Accident
On July 26, 2012, at approximately 1615 eastern daylight time, a Piper PA-12, registration N4361M, operated by Paramount Air Service Inc., was substantially damaged when it impacted trees after experiencing a total loss of engine power while maneuvering near Green Creek, New Jersey. The commercial pilot was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed for the local banner tow flight, which was conducted under 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. The flight had departed Paramount Airport (JY04) about 1145.
According to the pilot, he had topped off the airplane's fuel tanks (38 gallons total capacity) earlier that day. He started the engine about 1135 and departed on the banner towing flight about 1145. The flight was uneventful, and after approximately 4.5 hours of flying, he was returning to land at JY04. After dropping the banner, he added full engine power, climbed to traffic pattern altitude, and maneuvered to enter the downwind leg. During the climb, the engine momentarily sputtered and then lost all power shortly thereafter. The pilot checked both fuel selectors and magnetos, and applied carburetor heat, but none of these actions restored power. He was unable to restart the engine and performed a forced landing into trees.
Damage and Examination
The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left side of the nose section, the wing leading edges, and a buckled firewall. A postaccident examination by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector revealed no mechanical malfunctions that would have precluded normal operation. Both the left (main) and right (auxiliary) fuel tanks were intact. The right fuel tank was empty, and the left fuel tank contained approximately 1.75 gallons of fuel.
Aircraft Information
The airplane was manufactured in 1947 and was originally equipped with a Lycoming O-235C, 100-horsepower engine. At the time of the accident, it was powered by a Lycoming O-320-A2B, 150-horsepower engine. Fuel was supplied to the engine via a gravity feed system from the left tank or from both the left and right tanks simultaneously. The most recent annual inspection was performed on May 17, 2012, and the airplane had been operated for about 200 hours since that inspection. Additionally, at the time of the inspection, the engine had accumulated approximately 750 hours since its last overhaul.