N476SM is a 1975 Piper PA-18-150. It is a fixed-wing single-engine aircraft with 2 seats, powered by a Lycoming 0-320 series rated at 180 horsepower. The registration is active, with the registrant based in Wilmington, DE. Its multiple airworthiness certificate was issued in Aug 1988. It has been registered to its current owner since Jun 2017. This page also carries 1 NTSB event.
- 51 years old
- 1 of 2,081 Piper PA-18-150
2017
1988
That's everything on file so far — TailWiki checks the FAA registry daily and adds new entries as N476SM's record changes.
On August 14, 2025, at 1714 central daylight time, a Piper PA-18-150 airplane, N476SM, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Joliet, Illinois. The pilot was not injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 banner tow flight.
The pilot reported that he fueled the airplane and departed for a planned 3-hour banner tow flight in and around the Joliet area. About two hours into the flight, he heard a “loud bang” from the engine, which resulted in strong vibrations and a gradual loss of engine power. Shortly after, the engine experienced a total loss of power, and the pilot executed a forced landing to a field. During the landing roll, the airplane ground looped and impacted a fence, which resulted in substantial damage to the left elevator.
The responding FAA inspector reported that there was engine oil on the bottom of the fuselage from the engine cowling to the empennage. There was also oil leaking from the engine exhaust pipe.
Postaccident examination of the engine revealed that the No. 2 cylinder exhaust valve failed. Most of the valve stem remained inside the valve guide while the valve head was destroyed inside the cylinder. There were no other engine mechanical malfunctions or anomalies that would have precluded normal operation.
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About the Piper PA-18-150
About the modelThe Super Cub — a two-seat tandem taildragger developed from the J-3 with far more power. A backcountry, bush and glider-towing aircraft, prized for short-field performance.