NTSB Factual Report

On May 24, 2002, about 1030 Alaska daylight time, a wheel-equipped Piper PA-32R-300 airplane, N9243K, sustained substantial damage during a forced landing following a partial loss of engine power, about 5 miles northeast of Noorvik, Alaska. The airplane was being operated as a visual flight rules (VFR) on-demand cargo/U.S. mail flight under Title 14, CFR Part 135, when the accident occurred. The airplane was registered to, and operated by, Larry's Flying Service, Inc., Fairbanks, Alaska. The solo certificated commercial pilot was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and VFR company flight following procedures were in effect. The flight originated about 1020, from the Noorvik Airport, and was en route to Kiana, Alaska.

During a telephone conversation with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigator-in-charge (IIC) on May 29, the pilot reported that after takeoff, while in cruise climb, the engine began to run rough and lose power. He said that while performing emergency engine procedures, he noted that the fuel pressure was rapidly decreasing. During the subsequent forced landing in a marshy, muskeg-covered area, the airplane sustained substantial damage to both wings, engine firewall, and fuselage.

The airplane was retrieved from the accident site by company and insurance personnel, and transported to the operator's maintenance facility in Fairbanks.

On August 14, 2002, two Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) airworthiness inspectors from the Fairbanks Flight Standards District Office (FSDO), examined the airplane at a contract maintenance facility hangar, located at the Fairbanks International Airport. The inspectors reported that the engine had been removed from the airframe during recovery efforts. They added that in the process of removing the engine from the airframe, recovery personnel removed various fuel supply lines, exhaust system components, and the magneto harness system. The inspectors reported that the engine's valve train continuity was established, and all of the engine's internal components operated normally when the engine was rotated by hand. The fuel control filter screen was free of contaminates.

In the FAA inspector's written report to the NTSB, the inspector wrote, in part: "Overall, we found no indication that the engine had failed to operate properly prior to the accident." A copy of the FAA inspector's report is included in the public docket for the accident.

NTSB Probable Cause

The partial loss of engine power during the climb to cruise for an undetermined reason, which resulted in a forced landing in soft terrain. A factor associated in the accident was the lack of suitable terrain for the forced landing.