Accident Overview
On May 16, 2009, at about 1140 Alaska daylight time, a Piper PA-24-250, registration N7440P, sustained substantial damage during a forced landing and ditching in Lake Lucille, Wasilla, Alaska. The solo private pilot was not injured. The flight was operated as a personal visual flight rules flight under Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed. The flight originated from Anderson Lake Airport, Wasilla, at about 1040.
Flight Details
According to the pilot, after departing Anderson Lake Airport, he flew southeast over the Knik Glacier. Before returning to Anderson Lake, he performed a touch-and-go landing at Wasilla Airport. Following that, he climbed the airplane to 1,700 feet msl and flew east toward Anderson Lake Airport.
Engine Failure and Ditching
While in cruise level flight, the pilot applied full carburetor heat, and all engine power was lost. Emergency procedures to restart the engine were unsuccessful. The pilot initially selected a portion of the Parks Highway as an emergency landing site but determined that vehicle and pedestrian traffic prevented a safe landing. He then chose Lake Lucille, adjacent to the highway, for a forced landing. The pilot reported that he did not lower the landing gear and selected full flaps during the emergency descent. He ditched the airplane approximately 100 feet from the north shoreline. After ditching, the airplane initially floated. A small pontoon boat arrived and transported the pilot to shore just before the airplane sank. The fuselage sustained substantial damage during the ditching.
Post-Accident Examination
The airplane was equipped with a Lycoming O-540-A1D5 engine. An FAA airworthiness inspector from the Anchorage Flight Standards District Office examined the wreckage on May 19 and found no preaccident mechanical anomalies. During a subsequent telephone conversation on May 20, the pilot/owner reported that while his mechanic was disassembling the airplane, a 4-inch by 2-inch piece of rubberized baffling material was discovered lodged inside the carburetor air box assembly. An NTSB investigator traced the origin of the baffling to a worn and frayed section of engine cowling baffling adjacent to the carburetor heat fresh air inlet duct. The pilot/owner stated that he was aware of the worn baffling and had planned to replace it at the next annual inspection.
Weather Information
The closest official weather observation station, at Wasilla Airport, reported at 1156: wind calm; visibility 10 statute miles; clouds few at 4,900 feet, scattered at 9,000 feet; temperature 54°F; dew point 36°F; altimeter 30.01 inHg.