Incident Overview
On March 2, 2016, at approximately 1600 mountain standard time, a Piper PA-22-150 aircraft (registration N4356A) executed a precautionary landing onto a sandy wash after experiencing a partial loss of engine power. The event occurred near Fountain Hills, Arizona. The private pilot and a passenger were not injured; the airplane sustained substantial damage to both wings. The flight was registered to and operated by a private party under 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed. The local flight originated from Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport (IWA), Phoenix, Arizona, at about 1540.
Pilot Actions
According to the pilot, after a normal preflight inspection and engine run-up, he took off and circled a nearby mountain before descending to approximately 750 feet above ground level at 2,400 RPM. While following a river, the engine began to sputter and its revolutions per minute decreased to about 900. The pilot cycled the throttle several times, but the engine did not exceed 1,200 RPM before dropping again. Noticing low oil pressure, the pilot attempted to switch fuel tanks, turned on carburetor heat, and ensured the mixture was full rich; however, the engine did not respond. The pilot decided to land on a dry wash. Upon touchdown, the right main landing gear sank into the dirt, causing a sharp right turn. The airplane rolled along the terrain, struck a tree, and came to rest nose-down.
Postaccident Examination
An FAA inspector conducted a postaccident examination. After removing the engine cowling, no visual anomalies were observed with the engine. The propeller and spinner were removed, and a test-run propeller and temporary fuel tank were installed. The engine was started and operated normally; power was gradually increased to 2,400 RPM with normal oil pressure. After a short period of operation, the power was reduced and the engine was shut down. No anomalies were noted that would have precluded normal operation.