# NTSB WPR22LA268: Piper J3C-65, N3666K, Huntington Beach, CA, July 22, 2022 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report - Date: July 22, 2022, 13:30 local (20:30 UTC) - Place: Huntington Beach, CA · Pacific Ocean - Coordinates: 33.661747, -118.011 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.6617&lon=-118.0110&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Fuel starvation](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 3 - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 105571 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR22LA268 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/105571/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=105571 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR22LA268 ## Probable cause A total loss of engine power due to fuel starvation and the pilot’s mismanagement of the available fuel at an altitude too low for recovery. Contributing was the pilot’s delayed decision to switch fuel tanks. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Fluids: fuel](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010): Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware · Fluid level (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper J3C-65, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md?model=7100510), [All aircraft, 1,695 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md) - [Info processing/decision: decision making/judgment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper J3C-65, 11 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md?model=7100510), [All aircraft, 3,098 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md) - [Fuel system: fuel selector/shutoff valve](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022823): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Incorrect use/operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper J3C-65, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022823/cases.md?model=7100510), [All aircraft, 176 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022823/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Fuel starvation](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper J3C-65, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191/sequence.md?model=7100510), [All aircraft, 733 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Ditching](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/441); cases with it: [Piper J3C-65, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/441/sequence.md?model=7100510), [All aircraft, 186 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/441/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot departed the airport on a banner towing operation that would follow the Pacific Ocean shoreline. The airplane carried 36 gallons of fuel in 2 18-gallon fuel tanks and towed a banner. His flight profile was 500 ft agl and about 2,000 ft offshore. The pilot began the flight with the fuel tank selector in the left-tank position. After about 16 minutes of flight, the pilot switched to the right tank and the fuel tank selector remained in the right-tank position for about 2 hours 36 minutes. The pilot reported that shortly after he switched back to the left tank the engine sustained a total loss of power. With little altitude to recover, he elected to land in the water, near the shoreline; the wings and fuselage were substantially damaged in the landing. On-scene examination of the airplane after recovery from the water revealed that there was no fuel in the right tank. A postaccident examination of the airplane and engine revealed saltwater corrosion on some engine components, but no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. Carburetor ice conditions were calculated to be serious, but only at glide power, which was not the conditions at the time of the total loss of power. Fuel samples taken at the airport’s fuel pump and from the airplane tanks revealed no contamination. A review of maintenance records for the airplane revealed no outstanding anomalies. Given that the pilot had the right tank selected for about 2 hours 36 minutes, the fuel burn rate was less than estimated by the pilot; however, the discovery that there was no fuel remaining in the right tank and no breaches of the right tank, it is likely the right tank ran empty before the pilot switched to the left tank. ## Factual narrative On July 22, 2022, about 1330 Pacific daylight time, a Piper J3C-65 airplane, N3666K, was substantially damaged when it was involved in and accident near Huntington Beach, California. The pilot received minor injuries. