# Accident 20130908018399A: Piper PA-32R-300, Guntersville, AL, September 8, 2013

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: September 8, 2013, 17:10 local time
- Place: Guntersville, AL
- Airport: Guntersville Municipal - Joe Starne
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Cruise/Level Flight
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 34.4044° N, 86.2672° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.4044&lon=-86.2672&mi=10
- Aircraft: N8362C, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8362C-2018-02-20) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Piper PA-32R-300 (registry code 7103213, https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-32r-300) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming TI0-540 series (registry code 41533, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-ti0-540-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-32R-300
- Reported engine: LYCOMING TI0-540 SER
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Private pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 525 total, 317 in this make and model, 1 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ERA13LA407](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA13LA407) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20130908018399A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

POWERPLANT FAILED IN FLIGHT. WHEN RECOVERED, FOUND BENDIX IGNITION HOUSING ASSEMBLY HAD SEPARATED FROM THE ACCESSORY CASE, CAUSING IMMEDIATE, TOTAL POWER LOSS. THIS IGNITION SYSTEM CONSISTS OF DUAL MAGNETOS HOUSED TOGETHER THAT ARE SERVED BY A COMMON DRIVE FROM THE ACCESSORY CASE. THE ENTIRE ASSEMBLY IS ATTACHED BY RETAINING NUTS (UPPER/LOWER) TIGHTENED AGAINST THE RESPECTIVE CLIPS OR "EARS" TO THREADED STUDS PROTRUDING FROM THE ACCESSORY CASE.

THE LOWER STUD THREADS WERE CLEAN AND UNDAMAGED WITH NO RETAINING NUT FOUND, WHILE THE UPPER STUD AND RETAINING CLIP/EAR WAS BROKEN AND DAMAGED- INDICATING THAT THE LOWER NUT WAS NOT INSTALLED, OR LOOSENED AND FELL OFF PREVIOUSLY, RESULTING IN INCREASED STRESS UPON, AND ULTIMATE FAILURE OF  THE UPPER RETAINING "EAR".

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB ERA13LA407](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA13LA407), Sep 8, 2013: Piper PA-32R-300 (N8362C), Guntersville, AL, substantial damage. Probable cause: The improper installation of the engine magneto by unknown maintenance personnel, which resulted in the magneto separating from the engine and a subsequent total loss of engine power. Contributing to…

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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