# NTSB WPR15CA095: Piper PA 12, N918TF, Ridgefield, WA, January 29, 2015

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: January 29, 2015, 15:30 local (23:30 UTC)
- Place: Ridgefield, WA
- Coordinates: 45.768611, -122.720001 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=45.7686&lon=-122.7200&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 April 21, 2015
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Western Pacific Region
- Parties: FAA
- NTSB case key (mKey): 90671
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR15CA095
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/90671/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=90671
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR15CA095

## Probable cause

The pilot's delayed action to use carburetor heat before the engine experienced a total loss of power while operating at cruise flight in conditions conducive to carburetor icing.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Temp/humidity/pressure: conducive to carburetor icing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03031030): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on equipment (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-12, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03031030/cases.md?model=7101202), [All aircraft, 435 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03031030/cases.md)
- [Action: delayed action](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-12, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025/cases.md?model=7101202), [All aircraft, 894 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025/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-12, 12 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=7101202), [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md)
- [Landing-landing roll: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Piper PA-12, 42 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=7101202), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot reported that 15 minutes after takeoff, during cruise flight, the engine experienced a total loss of power. She pulled the carburetor heat control knob on, and initiated a forced landing to a grassy field. During the landing roll, the airplane collided with heavy vegetation, which resulted in substantial damage to the left wing. About 30 minutes prior to the accident, a weather station located about 10 nautical miles from the accident site reported a temperature of 48 degrees F and dew point of 43 degrees F. These weather conditions were conductive to the high probability of carburetor ice formation, with the potential for serious icing at cruise power. During the postaccident engine examination, the engine was prepared for an engine run. The engine was started and run with no mechanical failures or malfunctions noted that would have precluded normal operation.

## Factual narrative

The pilot reported that 15 minutes after takeoff, during cruise flight, the engine experienced a total loss of power. She pulled the carburetor heat control knob on, and initiated a forced landing to a grassy field. During the landing roll, the airplane collided with heavy vegetation, which resulted in substantial damage to the left wing. About 30 minutes prior to the accident, a weather station located about 10 nautical miles from the accident site reported a temperature of 48 degrees F and dew point of 43 degrees F. These weather conditions were conductive to the high probability of carburetor ice formation, with the potential for serious icing at cruise power. During the postaccident engine examination, the engine was prepared for an engine run. The engine was started and run with no mechanical failures or malfunctions noted that would have precluded normal operation.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N918TF](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N918TF), registered now, S/N 12-2232, built 1947 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA 12
- Registry model: [Piper PA-12](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-12) (registry code 7101202) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-290 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-290-series) (registry code 41506, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 12-2232
- Year built: 1947
- Airframe hours: 3010
- Engines: LYCOMING O-290 SERIES 150 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Nicolai Jane G
- Registered owner: Nicolai Jane G
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, May 2, 2014
- Departed: VUO, VANCOUVER, WA
- Destination: VUO, VANCOUVER, WA

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 59; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; seat: front; flight hours: 3,025 total, 172 in this make and model, 2,818 as pilot in command, 12 in the last 90 days, 7 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 240° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 48 °F, dew point 43 °F
- Altimeter: 30.27 inHg
- Observed at: KVUO, 9 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 20150129001179A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20150129001179A), Jan 29, 2015: Piper PA-12, Ridgefield, WA, Substantial damage. While flying north from pearson fld. (Vuo) the engine had a sudden loss of power. According to the pilot the flight was for currency and practice of ground…

## Other investigations on N918TF (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 SEA01LA134](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA01LA134), Jul 17, 2001: Piper PA-12 (N918TF), Oregon City, OR, substantial damage. Probable cause: The front seat (pilot-in-command's) inadequate visual lookout during step taxi resulting in the aircraft's collision with a partially submerged log. A contributing factor was the log and it's lack of…

## Docket (12 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on April 10, 2015, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=90671. 1.0 MB in all.

- Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 671 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40425053&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF
- Record of Conversation – Pilot (item 2, .PDF, 82 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40425054&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation%20%E2%80%93%20Pilot-Master.PDF
- Record of Email – FAA (item 3, .PDF, 64 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40425055&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Email%20%E2%80%93%20FAA-Master.PDF
- Carburetor Icing Probability Chart (item 4, .PDF, 76 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40425056&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Carburetor%20Icing%20Probability%20Chart-Master.PDF
- Photo 1 – View of aircraft (Photo Courtesy of Pilot) (item 5, .PDF, 21 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40425057&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201%20%E2%80%93%20View%20of%20aircraft%20(Photo%20Courtesy%20of%20%20Pilot)-Master.PDF
- Photo 2 – View of aircraft (Photo Courtesy of Pilot) (item 6, .PDF, 22 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40425058&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%202%20%E2%80%93%20View%20of%20aircraft%20(Photo%20Courtesy%20of%20%20Pilot)-Master.PDF
- Photo 3 – View of left wing (Photo Courtesy of Pilot) (item 7, .PDF, 20 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40425059&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%203%20%E2%80%93%20View%20of%20left%20wing%20(Photo%20Courtesy%20of%20Pilot)-Master.PDF
- Photo 4 - View of left wing (Photo Courtesy of Pilot) (item 8, .PDF, 20 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40425060&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%204%20-%20View%20of%20left%20wing%20(Photo%20Courtesy%20of%20Pilot)%0D%0A-Master.PDF
- Photo 5 - View of left wing (Photo Courtesy of Pilot) (item 9, .PDF, 18 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40425061&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%205%20-%20View%20of%20left%20wing%20(Photo%20Courtesy%20of%20Pilot)-Master.PDF
- Photo 6 – View of sight gauge on left fuel tank (Photo Courtesy of Pilot) (item 10, .PDF, 16 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40425062&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%206%20%E2%80%93%20View%20of%20sight%20gauge%20on%20left%20fuel%20tank%20(Photo%20Courtesy%20of%20Pilot)%0D%0A-Master.PDF
- Photo 7 –View of fuel totalizer gauge (Photo Courtesy of Pilot) (item 11, .PDF, 16 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40425063&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%207%20%E2%80%93View%20of%20fuel%20totalizer%20gauge%20(Photo%20Courtesy%20of%20Pilot)%0D%0A-Master.PDF
- Photo 8 – View of fuel tank selector ( Photo Courtesy of Pilot) (item 12, .PDF, 17 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40425064&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%208%20%E2%80%93%20View%20of%20fuel%20tank%20selector%20(%20Photo%20Courtesy%20of%20Pilot)%0D%0A-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.

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