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 banner towing flight. The pilot reported that he departed Compton-Woodley Airport (CPM) Compton, California, and headed west towards the shoreline. He passed the Interstate 91 (I-91) and Interstate 110 (I-110) intersection where he switched to the right fuel tank. He then proceeded to Zuma Beach. Upon reaching Zuma Beach, he reversed his course and proceeded toward Laguna Beach. While somewhere between Long Beach and Los Alamitos, he switched back to the left fuel tank. After he passed the Huntington Beach pier, the engine lost all power. He turned toward the beach but elected to land in the water, which resulted in substantial damage to the wings and fuselage. The pilot egressed the airplane unassisted. Automatic dependent surveillance-broadcast (ADS-B) data provided by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) was consistent with the pilot’s description of the flight route. The ADS-B data also revealed the airplane began its takeoff roll about 10:46 and proceeded westbound towards the ocean shoreline at an altitude of about 1,200 ft mean sea level (msl). The airplane crossed the I-91/I-110 intersection about 10:54. The airplane arrived over the shoreline at 11:02, turned right, and proceeded to follow the shoreline north, while about 2,000 ft offshore. The airplane descended to about 500 ft msl and remained at that altitude for the remainder of the flight. About 11:45, while near Zuma Beach, the airplane turned 180° and followed the shoreline south. The airplane made a 3.5-nautical-mile orbit near Malibu Beach then continued southbound. The airplane arrived near the Huntington Beach pier at 13:28. While about 1 mile south of the pier, at 1330:10, the airplane began a descent and turned left toward the shoreline. The last data point captured the airplane about 1.25 miles south of the pier at 1330:33 and 0 ft mean sea level. The time of the flight, from the time that the airplane crossed the I-91/I-110 intersection to the beginning of the descent was about 2 hours 36 minutes. Multiple witnesses, located on the beach, reported that the airplane began a rapid descent, with no indication that the engine was running or that the airplane had lost control. The airplane struck the water nose first and came to rest upright. The pilot was able to egress the airplane unassisted. On-scene examination of the airplane revealed no fuel was found in the right fuel tank, and no fuel was leaking after the airplane was brought out of the water. A video, courtesy of a local news agency, revealed an airplane, towing a banner, as it descended to the water. (See figure 1.) The airplane impacted nose-first and came to rest with the fuselage submerged and the wings floating on thewater. According to the operator, the banner was 40 ft by 80 ft and weighed about 55 to 60 pounds. Figure 1. Image captured from a video showing the accident airplane as it descended to the water. Photo courtesy of KESQ. Postaccident examination of the airplane, immediately after the accident, revealed samples of fuel from the airplane’s gascolator and left fuel tank were clear with no debris. There was no fuel present in the right tank and no evidence of fuel escaping from the engine or internal systems. A follow-up examination revealed the engine remained secured to the engine mounts. There was the presence of saltwater inside the engine. About one quart of oil remained in the engine case. There was no evidence of metal debris in the oil pan strainer, and no signs of overheated bearings. There were no signs of damage to the intake runners or exhaust stacks. The crankshaft rotated freely after the cylinders were removed. Sand and saltwater corrosion were present in all cylinders, but there were no signs of damage to any cylinder or valvetrain components. Both magnetos exhibited signs of saltwater corrosion. All ignition leads produced a spark after the points were removed and cleaned. The fuel strainer contained fuel with no signs of sand or saltwater. The carburetor accelerator pump functioned normally and expelled fuel. Air pressure was applied to the carburetor and the fuel venturi was observed to operate normally. The wings and rudder were substantially damaged after contact with the water and recovery efforts. The fuel tanks remained intact. No mechanical malfunctions or failures of the engine or airframe were found that would have precluded normal operation. According to the pilot’s operating handbook, the airplane was equipped with a Van Wagner fuel system, which included 2 18-gallon fuel tanks with a 2-quart header tank for each fuel tank. A fuel selector/shut-off valve was located near the front seat. The fuel consumption at performance cruise (75% rated power) was listed as 10.0 gallons per hour, and the fuel consumption rate at economy cruise (65% rated power) was listed as 8.8 gallons per hour. According to the operator, he spoke with the pilot after the accident who indicated to him that he had calculated a fuel burn rate of about 7.4 to 7.6 gallons per hour. According to the FAA, the CPM airport manager collected a fuel sample [from the airport pump]. A visual inspection of the fuel revealed no signs of contamination. The airport manager reported that the accident pilot requested fuel for the operator’s fleet including N3666K. The person who refueled the airplane reported that the accident airplane could only bear 0.6 gallons, because the tanks were nearly full. Weather conditions recorded at the John Wayne/Orange County Airport, located about 8 miles northeast of the accident site, at 1353 reported temperature 79° F and a dew point temperature of 61° F. According to the FAA Special Airworthiness Information Bulletin (SAIB),titled Carburetor Icing Prevention, the temperature and dew point were conducive to the formation of serious icing at glide power. