# NTSB WPR13LA171: Piper PA-38-112, N99DM, Byron, CA, March 16, 2013 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: March 16, 2013, 13:30 local (20:30 UTC) - Place: Byron, CA - Coordinates: 37.822498, -121.631942 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.8225&lon=-121.6319&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: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report July 30, 2014 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: FAA FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 86546 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR13LA171 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/86546/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=86546 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR13LA171 ## Probable cause A loss of engine power during initial climb for reasons that could not be determined because postaccident examination 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-38-112, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md?model=7103812), [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. - [Initial climb: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-38-112, 10 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=7103812), [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md) ## Analysis During the initial climb after takeoff, the airplane's engine began to sputter, and it subsequently lost total power. The pilot made a forced landing in a grass field, and, during the landing roll, the right wing and fuselage were substantially damaged. Postaccident examination revealed that fuel was present in both wing tanks, and no evidence of fuel contamination was found. An attempt to run the engine was unsuccessful because of discrepancies with the airplane's electrical system, gascolator, and the engine's starter. However, none of these discrepancies would have resulted in a loss of engine power. The cause of the engine failure could not be determined. ## Factual narrative On March 16, 2013, at 1330 Pacific daylight time, a Piper PA-38-112, N99DM, was substantially damaged during a forced landing following a loss of engine power on takeoff initial climb near Byron, California. The private pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured. The pilot/owner was operating the airplane under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. No flight plan had been filed for the cross-country flight to Livermore, California. The flight was originating from the Byron Airport at the time of the accident, and visual meteorological conditions prevailed. The pilot reported that he had just taken off, and the end of the runway was passing underneath him when the airplane's engine began to sputter and then lost power. He declared an emergency on the radio, set up a glide, changed fuel tanks, turned on the electric fuel boost pump, and flared for landing. He landed in a field immediately next to airport property. During the landing roll in the grass field, the right main landing gear encountered several gopher holes, bending the right wing and right side of the fuselage. A Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector examined the airplane at the accident site, and he reported that 5 and 6 gallons of fuel were drained from the left and right wing tanks, respectively. A visual examination of the fuel revealed no indication of contamination. The wings were removed from the airplane, and the airplane was transported to a salvage yard. On April 16, 2013, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector attempted to perform an engine run at the salvage yard. Difficulty was encountered in energizing the airplane's electrical system, and therefore, the airplane's electric fuel boost pump could not be used to supply fuel to the engine. While manually priming the fuel system, a leak was found at the gascolator. The gascolator was disassembled, and a crack in the upper flange of the metal bowl extending around about a third of its circumference was found. The gascolator was bypassed in order to supply fuel directly to the carburetor. When a start was attempted, the starter was not capable of turning over the engine. No further examination was conducted. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N99DM](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N99DM-2013-06-04), registration cancelled 2013-06-04, S/N 38-78A0487, built 1978 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA-38-112 - Registry model: [Piper PA-38-112](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-38-112) (registry code 7103812) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-235 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-235-series) (registry code 41505, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 38-78A0487 - Year built: 1978 - Airframe hours: 2782 - Engines: Lycoming O-235 112 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Leandro A. Rivera - Registered owner: Rivair LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, May 17, 2012 - Departed: C83, Byron, CA - Destination: LVK, Livermore, CA - Airport: C83, Byron Airport, runway 23, 3,000 × 75 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 62; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; seat: left; flight hours: 735 total, 339 in this make and model, 12 in the last 90 days, 1 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 210° at 14 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Temperature: 70 °F, dew point 48 °F - Altimeter: 30.04 inHg - Observed at: LVK, 13 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 20130316003739A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20130316003739A), Mar 16, 2013: Piper PA-38-112, Byron, CA, Substantial damage. On March 16, 2013, at 1330 hours pacific standard time, pilot in command rivera of a Piper pa 38-112, N99DM, lost engine power during takeoff and subsequently… ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 5, 2014, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=86546. 960 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 580 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40413069&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Pilot Statement (item 2, .PDF, 134 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40413070&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%20Statement-Redacted.PDF - Record of Conversation FAA Inspector (item 3, .PDF, 54 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40413071&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation%20FAA%20Inspector-Master.PDF - Accident Report - Airport Manager (item 4, .PDF, 193 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40413073&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Accident%20Report%20-%20Airport%20Manager%20-Redacted.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.