The National Transportation Safety Board did not travel to the scene of this accident.
Additional Participating Entity:
Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office; Allentown, Pennsylvania
Investigation Docket - National Transportation Safety Board:
Location: Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania
Accident Number: ERA19LA085
Date & Time: January 3, 2019, 16:00 Local
Registration: N6872P
Aircraft: Piper PA24
Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Defining Event: Fuel related
Injuries: 2 None
Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General aviation - Instructional
Analysis
The pilot, who was an airframe and powerplant mechanic, and the flight instructor both reported that, after turning onto the base leg at the end of the instructional flight, the pilot extended the landing gear in preparation to land; however, the gear did not fully extend, and the engine stopped producing power. The pilots made a forced landing to a soccer field short of the runway, during which the airplane struck a ditch and sustained substantial damage to the airframe. A postaccident examination of the airplane and engine revealed no obvious preimpact mechanical anomalies with the landing gear system or the engine. However, the pilot later stated that he had opened the engine cowling after the forced landing and saw the mixture cable was caught in the nose gear assembly. The pilot said he then unsnagged the cable, so it was not immediately obvious to investigators. He said that the mixture cable had gotten caught on the nosewheel assembly when it was trying to extend, which had caused the mixture control arm on the carburetor to move to the lean position.
The pilot had performed maintenance on the landing gear a few weeks before the accident. He used plastic tie-wraps to ensure the throttle/mixture/carburetor heat cables were positioned away from the nose gear, which does not have a protected well on this make/model airplane. He then flew the airplane and placed it back in his hangar until the accident flight. The pilot said there were a lot of mice in his hangar, and he thought a mouse got up in the engine and chewed off the plastic tie-wraps, which allowed the mixture cable to come loose. However, there was no evidence to support this theory.
A review of the airplane's Illustrated Parts Catalogue showed the mixture, throttle, and carburetor heat cables routed and secured away from the nose landing gear via metal clamps. Additional research of the Federal Aviation Administration Service Difficulty Reports (SDRs) revealed only one reported instance in which the mixture control cable got caught in the nose landing gear on this make/model airplane. The December 2003 report stated that, due to the mixture control cable not being properly secured or routed, it encountered the nose gear assembly during extension and fuel to the engine was shut off. The mechanic who submitted the SDR corrected the situation by properly routing and securing the mixture control cable.
Given the available evidence, the mixture control cable in the accident airplane was not properly installed/secured. As a result, the cable caught on the nose landing gear assembly when the landing gear were extended and subsequently pulled the mixture control arm on the carburetor, thus shutting off fuel to the engine.
Probable Cause and Findings
The National Transportation Safety Board determines the probable cause(s) of this accident to be:
The pilot/mechanic's improper installation and securing of the mixture control cable, which led to a simultaneous loss of total engine power and failure of the nose landing gear to fully extend when the cable caught on the nose landing gear assembly.
Findings
Aircraft (general) - Failure
Aircraft Fuel control/carburetor - Incorrect service/maintenance
Personnel issues Installation - Pilot
Aircraft Gear extension and retract sys - Failure
Factual Information
On January 3, 2019, at 1600 eastern standard time, a Piper PA-24-250, N6872P, sustained substantial damage during a forced landing to a field while on approach to the Wilkes-Barre Wyoming Valley Airport (WBW), Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania. The commercial pilot and the flight instructor were not injured. The airplane was registered to and operated by the pilot as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 instructional flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed for the flight that departed Bradford County Airport (N27), Towanda, Pennsylvania, about 1540.
The pilot stated that he had to extend the downwind leg of the traffic pattern due to a departing aircraft. He turned on to the base leg at an altitude of 1,000 ft above ground level (agl) and extended the landing gear, but the gear did not fully extend, and the gear-handle was "stuck." The pilot removed the access door for the emergency landing gear extension handle, but he could not get it to release. At this point, the flight instructor said, "You better put power in", but there was no response from the engine and the tachometer read "0." The airplane was unable to reach the runway and the pilot made a forced landing to a soccer field. The airplane struck a ditch, resulting in substantial damage to the airframe. All three propeller blades were also damaged.
