Piper PA-18-105 SPECIAL N224T

Summary

On 30 August 2013 at about 18:43 local time, a Piper PA-18-105 SPECIAL registered N224T, operated by Van Wagner Aerial Media LLC, was involved in an accident near Rancho Palos Verdes, California, 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

30 August 2013 at 18:43

Classification

Accident

Location

Rancho Palos Verdes, California, United States

Coordinates

33.7414, -118.3792

Aircraft

Piper PA-18-105 SPECIAL

Registration

N224T

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Van Wagner Aerial Media LLC

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Banner Tow

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Compton → Compton

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

WPR13LA392

1 person had minor injuries.

A loss of engine power during cruise flight for reasons that could not be determined because postaccident examination did not reveal any anomalies that would have precluded normal operation.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot reported that, during cruise flight about 1/2 mile off shore while towing an aerial advertising banner, the engine abruptly lost power. Despite troubleshooting attempts, including the application of carburetor heat, the pilot was unable to restart the engine, and he initiated a forced landing to a nearby beach. During the landing, the airplane nosed over and came to rest partially in the ocean. A postaccident examination of the recovered airframe and engine revealed no evidence of mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. The quantity of fuel onboard the airplane could not be determined due to impact damage to the fuel system and its submersion in water after the accident. Although the weather conditions at the time of the accident were conducive to the accumulation of carburetor ice, the pilot applied carburetor heat, and the engine did not restart; therefore, it is unlikely that carburetor icing caused the engine to lose power. The reason for the loss of engine power could not be determined.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.