Pilot Debrief

PIPER PA-28-235 near Bountiful, UT — 2013-02-01

Final reportWPR13LA109
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Date
2013-02-01
Location
Bountiful, UT, USA
Airport
BTF
Aircraft
PIPER PA-28-235
Registration
N8554W
Category
Airplane
Highest injury
None
Fatalities
0
Phase of flight
Initial climb

Probable cause

A total loss of engine power during initial climb for reasons that could not be determined because postaccident examination of the airframe and engine did not reveal any anomalies that would have precluded normal operation.

NTSB narrative

The pilot reported that, following an uneventful takeoff, he initiated a right turn to the crosswind leg of the traffic pattern when the engine lost power. He continued to turn the airplane right toward the departure runway while switching to the right fuel tank, but there was no change in engine power. Unable to make it to the runway, he initiated a forced landing into an open, snow-covered field. During the landing roll, the right main landing gear submerged in the snow, the airplane veered to the right, and the left wing struck the ground. A postaccident examination of the airframe and engine revealed no evidence of mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. A local reporting station recorded the temperature as 43 degrees F and dew point as 28 degrees F. Although the reported weather conditions were conducive to carburetor icing at glide and cruise power, the engine was operating at a high power setting for takeoff, indicating that carburetor ice likely was not the reason for the loss of engine power.

Analysis

Primary failure mode
Engine power loss
First missed decision gate
Switching fuel tanks before engine power loss could have been reconsidered.

NTSB coding

Evidence available

  • Photos
  • 4 docket documents
View NTSB final reportView NTSB docket

Docket documents4

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