Piper PA 18-150 N9473D

Summary

On 15 October 2016 at about 19:30 local time, a Piper PA 18-150 registered N9473D was involved in an accident near Jasper, Texas, 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 October 2016 at 19:30

Classification

Accident

Location

Jasper, Texas, United States

Coordinates

30.8658, -94.0328

Aircraft

Piper PA 18-150

Registration

N9473D

Category

Airplane

Year built

1959

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Jasper → Jasper

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

CEN17LA018

1 person had minor injuries.

A partial loss of engine power for reasons that could not be determined, because an examination of the airplane did not identify a specific reason for the loss of engine power.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The private pilot departed on a local flight. Upon climbing to 1,000 ft, the engine experienced a partial loss of power and started to "miss." The pilot switched fuel tanks and "pumped" the throttle, but the engine did not respond. Unable to maintain altitude, he selected an area for the forced landing. The airplane came to rest wing down and nose low among several trees. Fuel was found at the accident site. The airplane was later recovered and examined at a salvage facility. The examination noted several maintenance discrepancies; the wood under the battery box located in the aft section of the airplane appeared rotted, the engine muffler exhibited significant corrosion; 2 of the 4 cylinders' exhaust and intake valve/rocker arms were improperly assembled; and both wing fuel tank gas caps were an aftermarket, non-vented type. A review of the airplane's maintenance records revealed that 1.49 hours had accumulated since the last annual inspection, and 46.36 hours had accumulated since an engine top overhaul. None of these discrepancies were noted in the inspection or overhaul logbook entries; however, none would have accounted for the loss of engine power. A review of the temperature and dew point at the departure airport indicated that the airplane was operating in an environment conducive to the risk of carburetor ice formation at glide and cruise power settings; however, the airplane was climbing when the engine lost power, so the formation of carburetor ice was unlikely. Despite the maintenance discrepancies, the investigation could not identify a specific abnormality that accounted for the loss of engine power.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.