The flight instructor stated the pilot extended the landing gear on the base leg of the traffic pattern, but it extended mid-way and stopped. The pilot then said, "the engine quit." The flight instructor told the pilot to retract the gear, but the gear would not retract. The pilot tried the emergency landing gear extension handle but the handle would not move. The flight instructor also noted that the mixture control was "jammed up sideways" in the full rich position and could not be moved. Due to their low altitude (500 ft above ground level), they were unable to land at the airport and made a forced landing to a soccer field. The flight instructor said the landing was smooth until the airplane struck a drainage ditch.
A postaccident examination of the airplane and engine revealed no obvious pre mishap mechanical issues with the landing gear system or the engine; however, the pilot subsequently admitted that after the examination was completed that he knew what caused the simultaneous loss of engine power and the landing gear malfunction. He said the mixture cable got caught on the nose wheel assembly when it was trying to extend, which caused the mixture control on the carburetor to move to the lean position. The pilot said that after the forced landing, and against the advice of his flight instructor, he opened the engine cowling and saw the mixture cable caught in the nose gear structure and unsnagged the cable so it was not immediately obvious to investigators.
The pilot, who was also an airframe and powerplant mechanic, performed maintenance on the landing gear a few weeks before the accident. He retracted the gear 10-12 times and it worked "flawlessly." The pilot said he used plastic tie-wraps to make sure the throttle/mixture/carburetor heat cables were positioned away from the nose-gear, which does not have a protected well on this make/model airplane. He last flew the airplane on December 27, 2018. After he landed, he placed the airplane in his hangar and did not install covers over the landing gear to prevent mice from getting into the engine compartment. The pilot said there were a lot of mice in his hangar and he thought a mouse got up in the engine and chewed off the plastic tie wraps allowing the mixture cable to come loose. Prior to the flight he did not check inside the engine compartment for any rodent damage.
A review of the Piper PA-24-250 Illustrated Parts Catalogue, pages 2G13-2G15, show the mixture, throttle and carburetor heat cables routed and secured away from the nose landing gear via metal clamps. Additional research of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Service Difficulty Reports (SDRs), revealed only one reported instance where the mixture control cable got caught in the nose landing gear on this make/model airplane. The report was made in December 2003 and stated, "Mixture control cable secured and/or routed incorrectly when mixture control cable was replaced and/or lubed. when the cable came in contact with nose gear extension during final approach to runway. The nose gear assembly caught the mixture control cable somewhere between the firewall and carburetor pulling the mixture control cable down, shutting off the mixture at the carburetor with enough force to break the stop on the mixture control arm of the carburetor. Corrected by routing mixture control cable correctly and performing gear retraction checking operation."
At 1554, the weather conditions reported at Wilkes-Barre/Scranton International Airport (AVP), Wilkes Barre, Pennsylvania, located about 6 miles southeast of the accident site, was wind from 010° at 3 knots, visibility 10 miles, overcast clouds 3,600 ft, temperature 2°C, dew point -3°, and an altimeter setting of 29.94 inches of mercury.
