Piper PA-22-108 CFAXE

Summary

On 14 January 1993 at about 22:20 local time, a Piper PA-22-108 registered CFAXE, operated by Thomas Power, was involved in an accident near Manorhaven, New York, 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

14 January 1993 at 22:20

Classification

Accident

Location

Manorhaven, New York, United States

Coordinates

40.8500, -72.6993

Aircraft

Piper PA-22-108

Registration

CFAXE

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Thomas Power

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Rockland → Linden

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Dusk

NTSB number

BFO93LA021

1 person had minor injuries.

THE PARTIAL POWER LOSS DUE TO INDUCTION SYSTEM ICING AND THE PILOTS FAILURE TO APPLY CARBURETOR HEAT DURING WEATHER CONDUCIVE TO INDUCTION SYSTEM ICING.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

DURING CRUISE, AT AN ALTITUDE OF ABOUT 700 FEET AGL, THE AIRPLANE'S ENGINE STARTED TO SPUTTER AND LOSE POWER. THE PILOT STATED THAT HE SWITCHED TANKS FROM THE LEFT FUEL TANK TO THE RIGHT FUEL TANK, AND ABOUT 15 MINUTES LATER THE AIRPLANE CONTINUED TO LOSE POWER. HE STATED HE TRIED TO SWITCH FUEL TANKS AGAIN, BUT THE ENGINE DID NOT RESPOND AND HE COULD NOT MAINTAIN THE AIRPLANE'S ALTITUDE AND WAS FORCED TO DITCH. HE STATED THAT THE ENGINE NEVER LOST TOTAL POWER. AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT, IT WAS LIGHTLY SNOWING. THE OUTSIDE AIR TEMPERATURE WAS 32 DEGREES F AND THE DEW POINT WAS 29 DEGREES F. EXAMINATION OF THE AIRPLANE DID NOT REVEAL ANY MECHANICAL MALFUNCTIONS. THE FUEL TANK SELECTOR WAS FOUND SELECTED TO THE LEFT FUEL TANK. THE LEFT FUEL TANK WAS EMPTY AND THE RIGHT FUEL TANK HAD AN UNDETERMINED AMOUNT OF FUEL IN IT. THE CARBURETOR HEAT CONTROL WAS FOUND IN THE 'COLD' POSITION. AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT, ACCORDING TO THE ICING PROBABILITY CURVES, CONDITIONS FAVORABLE TO THE FORMATION OF INDUCTION SYSTEM ICING EXISTED. THE PILOT STATED IN THE RECOMMENDATIONS SECTION OF THE PILOT REPORT, '...PULL THE CARB HEAT...CARB ICE SHOULD BE GIVEN MORE EMPHASIS IN TRAINING....'

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.