No fatalities

20 Apr 2010: PIPER J3C-65 — Robert Pike — White Bear Lake, MN

White Bear Lake, MN, United States

On 20 Apr 2010, a PIPER J3C-65 operated by Robert Pike was involved in an aviation accident near White Bear Lake, MN. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: A total loss of engine power during takeoff due to fuel contamination as a result of the pilot's inadequate preflight inspection. This summary draws on records from NTSB; 12 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.

SourcesNTSBPrimary reportUpdated 1778583330Data APIEditorial standards

A pilot reported an engine stoppage at 150-200 ft AGL during takeoff climb. Despite multiple restart attempts, power diminished. A forced landing into a field with trees resulted in substantial damage. Inspection revealed water in the fuel line between the sump and carburetor.

Event Summary

A pilot reported a normal preflight inspection, engine run-up, and takeoff. During the initial climb after departure, the engine stopped while the airplane was approximately 150–200 feet above ground level (AGL). The airplane subsequently sustained substantial damage during a forced landing into a field that contained trees.

Pilot Actions

After the engine lost power, the pilot attempted to restart the engine three to four times. Each restart produced less power than the previous attempt. Ultimately, with the engine stopped, the pilot executed a forced landing to a field with trees. The impact with trees and terrain resulted in substantial damage to the airplane.

Inspection Findings

A post-accident inspection of the airplane's fuel system revealed that the fuel line between the fuel sump (strainer) and the carburetor was full of water. No other anomalies were found during the inspection of the airplane.

Contributing factors

Causes

Inadequate inspectionFluid conditionPilot

Other contributing factors

Contributed to outcome