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N3666K](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N3666K), registered now, S/N 22356, built 1946 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER J3C-65 - Registry model: [Piper J3C-65](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-j3c-65) (registry code 7100510) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 22356 - Year built: 1946 - Airframe hours: 10965.6 - Engines: LYCOMING O-320 SERIES 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Banner tow, Part 91 - Registered owner: Van Wagner Aerial Media LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special) - Last inspection: 100 hour, June 11, 2022 - Departed: CPM, Compton, CA - Destination: CPM, Compton, CA - Equipment: ADS-B ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 27; injuries: minor; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; last flight review August 3, 2022; seat: front; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 870 total, 97.8 in this make and model, 749.1 as pilot in command, 137.5 in the last 90 days, 61.8 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 190° at 11 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 79 °F, dew point 61 °F - Altimeter: 29.86 inHg - Observed at: KSNA, 7 nm away - METAR: KSNA 222053Z 19011KT 10SM SCT250 26/16 A2986 RMK AO2 SLP111 T02560156 58013 ## 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 20220722022819A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20220722022819A), Jul 22, 2022: Piper J3C-65, Huntington Beac, CA, Destroyed. On July 22, 2022, just after 13:21 pacific standard time, U.S. Registered aircraft [privacy data omitted], a Piper J3C-65, serial # 22356, [privacy data… ## Other investigations on N3666K (2) 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 MIA87LA076](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA87LA076), Jan 19, 1987: Piper J3-C65 (N3666K), Pembroke Pines, FL, substantial damage - [NTSB UNK64X2004](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/UNK64X2004), May 29, 1964: Piper J3 (N3666K), Winifred, MT, substantial damage ## Docket (14 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on May 2, 2024, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=105571. 59.0 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 2.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14887911&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=AAA%20NTSB%20Form%206120(N3666K)_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Pilot's statement (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 703 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15729329&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Pilots%20Statement_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Interviews (item 3, PDF, 5 pages, 803 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17027458&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Interviews%20All%20WPR22LA268_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Weather ksna, July 22, 2022 (item 4, PDF, 2 pages, 149 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15730921&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Weather%20KSNA%20July%2022,%202022-Rel.pdf - ADS-B data (item 5, KMZ, 480 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15729467&FileExtension=kmz&FileName=20220722_A425CA_490224761_ADSB-Rel.kmz - ADS-B excel spreadsheet (item 6, XLSX, 20.8 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15729339&FileExtension=xlsx&FileName=20220722_A425CA_490224761_ADSB-Rel.xlsx - FAA dash 23 narrative (item 7, PDF, 3 pages, 57 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15728462&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=23%20Narrative_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Airframe and engine examination report (item 8, PDF, 14 pages, 10.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15729877&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Airframe%20and%20Engine%20Exam%20WPR22LA268-Rel.pdf - Pilots operating handbook excerpts (item 9, PDF, 8 pages, 1.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15729564&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=POH%20Excerpts-Rel.pdf - Maintenance records (item 10, PDF, 7 pages, 14.6 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15729091&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=N3666K%20Annual-100-2022-08-08-165507_Redacted-Rel.pdf - FBO and refueling N3666K (item 11, PDF, 1 page, 35 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15729511&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=FBO%20Attendant%20RE%20Fuel%20for%20Airplane_Redacted-Rel.pdf - CE-09-35 carburetor icing prevention (item 12, PDF, 3 pages, 218 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15730849&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=CE-09-35-Rel.pdf - Photos (item 13, PDF, 4 pages, 1.5 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15728452&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photos%20for%20WPR22LA268-Rel.pdf - Video file (item 14, MP4, 5.9 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15730525&FileExtension=mp4&FileName=Banner%20plane%20crashes%20into%20the%20ocean%20in%20Huntington%20Beach-Rel.mp4 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.