Piper PA-18-150 N4287Z

Summary

On 15 July 2008 at about 16:20 local time, a Piper PA-18-150 registered N4287Z, operated by Sky Signs LLC, was involved in an accident near Surfside Beach, South Carolina, United States. One person was on board and one had minor injuries. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

15 July 2008 at 16:20

Classification

Accident

Location

Surfside Beach, South Carolina, United States

Coordinates

33.6086, -78.9767

Aircraft

Piper PA-18-150

Registration

N4287Z

Category

Airplane

Operator

Sky Signs LLC

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Banner Tow

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Conway → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

NYC08LA249

1 person had minor injuries.

A loss of engine power due to carburetor icing. Contributing to the accident was the obstruction of the carburetor heat flapper by a mud dauber's nest.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

During the second banner-tow flight of the day, the pilot noticed a slight vibration emanating from the engine, which several seconds later became a "very intense" vibration. The engine power began to diminish rapidly, so the pilot began searching for a suitable forced landing site. During the descent, the pilot attempted to restore engine power, and applied carburetor heat, but his efforts were unsuccessful. During the forced landing, the wheels of the airplane encountered an area of soft ground and the airplane subsequently nosed-over resulting in substantial damage. Post-accident examination of the engine revealed that the carburetor heat flapper was obstructed by a mud dauber's nest. Examination of carburetor ice probability charts indicated "serious icing at glide power," or "light icing - glide or cruise power."

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.