# NTSB WPR21LA213: Piper PA-22-150, N7159B, Cashmere, WA, May 31, 2021 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report - Date: May 30, 2021, 17:20 local (May 31, 2021, 00:20 UTC) - Place: Cashmere, WA - Coordinates: 47.51475, -120.48466 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=47.5147&lon=-120.4847&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: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 3 - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 103185 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR21LA213 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/103185/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=103185 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR21LA213 ## Probable cause A total loss of engine power shortly after takeoff 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. - [Engine (reciprocating)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058500): Aircraft › Aircraft power plant · Failure; cases with it: [Piper PA-22-150, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058500/cases.md?model=7102210), [All aircraft, 497 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058500/cases.md) - [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) ## 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) ## Analysis The pilot purchased the airplane about 1 month before the accident. It had not undergone recent maintenance before the purchase, and the pilot hired a mechanic to perform an annual inspection. The pilot stated that the right-wing fuel tank contained about 12 gallons of fuel and the left fuel tank was empty. He positioned the fuel selector to the right tank. During the initial climb, when the airplane reached about 250 to 300 ft above ground level, the engine power smoothly reduced to idle. The pilot lowered the airplane’s nose, and engine power temporarily increased for several seconds before the engine then lost total power. The pilot maneuvered the airplane for a forced landing in a marshy area, where it came to rest inverted. Postaccident examination revealed that the fuel system was intact, and the tanks were not breached. Removal of the fuel line at the carburetor revealed no fuel in the system. A visual inspection of both wing tanks revealed that they both appeared empty. When manipulating the right wing, about one-half cup of fuel drained from the sump. Removal of the right fuel cap revealed that the rubber seal was intact and the two vent holes were clear. The fuel cap filler area had a cork gasket that was not secured, and it could not be determined whether the cap was able to properly seal. Although postaccident examination revealed only trace amounts of fuel in the fuel system, the amount of fuel onboard at the time of the accident could not be determined. The examination was limited in scope because the engine was unavailable for a complete examination. The reason for the loss of engine power could not be determined based on the available information. ## Factual narrative HISTORY OF FLIGHT On May 31, 2021, about 0720 Pacific daylight time, a Piper PA-22-150, N7159B, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Cashmere, Washington. The pilot sustained minor injuries. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The pilot stated that he purchased the airplane about 1 month before the accident. He had purchased the airplane from a personal estate, and it had not undergone recent maintenance before the purchase. He performed a pre-buy inspection and hired a mechanic to complete an annual inspection. Following the maintenance, the pilot checked the fuel and verified the throttle rigging. He added about 5 gallons of fuel to the right fuel tank, which brought the quantity to more than half full. He then positioned the fuel selector to the right wing tank, where it remained the entire flight. The pilot stated that, after a normal engine start, he completed various taxi checks including a high-speed taxi with full engine power. The pilot then began a takeoff and applied full takeoff power (about 75% throttle). After reaching about 75 mph, the pilot rotated the airplane and it began to climb. After reaching about 250 to 300 ft above ground level, the engine power smoothly reduced to idle and in response, the pilot lowered the nose; the pilot verified that the throttle control in the cockpit remained at the takeoff power setting. The engine power temporarily increased back to full power for several seconds before the engine lost total power. The pilot maneuvered the airplane away from the town ahead and performed a forced landing to a marshy area, where the airplane came to rest inverted. The pilot added that he attempted to troubleshoot the engine failure by verifying that the fuel selector was on the right tank and that both magnetos were selected. A Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector stated that the pilot relayed to him that there was no fuel in the left tank. The mechanic who assisted in the recovery of the airplane following the accident told the inspector that, during the retrieval, the airplane was pulled straight up by the tail tie-down and gently set it on its wheels without any further damage. There was no evidence of breached wing tanks, blue stain leakage from the nose cowl, wing fuel caps, belly, or fuselage. AIRPLANE INFORMATION The airplane was equipped with one 18-gallon fuel tank located at each wing root. Each fuel tank had two lines, forward and aft, adjacent to the fuselage which can feed the fuel system. The FAA inspector stated that the mechanic indicated that, if a steep departure climb is performed by a pilot, and the airplane is only partially fueled, unporting of the fuel lines in the wing tanks is possible. Subsequent fuel starvation to the engine would be imminent. The Piper PA-22 Type Certificate Data Sheet (TCDS) "NOTE 2" states in part, "The following placards must be displayed…On right fuel quantity gauge…'Notake-off on right tank with less than 1/3 tank.'" The airplane had undergone numerous fuel system modifications, including replumbing the right fuel tank. The change made the right tank similar to the left tank; therefore, it was not susceptible to the starvation event that was cautioned in the TCDS. An FAA inspector examined the fuel system and engine with a mechanic who was familiar with the airplane. They verified continuity from the mixture and throttle to the carburetor. He stated that, when they disconnected the main fuel line from the inlet of the carburetor, no fuel came out. Because the fuel selector valve was in the “OFF” position as part of the recovery process, they turned the selector to the “RIGHT” and “LEFT” positions, and still no liquid came out. A visual inspection of both wing tanks revealed that they both appeared empty. When manipulating the right wing, they were able to drain about one-half cup of fuel from the right wing’s sump. The examination was limited in scope because the engine was unavailable for a complete examination. Removal of the right fuel cap revealed that the rubber seal was intact and the two vent holes were clear. The fuel cap filler area had a cork gasket that was not secured, and it could not be determined if it was able to properly seal. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N7159B](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N7159B), registered now, S/N 22-4384 (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) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 22-4384 - Engines: Continental O-360-AIA 180 hp reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Destination: KEAT, Wematchee, WA - Airport: 8S2, Cashmere-Dryden, runway 07/25, 1,800 × 50 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 57; injuries: minor; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane, helicopter; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review July 17, 2019; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 16,000 total, 200 in this make and model, 15,600 as pilot in command, 204 in the last 90 days, 10 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 270° at 9 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 55 °F, dew point 36 °F - Altimeter: 30.15 inHg - Observed at: KEAT, 13 nm away - METAR: KEAT 301455Z AUTO 27009KT 10SM CLR 13/02 A3015 RMK AO2 SLP206 T01330022 52008 ## 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 20210530007129A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20210530007129A), May 30, 2021: Piper PA-22-150, Cashmere, WA, Substantial damage. Aircraft lost power shortly after takeoff. Emergency landing into swampy area was performed. Aircraft flipped over at touchdown in tall grass. Aircraft was not… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 15, 2023, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=103185. 5.5 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 8 pages, 5.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15477999&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Z%20-%20Attachment%2001%20-%206120_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Records of conversation (item 2, PDF, 3 pages, 367 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15478915&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Z%20-%20Attachment%2002%20-%20Record%20of%20Conversations-Rel.pdf - Release of aircraft wreckage, NTSB form 6120.15 (item 3, PDF, 1 page, 47 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15584033&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=WPR21LA213%20Release%20of%20Wreckage-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. --- 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.