History of Flight
Prior to flight Aircraft maintenance event
Approach-VFR pattern base Sys/Comp malf/fail (non-power)
Approach-VFR pattern base Fuel related (Defining event)
Emergency descent Fuel related
Emergency descent Off-field or emergency landing
Pilot Information
Certificate: Commercial
Age: 71, Male
Airplane Rating(s): Single-engine land
Seat Occupied: Left
Other Aircraft Rating(s): None
Restraint Used: Unknown
Instrument Rating(s): None
Second Pilot Present: Yes
Instructor Rating(s): None
Toxicology Performed: No
Medical Certification: Class 3 With waivers/limitations
Last FAA Medical Exam: April 20, 2017
Occupational Pilot: No
Last Flight Review or Equivalent:
Flight Time: 497 hours (Total, all aircraft)
Flight instructor Information
Certificate: Commercial; Flight instructor; Private
Age: 61, Male
Airplane Rating(s): Single-engine land
Seat Occupied: Right
Other Aircraft Rating(s): None
Restraint Used: Unknown
Instrument Rating(s): Airplane
Second Pilot Present: Yes
Instructor Rating(s): Airplane single-engine; Instrument airplane
Toxicology Performed: No
Medical Certification: Class 2 With waivers/limitations
Last FAA Medical Exam: April 13, 2018
Occupational Pilot: Yes
Last Flight Review or Equivalent:
Flight Time: 5550 hours (Total, all aircraft)
Aircraft and Owner/Operator Information
Aircraft Make: Piper
Registration: N6872P
Model/Series: PA24 250
Aircraft Category: Airplane
Year of Manufacture: 1960
Amateur Built: No
Airworthiness Certificate: Normal
Serial Number: 24-2007
Landing Gear Type: Retractable - Tricycle
Seats: 6
Date/Type of Last Inspection: Unknown
Certified Max Gross Wt.: 2899 lbs
Time Since Last Inspection:
Engines: 1 Reciprocating
Airframe Total Time:
Engine Manufacturer: Lycoming
ELT: Installed, not activated
Engine Model/Series: O-540 SERIES
Registered Owner:
Rated Power: 250 Horsepower
Operator: On file
Operating Certificate(s) Held: None
Meteorological Information and Flight Plan
Conditions at Accident Site: Visual (VMC)
Condition of Light: Day
Observation Facility, Elevation: AVP,961 ft msl
Distance from Accident Site: 6 Nautical Miles
Observation Time: 15:54 Local
Direction from Accident Site: 90°
Lowest Cloud Condition:
Visibility 10 miles
Lowest Ceiling: Overcast / 3600 ft AGL
Visibility (RVR):
Wind Speed/Gusts: 3 knots /
Turbulence Type Forecast/Actual: None / None
Wind Direction: 10°
Turbulence Severity Forecast/Actual: N/A / N/A
Altimeter Setting: 29.94 inches Hg
Temperature/Dew Point: 2°C / -3°C
Precipitation and Obscuration: No Obscuration; No Precipitation
Departure Point: Towanda, PA (N27)
Type of Flight Plan Filed: None
Destination: Wilkes-Barre, PA (WBW)
Type of Clearance: None
Departure Time: 15:40 Local
Type of Airspace: Unknown
Airport Information
Airport: Wilkes-Barre Wyoming Valley WBW
Runway Surface Type:
Airport Elevation: 543 ft msl
Runway Surface Condition: Dry;Vegetation
Runway Used:
IFR Approach: None
Runway Length/Width:
VFR Approach/Landing: Forced landing; Full stop
Wreckage and Impact Information
Crew Injuries: 2 None
Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Passenger Injuries:
Aircraft Fire: None
Ground Injuries: N/A
Aircraft Explosion: None
Total Injuries: 2 None
Latitude, Longitude: 41,-75(est)
=======
Location: Wilkes-Barre, PA
Accident Number: ERA19LA085
Date & Time: 01/03/2019, 1600 EST
Registration: N6872P
Aircraft: Piper PA24
Injuries: 2 None
Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General Aviation - Instructional
On January 3, 2019, at 1600 eastern standard time, a Piper PA-24-250, N6872P, sustained substantial damage during a forced landing to a field while on approach to the Wilkes-Barre Wyoming Valley Airport (WBW), Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania. The commercial pilot and the flight instructor were not injured. The airplane was registered to and operated by the pilot under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed for the instructional flight that departed Bradford County Airport (N27), Towanda, Pennsylvania, about 1540.
The pilot stated that he was coming into land and had to extend the downwind leg of the traffic pattern due to a departing aircraft. He turned on to the base leg at an altitude of 1,000 ft above ground level (agl) and extended the landing gear, but the gear did not fully extend, and the gear-handle was "stuck." The pilot removed the access door for the emergency landing gear extension handle, but he could not get it to release. At this point, the flight instructor said, "You better put power in," but there was no response from the engine and the tachometer read "0." The airplane was unable to reach the runway and the pilot made a forced landing to a soccer field. The airplane struck a ditch, resulting in substantial damage to the airframe and an engine mount.
