Piper PA-22-150 N7159B

Summary

On 31 May 2021 at about 00:20 local time, a Piper PA-22-150 registered N7159B was involved in an accident near Cashmere, Washington, United States. One person was on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

31 May 2021 at 00:20

Classification

Accident

Location

Cashmere, Washington, United States

Nearest airport

Cashmere-Dryden (8S2)

Coordinates

47.5148, -120.4847

Aircraft

Piper PA-22-150

Registration

N7159B

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Unknown → Wematchee

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

WPR21LA213

Nobody was injured.

A total loss of engine power shortly after takeoff for reasons that could not be determined based on the available information.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot purchased the airplane about 1 month before the accident. It had not undergone recent maintenance before the purchase, and the pilot hired a mechanic to perform an annual inspection. The pilot stated that the right-wing fuel tank contained about 12 gallons of fuel and the left fuel tank was empty. He positioned the fuel selector to the right tank. During the initial climb, when the airplane reached about 250 to 300 ft above ground level, the engine power smoothly reduced to idle. The pilot lowered the airplane’s nose, and engine power temporarily increased for several seconds before the engine then lost total power. The pilot maneuvered the airplane for a forced landing in a marshy area, where it came to rest inverted. Postaccident examination revealed that the fuel system was intact, and the tanks were not breached. Removal of the fuel line at the carburetor revealed no fuel in the system. A visual inspection of both wing tanks revealed that they both appeared empty. When manipulating the right wing, about one-half cup of fuel drained from the sump. Removal of the right fuel cap revealed that the rubber seal was intact and the two vent holes were clear. The fuel cap filler area had a cork gasket that was not secured, and it could not be determined whether the cap was able to properly seal. Although postaccident examination revealed only trace amounts of fuel in the fuel system, the amount of fuel onboard at the time of the accident could not be determined. The examination was limited in scope because the engine was unavailable for a complete examination. The reason for the loss of engine power could not be determined based on the available information.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.