Monday, September 03, 2012

Taylorcraft F21, N2005E: Accident occurred September 02, 2012 in Willow, Alaska

http://registry.faa.gov/aircraftinquiry/N2005E


NTSB Identification: ANC12LA096  
14 CFR Part 91: General Aviation
Accident occurred Sunday, September 02, 2012 in Willow, AK
Probable Cause Approval Date: 09/12/2013
Aircraft: TAYLORCRAFT AVIATION CORP. F21, registration: N2005E
Injuries: 1 Serious.

NTSB investigators may not have traveled in support of this investigation and used data provided by various sources to prepare this aircraft accident report.

During takeoff from a lake in a float-equipped airplane, the pilot said the airplane became airborne, but the engine began to lose power. The pilot said that he did not think the airplane would clear the trees at the end of the lake, so he started a right turn to stay over the water. As he steepened the turn, the airplane stalled and impacted the lake.

The pilot said the outside temperature was about 55 degrees Fahrenheit and that it was raining. He reported that the more he thought about the circumstances, the more he believed that the loss of power was the result of carburetor ice. The weather conditions at the time of the accident were conducive to serious icing conditions at any engine power setting. No preaccident mechanical problems that would have precluded normal operation were reported.

The National Transportation Safety Board determines the probable cause(s) of this accident to be:
The pilot’s failure to maintain control of the airplane after a loss of engine power during takeoff due to carburetor ice.


On September 2, 2012, about 1600 Alaska daylight time, a float-equipped Taylorcraft F21 airplane, N2005E, sustained substantial damage when it impacted the water during takeoff at Willow Lake Seaplane Base, Willow, Alaska. The airplane was being operated by the pilot as a visual flight rules (VFR) personal cross-country flight, under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations, Part 91, when the accident occurred. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and the solo pilot received serious injuries.

During a telephone conversation with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigator-in-charge (IIC) on September 3, the pilot said he had landed at the lake due to turbulence along his route of flight. After waiting about 30 minutes, he decided to depart. During takeoff, the airplane became airborne, but he did not think he would clear the trees at the end of the lake. He started a right turn to stay over the water, but as the turn steepened the airplane stalled, and impacted the lake. He said he did not know if the airplane's engine was producing full power. The right wing of the airplane was severed.

In a written statement to the NTSB dated September 14, the pilot said after takeoff the engine began missing. He also indicated that the outside temperature was about 55 degrees F, and that it was raining. He further wrote that "maybe a more lengthy run-up to rule out carburetor ice" would have been appropriate.

In an email to the NTSB IIC dated April 10, 2013, the pilot wrote that eventually the airplane had been salvaged from the lake, and sold for parts. He reported that the more he thought about the circumstances, the more he believed that the loss of power was the result of carburetor ice.

The closest weather reporting facility was the Palmer Airport, about 10 miles east of the accident site. The 1353 weather observation from the Palmer Airport was reporting, in part: Wind, 140 degrees (true) at 16 knots, gusting to 21 knots; visibility, 10 statute miles; clouds and sky condition, 4,000 scattered, 7,000 feet broken, 9,000 overcast; temperature, 55 degrees F; dew point, 33 degrees F; altimeter, 29.77 inches Hg.

According to a carburetor icing probability chart, the conditions at the time of the accident were conducive to serious carburetor icing at any engine power setting.

No preaccident mechanical problems were reported, and due to the remote location, the airplane and engine were not examined by the NTSB.


NTSB Identification: ANC12LA096 
14 CFR Part 91: General Aviation
Accident occurred Sunday, September 02, 2012 in Willow, AK
Aircraft: TAYLORCRAFT AVIATION CORP. F21, registration: N2005E
Injuries: 1 Serious.

This is preliminary information, subject to change, and may contain errors. Any errors in this report will be corrected when the final report has been completed.

On September 2, 2012, about 1415 Alaska daylight time, a float-equipped Taylorcraft, F21 airplane, N2005E, sustained substantial damage when it impacted the water during takeoff at Willow Lake, Willow, Alaska. The airplane was being operated by the pilot as a visual flight rules (VFR) personal cross-country flight, under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations, Part 91, when the accident occurred. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and the solo pilot received serious injuries.

During a telephone conversation with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigator-in-charge (IIC) on September 3, the pilot said he had landed at the lake due to turbulence along his route of flight. After waiting about 30 minutes, he decided to depart. During takeoff, the airplane became airborne, but he did not think he would clear the trees at the end of the lake. He started a right turn to stay over the water, but as the turn steepened the airplane stalled, and impacted the lake. He said he did not know if the airplane's engine was producing full power. The right wing of the airplane was severed.

The closest weather reporting facility was the Palmer Airport, about 10 miles east of the accident site. The 1353 weather observation from the Palmer Airport was reporting, in part: Wind, 140 degrees (true) at 16 knots, gusting to 21 knots; visibility, 10 statute miles; clouds and sky condition, 4,000 scattered, 7,000 feet broken, 9,000 overcast; temperature, 55 degrees F; dew point, 33 degrees F; altimeter, 29.77 inches Hg.



ANCHORAGE, Alaska—
An Anchorage man was injured Sunday afternoon in Willow after his floatplane suffered engine problems and crashed on landing, according to Alaska State Troopers.

A Sunday AST dispatch says troopers were informed of the incident on Willow Lake at about 4:15 p.m. Stephen Long, 63, had taken off from the lake in his Taylorcraft F-21, but was forced to attempt an immediate landing due to the engine trouble and crashed.

Long was taken to Mat-Su Regional Hospital with what troopers described as non-life-threatening injuries.

The Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board were notified of the crash.

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