# NTSB WPR19LA120: Piper PA 18 225 DD, N727WW, McCall, ID, April 23, 2019

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report
- Date: April 22, 2019, 20:20 local (Apr 23, 2019, 02:20 UTC)
- Place: McCall, ID
- Coordinates: 44.881111, -116.003608 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=44.8811&lon=-116.0036&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Unknown](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/990) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Unknown: Unknown or undetermined](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/000)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Investigation class: Class 3
- NTSB office: Western Pacific Region
- Parties: Federal Aviation Administration
- NTSB case key (mKey): 99316
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR19LA120
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/99316/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=99316
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR19LA120

## Probable cause

A total loss of engine power for reasons that could not be determined based on the available information.

## 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; cases with it: [Tubbs S/Performance Air PA 18-225 DD, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md?model=05617PY), [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); cases with it: [Tubbs S/Performance Air PA 18-225 DD, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=05617PY), [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md)
- [Emergency descent: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Tubbs S/Performance Air PA 18-225 DD, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=05617PY), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md)
- [Unknown: Unknown or undetermined](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/000) (defining event); cases with it: [Tubbs S/Performance Air PA 18-225 DD, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/000/sequence.md?model=05617PY), [All aircraft, 1,703 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/000/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot was descending toward the destination airport after about 1 hour of flight when the engine lost total power. The pilot was unable to restore engine power and the airplane impacted trees about 4 miles from the destination. During recovery of the airplane, about 1.5 gallons of fuel was found in the right-wing tank. The left-wing tank was void of fuel. The fuel selector was found in the left-tank position. Postaccident examination of the engine following recovery from the accident site revealed no anomalies that would have precluded normal operation. The pilot reported that he departed on the flight with about 14.5 gallons of fuel onboard; however, the amount of fuel onboard at the time of the accident was not determined. The reason for the loss of engine power could not be determined based on the available information.

## Factual narrative

On April 22, 2019, about 2020 mountain daylight time, a Piper PA-18, N727WW, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near McCall, Idaho. The private pilot was not injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The pilot reported that he departed about 1900 with 14.5 gallons of fuel on board. About 10 miles east of the destination, he began a cruise descent for landing at a reduced power setting. Shortly after the power reduction, the engine continued to run but did not respond to throttle input. The pilot began to troubleshoot the issue, but the airplane continued to descend. The pilot stated that he slowed the airplane as much as possible before impacting trees. The airplane came to rest suspended in a tree about 4 miles from the destination airport. During recovery of the airplane, about 1.5 gallons of fuel was drained from the right fuel tank. There was no fuel drained from the left fuel tank. Both wing fuel tank caps were securely installed. The fuel selector was found in the left tank position. No fuel was found in the gascolator bowl. Disassembly of the carburetor revealed no anomalies or evidence of contaminants. About 1 tablespoon of clear blue liquid consistent with 100 low lead aviation fuel was drained from the carburetor bowl. The oil filter was cut open and found free of metallic debris. The spark plugs and magnetos displayed no anomalies. Examination of the cylinders with a borescope revealed normal operating signatures. The atmospheric conditions at the time of the accident were conducive to the development of carburetor icing at glide power settings.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N727WW](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N727WW-2021-07-31), registration cancelled 2021-07-31, S/N PA0204, built 2004 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Piper PA 18 225 DD (No Series)
- Registry model: [Tubbs S/Performance Air PA 18-225 DD](https://openairdocs.org/model/tubbs-s-performance-air-pa-18-225-dd) (registry code 05617PY) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming O-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-360-series) (registry code 41575, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane, amateur-built
- Serial number: PA0204
- Year built: 2004
- Airframe hours: 147
- Engines: Lycoming O-360-C4P 180 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special)
- Last inspection: Annual, August 30, 2018, 15 hours before
- Departed: LLJ, Challis, ID
- Destination: Same as departure
- Airport: MYL, McCall Muni
- Equipment: Satellite tracking device

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 79; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, single-engine land; medical: basicmed; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 10,000 total, 3,000 in this make and model

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 260° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 55 °F, dew point 30 °F
- Altimeter: 30.17 inHg
- Observed at: KMYL, 4 nm away
- METAR: METAR KMYL 230151Z AUTO 26005KT 10SM CLR 13/M01 A3017 RMK AO2 SLP218 T01281006 $=

## 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 20190422003279A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20190422003279A), Apr 22, 2019: Tubbs S/Performance Air Inc PA 18-225 DD, Mccall, ID, Substantial damage. Flight departed a private backcountry airstrip with an intended destination of Mccall, ID. The pilot stated he began a cruise descent enroute to Mccall and…

## Other investigations on N727WW (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 WPR11LA436](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR11LA436), Aug 25, 2011: Tubbs S/Performance PA-18 225DD (N727WW), Mile Hi Landing Strip, ID, substantial damage. Probable cause: The collapse of the left landing gear during landing for undetermined reasons.

## Docket (3 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on May 17, 2022, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=99316.

- Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 9 pages): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13778039&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- FAA inspector's statement - engine examination (item 2, PDF, 4 pages, 232 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13777712&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Engine%20Examination%20Report%20(FAA)_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Photos (item 3, PDF, 2 pages, 1.4 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13777799&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photos-Rel.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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