. After the accident, and prior to notification to authorities, the pilot checked the fuel system for water and found none. He then started the engine without difficulty and taxied to a secure area. A local reporting station recorded the temperature and dew point as 2 degrees Celsius and -2 degrees Celsius, respectively. Although the reported weather conditions were conducive to serious carburetor icing at cruise power, the engine was operating at a high power setting for takeoff, indicating that carburetor ice was likely not the reason for the loss of engine power. ## Factual narrative On December 13, 2011, about 0900 Pacific standard time, a Piper PA-22, N1810P, experienced a loss of engine power during its initial climb near Friday Harbor, Washington. During the pilot’s subsequent forced landing in a field, the airplane collided with a pole and was substantially damaged. The commercial pilot was not injured. The flight was performed under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed. The pilot had borrowed the airplane from a private individual for a business flight that originated from Friday Harbor, about 0856. The pilot reported that all engine power was suddenly lost 3 to 4 minutes after takeoff. There was no indication of engine roughness prior to the complete loss of engine power. Unable to restart the engine, the pilot made a forced landing in the field. Prior to notifying the National Transportation Safety Board investigator-in-charge, the pilot examined the airplane and found that there was substantial damage to the left elevator. No water was found in the fuel tanks or in the gascolator. The engine was started with no difficulty and the airplane was taxied to a secure area. The examination did not reveal any mechanical failure or malfunction that would have precluded normal operation. Weather conditions recorded at Friday Harbor Airport (FHR), located about 2 miles northeast of the accident site, at 0853, were: wind calm; clear sky; visibility 10 miles; temperature 2 degrees Celsius; dew point -2 degrees Celsius and altimeter 30.07. According to the Federal Aviation Administration Special Airworthiness Information Bulletin, entitled Carburetor Icing Prevention, the temperature and dew point were conducive to the formation of serious icing at cruise power. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N1810P](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N1810P), registered now, S/N 22-2589, built 1955 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA-22 - Registry model: [Piper PA-22](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-22) (registry code 7102202) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 22-2589 - Airframe hours: 2024 - Engines: LYCOMING O-320 SERIES 150 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Business, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, December 3, 2011 - Departed: Friday Harbor, WA - Destination: Lopez Island, WA ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 70; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; seat: left; flight hours: 16,000 total, 36 in this make and model, 16,000 as pilot in command, 6 in the last 90 days, 3 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 15 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 7,500 ft overcast - Temperature: 36 °F, dew point 28 °F - Altimeter: 30.06 inHg - Observed at: FHR ## 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 20111213028959A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20111213028959A), Dec 13, 2011: Piper PA-22, Friday Harbor, WA, Substantial damage. On December 13, 2011, about 0900 pacific standard time, a Piper PA-22, N1810P, experienced a loss of engine power during cruise flight near Friday Harbor,… ## Other investigations on N1810P (1) 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. - [NTSB SEA02LA061](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA02LA061), Mar 28, 2002: Piper PA-22 (N1810P), Friday Harbor, WA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The failure of the brake system during the landing roll. An intentional ground loop and a dirt bank were factors. ## Docket (5 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 1, 2012, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=82511. 4.4 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 3.9 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40360835&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - San Juan County Sheriff Report (item 2, .PDF, 146 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40361076&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=San%20Juan%20County%20Sheriff%20Report-Redacted.PDF - San Juan County Sheriff Photo of Crushed Right Elevator (item 3, .PDF, 104 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40361078&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=San%20Juan%20County%20Sheriff%20Photo%20of%20Crushed%20Right%20Elevator-Master.PDF - FAA Carburetor Icing Prevention Chart CE-09-35 (item 4, .PDF, 111 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40371072&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=FAA%20Carburetor%20Icing%20Prevention%20Chart%20CE-09-35-Master.PDF - Weather Reports and Records (item 5, .PDF, 156 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40371076&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Weather%20Reports%20and%20Records-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.