The flight instructor stated the pilot extended the landing gear on the base leg of the traffic pattern, but it extended mid-way and stopped. The pilot then said, "the engine quit." The flight instructor told the pilot to retract the gear, but the gear would not retract. The pilot tried the emergency landing gear extension handle but the handle would not move. The flight instructor also noted that the mixture control was "jammed up sideways" in the full rich position and could not be moved. Due to their low altitude (500 ft), they were unable to land at the airport and made a forced landing to a soccer field. The flight instructor said the landing was smooth until the airplane struck a drainage ditch.
The airplane wreckage was recovered for further examination.
At 1554, the weather conditions reported at Wilkes-Barre/Scranton International Airport (AVP), Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, located about 6 miles southeast of the accident site, was wind from 010° at 3 knots, visibility 10 miles, overcast clouds 3,600 ft, temperature 2°C, dew point -3°, and an altimeter setting of 29.94 inches of mercury.
Aircraft and Owner/Operator Information
Aircraft Make: Piper
Registration: N6872P
Model/Series: PA24 250
Aircraft Category: Airplane
Amateur Built: No
Operator: On file
Operating Certificate(s) Held: None
Meteorological Information and Flight Plan
Conditions at Accident Site: Visual Conditions
Condition of Light: Day
Observation Facility, Elevation: AVP, 961 ft msl
Observation Time: 1554 EST
Distance from Accident Site: 6 Nautical Miles
Temperature/Dew Point: 2°C / -3°C
Lowest Cloud Condition:
Wind Speed/Gusts, Direction: 3 knots / , 10°
Lowest Ceiling: Overcast / 3600 ft agl
Visibility: 10 Miles
Altimeter Setting: 29.94 inches Hg
Type of Flight Plan Filed: None
Departure Point: Towanda, PA (N27)
Destination: Wilkes-Barre, PA (WBW)
Wreckage and Impact Information
Crew Injuries: 2 None
Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Passenger Injuries: N/A
Aircraft Fire: None
Ground Injuries: N/A
Aircraft Explosion: None
Total Injuries: 2 None
Latitude, Longitude: 41.000000, -75.000000 (est)
FORTY FORT — Two occupants narrowly escaped injury when their small plane made an emergency landing on a recreational soccer field near the Wyoming Valley Airport Thursday afternoon.
“It could have been a lot worse,” said borough Mayor Andy Tuzinski, speaking in his role as emergency management director.
Tuzinski was at the scene with first responders after the aircraft came down at 4:12 p.m.
Aboard the aircraft were two men, a pilot and instructor, who had flown out of Towanda, Bradford County, and were preparing to land in Forty Fort for refuelling, Tuzinski said.
As they approached the airfield, the pair experienced a problem with the landing gear, he added. Unable to use the manual override, they opted to make a controlled crash-landing on the empty soccer field just south of the airport’s runway.
“They did everything they needed to do and they brought the plane down safely,” Tuzinski said. “There were no injuries and they were able to walk away from the plane.”
The plane will have to remain on the field until National Transportation Safety Board officials arrive to perform an investigation, Tuzinski said. Because no one was injured, that may take a few days.
According to Federal Aviation Administration records for the plane’s registration number, it is a 1960 single-engine Piper registered to an owner in Bradford County with a certificate valid through June 2020.
It is not the first plane to touch down on that soccer field.
In 1988 another small aircraft crashed there, resulting in the deaths of two people. Tuzinski, a longtime firefighter, was on the scene for that incident as well, he recalled Thursday.
“I am glad everything went as well as it could have today,” he said.
Original article can be found here ➤ https://www.timesleader.com
FORTY FORTY, LUZERNE COUNTY (WBRE/WYOU-TV) A little excitement late Thursday afternoon in Forty Fort, Luzerne County when a small plane came in for a landing.
The plane came down in the middle of a soccer field.
Eyewitness News was on the scene shortly after crews were called about the plane emergency.
Forty Fort Mayor Andy Tuzinski tells us the plane was on its way from Towanda to the Wilkes-Barre Wyoming Valley Airport when the plane experienced technical problems.
The pilot made an emergency landing on the nearby soccer field in Forty Fort. Mayor Tuzinski says the pilot and co-pilot were not injured.
