# NTSB WPR22LA313: Piper PA-30, N4009Y, St Ignatius, MT, August 23, 2022 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report - Date: August 23, 2022, 11:45 local (17:45 UTC) - Place: St Ignatius, MT - Coordinates: 47.325, -114.08083 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=47.3250&lon=-114.0808&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Initial climb: Unknown or undetermined](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/000) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor, 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): 105786 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR22LA313 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/105786/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=105786 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR22LA313 ## Probable cause A partial loss of power during takeoff for undetermined reasons. ## 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-30, 13 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md?model=7103002), [All aircraft, 2,247 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md) - [Fuel system: fuel storage](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022810): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Unknown/Not determined; cases with it: [Piper PA-30, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022810/cases.md?model=7103002), [All aircraft, 60 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022810/cases.md) - [Fluids: fuel](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010): Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware · Fluid condition; cases with it: [Piper PA-30, 14 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md?model=7103002), [All aircraft, 1,695 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Initial climb: Unknown or undetermined](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/000) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-30, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/000/sequence.md?model=7103002), [All aircraft, 1,703 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/000/sequence.md) - [Maneuvering: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440); cases with it: [Piper PA-30, 8 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=7103002), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md) - [Maneuvering: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Piper PA-30, 37 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=7103002), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot was repositioning the airplane to a local airport for maintenance and an annual inspection. The pilot stated the engine start and runup were normal. During takeoff, shortly after the airplane exited ground effect, the left engine had a partial loss of power. The pilot saw powerlines and, to avoid them, initiated a forced landing on a road just past the end of the runway. Postaccident examination of the airframe and engine did not reveal any mechanical anomalies that existed before the impact. The pilot reported that the airplane sat idle for several years and he last added fuel to the airplane about 2 years before the accident. A fuel sample from the accident airplane was green in color, consistent with the introduction of copper to aviation grade gasoline, which typically presents after the fuel has been stagnant for over 2 years. Although it’s possible that the condition of the fuel affected its combustion properties, further testing of the accident fuel for combustion could not be completed due to the disposal of the recovered fuel. ## Factual narrative On August 23, 2022, about 1145 mountain daylight time, a Piper PA-30 Twin Comanche, N4009Y, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near St. Ignatius, Montana. The pilot and passenger sustained no injuries. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. According to the pilot, he was repositioning the airplane to a nearby airport about 15 miles north for an annual inspection. The passenger added that during the preflight, the left engine popped and sputtered for about 5 minutes before starting, but eventually ran smoothly. The pilot stated the engine start and runup were normal. Both engines continued to idle for about 25 minutes as the pilot completed the checklist. The pilot verified that both engine RPM needles matched, and he taxied the airplane to the runway. He positioned the airplane on the runway, advanced the throttles to full power and departed to the west on runway 26. He stated that, as the airplane transitioned through ground effect, he applied “a lot” of right rudder. Shortly after the airplane crossed the end of the runway, the pilot observed powerlines in his flight path and rolled the airplane to the left to avoid contacting the lines. Subsequently, the airplane impacted a road and cartwheeled to a stop. Postaccident examination of the airplane and engine did not reveal any preimpact mechanical anomalies. The fuel system for each engine was traced from each wing tank to the fuel servo at the engine through the fuel selector, which rotated normally and was unobstructed. The left fuel servo was recovered and further tested by the manufacturer; it revealed no mechanical anomalies that precluded normal operation. Both left- and right-wing tanks had green-colored fuel, not consistent with aviation grade gasoline or automotive fuel. The pilot reported that the fuel had been in the wing tanks for over two years. A sample from the left tank was recovered for testing, which revealed the presence of sodium (Na), potassium (K), copper (Cu) and nickel (Ni). Sodium and potassium have numerous natural sources including water/moisture, dust, and soil. Nickel and copper are often found in aviation fuel system components. According to aviation gasoline manufacturers, the presence of copper can cause the color of aviation gasoline to change from blue to green, particularly in fuel that has been in an aircraft for an extended period. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N4009Y](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4009Y-2023-09-04), registration cancelled 2023-09-04, S/N 30-270, built 1964 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA-30 - Registry model: [Piper PA-30](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-30) (registry code 7103002) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming I0360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-i0360-series) (registry code 41515, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 30-270 - Year built: 1964 - Airframe hours: 5324 - Engines: LYCOMING IO-320-B1A 160 horsepower reciprocating; LYCOMING IO-320-B1A 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: River Terrace Estates Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, July 12, 2022 - Destination: 7S0, Ronan, MT - Airport: 52S, St Ignatius, runway 26, 2,610 × 60 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Stall warning system, Auto-pilot ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 86; injuries: minor; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine sea, single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review July 28, 2022; seat: left; restraint: lap only; flight hours: 2,046 total, 112 in this make and model, 2 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 75 °F, dew point 50 °F - Altimeter: 30.06 inHg - Observed at: KMSO, 24 nm away - METAR: KMSO 231753Z 00000KT 10SM CLR 24/10 A3006 RMK AO2 SLP160 T02440100 10244 20111 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 20220823014959A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20220823014959A), Aug 23, 2022: Piper PA-30, St. Ignatius, MT, Substantial damage. On 8/23/2022 [privacy data omitted] was the PIC of [privacy data omitted]. The aircraft performed a ground run prior to takeoff with no anamolies. Shortly… ## Docket (13 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on September 11, 2024, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=105786. 24.0 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 9 pages, 698 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17510110&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120%20313_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Email of follow-up questions (item 2, PDF, 5 pages, 302 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17510315&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Email%20Follow-Up%20Questions%20with%20Pilot_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Memorandum for record passenger (item 3, PDF, 1 page, 70 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17573033&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=MFR%20Passenger-Rel.pdf - Follow-up exam summary (item 4, PDF, 9 pages, 619 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17509728&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=WPR22LA313%20Follow-up%20Exam-Rel.pdf - Accident photo (item 5, PDF, 1 page, 243 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14579104&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Accident%20Photo%20313-Rel.pdf - Fuel servo testing report (item 6, PDF, 4 pages, 80 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17573714&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=IN082322-Rel.pdf - Factual email report for fuel testing (item 7, PDF, 1 page, 209 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17510010&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Email%20report-%20WPR22LA313%20(Fuel%20testing%20report%20review)-Rel.pdf - Fuel analysis testing results (item 8, PDF, 1 page, 101 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17509652&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=WPR22LA313%20Fuel%20testing%20report_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Email correspondence regarding recovered fuel with pilot (item 9, PDF, 6 pages, 302 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17510201&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Email%20Correspondence%20Regarding%20Recovred%20Fuel%20with%20Pilot_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Left engine logbook exerpts (item 10, PDF, 6 pages, 12.5 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17509738&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Left%20Engine%20Logbook%20Excerpts_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Right engine logbook excerpts (item 11, PDF, 4 pages, 7.7 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17510052&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Right%20Engine%20Logbook%20Excerpts_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Tbo schedule (item 12, PDF, 8 pages, 816 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17509662&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=SI1009BE%20TBO%20Schedule-Rel.pdf - Evidence control form and release of wreckage (item 13, PDF, 2 pages, 402 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17510100&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Release%20and%20Evidence%20Control%20Form_Redacted-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.