FlightFollowerIce-cool Piper pilot safely ditched in the Hudson following engine failure
Accident facts and aircraft context
The commercial pilot and one passenger were not injured.
The airplane was operated by the pilot under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight.
Purpose of the flight
Local Part 91 sightseeing flight over the Hudson River.
Flight sequence and key events
Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and a visual flight rules flight plan was filed.
The pilot reported that she was conducting a personal sightseeing flight over the Hudson River at 1,200 feet mean sea level (msl).
She reported the airplane contained 74 gallons of fuel at takeoff.
As the aircraft was abeam the Alpine Tower, near Alpine, New Jersey, the engine started to stutter. She initiated the emergency procedures in the checklist and applied carburetor heat.
Engine performance worsened and the carburetor heat was left on for about 15 seconds.
She then turned off the carburetor heat and engine performance improved.
She climbed the airplane to 1,200 feet, and after about 20 seconds, the engine began to stutter again.
Unable to maintain altitude, she made a mayday call and prepared for a forced landing on the river.
The airplane touched down smoothly on the surface of the water.
The pilot and passenger exited the airplane and were rescued by first responders.
The wreckage was recovered from the river bottom on February 7, 2013.
The upper portion of the rudder and the nose landing gear were bent.
The wreckage was recovered to a storage facility at Clayton, Delaware, where a detailed examination of the airframe and engine was performed.
The fuel selector handle was in the left main tank position.
All engine controls were in the full forward positions.
The carburetor heat was found in the cold position and functioned normally when tested.
Engine compression and suction were observed on all cylinders when the engine was rotated manually.
All of the ignition leads were removed and tested; the leads to the numbers 2 and 4 top spark plugs produced a spark when the crankshaft was rotated manually.
The carburetor fuel inlet screen was removed and inspected; it contained a sand-like substance on the surface.
The carburetor venturi was intact; however, it was lightly coated with mud and debris
Investigation findings
The Hudson River landing was the final link in a chain that began with intermittent engine power. The investigation could not identify a single mechanical defect that explained the power loss, but the pilot's response preserved the aircraft and both occupants survived.
How the event developed
The engine repeatedly lost power at low altitude. The pilot could not restore sustained power, but used the remaining altitude to make a controlled ditching on the Hudson.
What the evidence shows
The exact source of the engine-power loss was never established. What is clear is that the pilot recognized the loss of usable power, declared the emergency and successfully ditched the aircraft, allowing both occupants to survive.
- Incident date
- Date: Sunday 27 January 2013 Time: 17:30 Type: Piper PA-32-260 Cherokee Six R
- Aircraft / registration
- Piper PA-32-260 Cherokee Six
- Investigation status
- NTSB Final Report ERA13LA121