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NTSB Report

August 12, 2007 · Piper J-3 · N6429H

Frenchtown, NJ

Overview

Report Status
Final with probable cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
August 12, 2007
Injury Outcomes
2 injuries (2 minor injuries)
Location
Frenchtown, NJ
Aircraft
Piper J-3
Tail Number
N6429H
Operator
Stewart Nicholson
Injuries
Minor
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
NYC07LA192

The pilot climbed the airplane to 1,400 feet above mean sea level. He turned left over a river, applied carburetor heat to the engine, and descended the airplane to approximately 500 feet above the water. He then secured the carburetor heat and opened the throttle, but there was no engine response. The engine "sounded o.k." but remained at idle power regardless of throttle position. The pilot checked that the fuel selector was on, and 300 to 400 feet above the river, turned the airplane toward a shoreline. The pilot attempted a forced landing to a field; however, prior to reaching it, the airplane descended into a tree. No examination of the airplane was performed at the accident scene, and a cursory examination by the owner at a later date yielded no preaccident mechanical anomalies. Ambient temperature and dew point values indicated a probability of serious carburetor icing at glide power.

NTSB Probable Cause

A partial loss of engine power for undetermined reasons.

Full Narrative

On August 12, 2007, about 1830 eastern daylight time, a Piper J-3, N6429H, was substantially damaged during a forced landing in Frenchtown, New Jersey. The certificated private pilot and the passenger incurred minor injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed for the local flight from Vansant Airport (9N1), Erwinna, Pennsylvania. The personal flight was conducted under 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. According to the pilot, he took off about 1815, and climbed the airplane to 1,400 feet above mean sea level. He then turned left over the Delaware River, applied carburetor heat to the Continental C85-12 engine, and descended to approximately 500 feet above the water. He then secured the carburetor heat and opened the throttle, but there was no engine response. The engine "sounded o.k." but remained at idle power regardless of throttle position. The pilot checked that the fuel selector was on, and 300 to 400 feet above the river, turned toward the shoreline. He attempted a forced landing to a field; however, prior to reaching it, the airplane descended into a tree. There was no on-scene examination of the airplane. It was removed from the tree, transported to a storage facility in Delaware, and subsequently sold for salvage. While in the storage facility, the owners performed a cursory examination, with no preaccident mechanical anomalies noted. Weather, reported at an airport 12 nautical miles to the east, at 1854, included winds from 260 degrees true at 6 knots, visibility 10 miles, a broken cloud layer at 7,000 feet, temperature 30 degrees Celsius (C), dew point 13 degrees C, and an altimeter setting of 29.96 inches Hg. Plotting the temperature and dew point values on a carburetor icing chart yielded a probability of serious carburetor icing at glide power.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time18:30 EDT
Nearest Airport0nm
Flight Plan FiledNone
Flight Plan ActivatedNo
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftPiper J-3
Tail NumberN6429H
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageSubstantial
OperatorStewart Nicholson
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsContinental · C85-12 · Reciprocating · 85
Seats2

People & Injuries

Injury Summary2 injuries (2 minor injuries)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor2
Uninjured0
Total2
Crew 1Age 47 · Third Class · Minor

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind260° @ 6 kt
Visibility10 sm
CeilingBroken clouds 7000 ft
Temperature / Dew Point55
Altimeter29.95 inHg
Observation Time23:54
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data