Original article can be found here ➤ https://www.pahomepage.com
WYOMING, Pennsylvania -- A small plane headed from Towanda to the Wyoming Valley Airport in Wyoming had a close call.
Two experienced pilots inside the plane realized the landing gear was broken as they were traveling on Thursday afternoon.
The pilots decided to land on the soccer fields near the airport.
They were able to successfully do so with no injuries after the emergency landing in Luzerne County.
Original article can be found here ➤ https://wnep.com
Accident Number: ERA19LA085
Date & Time: 01/03/2019, 1600 EST
Registration: N6872P
Aircraft: Piper PA24
Injuries: 2 None
Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General Aviation - Instructional
On January 3, 2019, at 1600 eastern standard time, a Piper PA-24-250, N6872P, sustained substantial damage during a forced landing to a field while on approach to the Wilkes-Barre Wyoming Valley Airport (WBW), Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania. The commercial pilot and the flight instructor were not injured. The airplane was registered to and operated by the pilot under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed for the instructional flight that departed Bradford County Airport (N27), Towanda, Pennsylvania, about 1540.
The pilot stated that he was coming into land and had to extend the downwind leg of the traffic pattern due to a departing aircraft. He turned on to the base leg at an altitude of 1,000 ft above ground level (agl) and extended the landing gear, but the gear did not fully extend, and the gear-handle was "stuck." The pilot removed the access door for the emergency landing gear extension handle, but he could not get it to release. At this point, the flight instructor said, "You better put power in," but there was no response from the engine and the tachometer read "0." The airplane was unable to reach the runway and the pilot made a forced landing to a soccer field. The airplane struck a ditch, resulting in substantial damage to the airframe and an engine mount.
The flight instructor stated the pilot extended the landing gear on the base leg of the traffic pattern, but it extended mid-way and stopped. The pilot then said, "the engine quit." The flight instructor told the pilot to retract the gear, but the gear would not retract. The pilot tried the emergency landing gear extension handle but the handle would not move. The flight instructor also noted that the mixture control was "jammed up sideways" in the full rich position and could not be moved. Due to their low altitude (500 ft), they were unable to land at the airport and made a forced landing to a soccer field. The flight instructor said the landing was smooth until the airplane struck a drainage ditch.
The airplane wreckage was recovered for further examination.
At 1554, the weather conditions reported at Wilkes-Barre/Scranton International Airport (AVP), Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, located about 6 miles southeast of the accident site, was wind from 010° at 3 knots, visibility 10 miles, overcast clouds 3,600 ft, temperature 2°C, dew point -3°, and an altimeter setting of 29.94 inches of mercury.
Aircraft and Owner/Operator Information
Aircraft Make: Piper
Registration: N6872P
Model/Series: PA24 250
Aircraft Category: Airplane
Amateur Built: No
Operator: On file
Operating Certificate(s) Held: None
Meteorological Information and Flight Plan
Conditions at Accident Site: Visual Conditions
Condition of Light: Day
Observation Facility, Elevation: AVP, 961 ft msl
Observation Time: 1554 EST
Distance from Accident Site: 6 Nautical Miles
Temperature/Dew Point: 2°C / -3°C
Lowest Cloud Condition:
Wind Speed/Gusts, Direction: 3 knots / , 10°
Lowest Ceiling: Overcast / 3600 ft agl
Visibility: 10 Miles
Altimeter Setting: 29.94 inches Hg
Type of Flight Plan Filed: None
Departure Point: Towanda, PA (N27)
Destination: Wilkes-Barre, PA (WBW)
Wreckage and Impact Information
Crew Injuries: 2 None
Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Passenger Injuries: N/A
Aircraft Fire: None
Ground Injuries: N/A
Aircraft Explosion: None
Total Injuries: 2 None
Latitude, Longitude: 41.000000, -75.000000 (est)
FORTY FORT — Two occupants narrowly escaped injury when their small plane made an emergency landing on a recreational soccer field near the Wyoming Valley Airport Thursday afternoon.
“It could have been a lot worse,” said borough Mayor Andy Tuzinski, speaking in his role as emergency management director.
Tuzinski was at the scene with first responders after the aircraft came down at 4:12 p.m.
Aboard the aircraft were two men, a pilot and instructor, who had flown out of Towanda, Bradford County, and were preparing to land in Forty Fort for refuelling, Tuzinski said.
As they approached the airfield, the pair experienced a problem with the landing gear, he added. Unable to use the manual override, they opted to make a controlled crash-landing on the empty soccer field just south of the airport’s runway.
“They did everything they needed to do and they brought the plane down safely,” Tuzinski said. “There were no injuries and they were able to walk away from the plane.”
The plane will have to remain on the field until National Transportation Safety Board officials arrive to perform an investigation, Tuzinski said. Because no one was injured, that may take a few days.
According to Federal Aviation Administration records for the plane’s registration number, it is a 1960 single-engine Piper registered to an owner in Bradford County with a certificate valid through June 2020.
It is not the first plane to touch down on that soccer field.
In 1988 another small aircraft crashed there, resulting in the deaths of two people. Tuzinski, a longtime firefighter, was on the scene for that incident as well, he recalled Thursday.
“I am glad everything went as well as it could have today,” he said.
Original article can be found here ➤ https://www.timesleader.com
FORTY FORTY, LUZERNE COUNTY (WBRE/WYOU-TV) A little excitement late Thursday afternoon in Forty Fort, Luzerne County when a small plane came in for a landing.
The plane came down in the middle of a soccer field.
Eyewitness News was on the scene shortly after crews were called about the plane emergency.
Forty Fort Mayor Andy Tuzinski tells us the plane was on its way from Towanda to the Wilkes-Barre Wyoming Valley Airport when the plane experienced technical problems.
The pilot made an emergency landing on the nearby soccer field in Forty Fort. Mayor Tuzinski says the pilot and co-pilot were not injured.
Original article can be found here ➤ https://www.pahomepage.com
WYOMING, Pennsylvania -- A small plane headed from Towanda to the Wyoming Valley Airport in Wyoming had a close call.
Two experienced pilots inside the plane realized the landing gear was broken as they were traveling on Thursday afternoon.
The pilots decided to land on the soccer fields near the airport.
They were able to successfully do so with no injuries after the emergency landing in Luzerne County.
Original article can be found here ➤ https://wnep.com
Something doesn't add up here. Why not land at the nearby airport where you have plenty of room and runway and possibly emergency support vehicles? Sounds like more problems than landing gear, possibly fuel exhaustion? The prop tips are bent indicating rotation but that could come from windmilling. Glad they are alright and the plane looks fixable.
ReplyDeleteProp tips are bent aft, which means there was no power on the aircraft.
ReplyDeleteI bet it will come out in the investigation that the cause was fuel exhaustion and the gear was left up to maximize glide in hopes of reaching the airport. Good thing they found a soccer field and pulled off a successful forced landing. Too bad the classic Piper had to suffer the consequences.
ReplyDeleteI do not smell or see any fuel residue ......
ReplyDeleteThere are no grassy areas at the airport .... Wait, that's not right.
ReplyDeleteThe pilot did everything right. the news article does not include all the information, ha! imagine that. the engine quit as well as the gear malfunctioning. the reason will be released in the report but he did not put it in the field because the gear wouldn't lock. there was plenty of gas. they were lucky the soccer field was there, there isn't many outs at Wyoming valley.
ReplyDeleteIF I would have the choice to make an precautionary landing I would opt for a concrete RWY. Grass can give unexpected effects when some part digs in. Concrete will do most probably some more damage due to abrasion but at least it will be LONG, flat and predictable. The damage/cost to the plane should be not on the top of the prio list.
ReplyDeleteHere in this case I also don't understand why land off airport, just to be on grass. OK a soccer field will be more or less flat, but most are limited in length, and also like in this case it can have obstacles, You see the RH leading edge damaged. And it will make the already stressful landing more difficult because of the trees around it to complicate it even more. I hope some day we will have the full report why the instructor came to this decision.
Good theory but.....The nose gear snagged the mixture cable and pulled it full lean which shut the engine off and jambed the gear midway. I know because it was me.
Deleteas I said above, he landed in the soccer field because he couldn't reach the airport.
ReplyDelete