# Accident 20130918017729A: Piper PA-28-180, Frankenmuth, MI, September 18, 2013

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: September 18, 2013, 19:20 local time
- Place: Frankenmuth, MI
- Airport: Zehnder Field
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Takeoff: Climb Out
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 43.3142° N, 83.7114° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=43.3142&lon=-83.7114&mi=10
- Aircraft: N4756L, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N4756L) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Piper PA-28-180 (registry code 7102808, https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-180) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming O&VO-360 series (registry code 41514, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-vo-360-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28-180
- Reported engine: LYCOMING O&VO-360 SER
- People aboard: 4
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Private pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 77 total, 18 in this make and model, 1 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CEN13LA552](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN13LA552) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20130918017729A

## Narrative

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

ON SEPTEMBER 18, 2013 AT 1920 EASTERN DAYLIGHT TIME, A PIPER PA-28-180 AIRCRAFT, N4756L, REGISTERED TO AND OPERATED BY A PRIVATE PILOT, RECEIVED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE WHEN IT FORCE LANDED IN A CORN FIELD FOLLOWING A LOSS OF POWER WHILE MANEUVERING AFTER DEPARTURE ON RUNWAY 09 AT THE FRANKENMUTH, ZEHNDER FIELD AIRPORT, (66G).  VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS AND LIGHT WINDS PREVAILED AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT. THE PERSONAL FLIGHT WAS BEING CONDUCTED UNDER THE PROVISIONS OF TITLE 14 CODE OF FEDERAL REGULATIONS (CFR) PART 91 WITHOUT A FLIGHT PLAN.  THE PILOT AND HIS 3 PASSENGERS WERE NOT INJURED. THE LOCAL FLIGHT ORIGINATED FROM THE FRANKENMUTH, ZEHNDER FIELD AIRPORT AT APPROXIMATELY 1915.

ACCORDING TO THE PILOT HE WAS DEPARTING THE 2500 FT. TURF STRIP ON RUNWAY 09.  ENGINE RUN-UP, MAG AND CARB HEAT CHECKS WERE ALL NORMAL.  AT APPROXIMATELY 1200 FT. MSL ON A CROSSWIND TURN, THE ENGINE QUIT AND WOULD SURGE FROM IDLE TO FULL POWER.  THE PILOT ADDED CARBURETOR HEAT AND CONTINUED THE TURN IN AN ATTEMPTED TO RETURN TO RUNWAY 27.  ON FINAL APPROACH THE ENGINE CONTINUED TO RUN INTERMITTENTLY AND THE PILOT FOUND HIMSELF HIGH AND FAST.  A GO-AROUND WAS INITIATED AND THE AIRCRAFT CONTINUED ¼ MILE NORTH WEST OF THE FIELD WHERE THE PILOT ELECTED TO LAND IN A CORN FIELD.  THE AIRCRAFT CAME TO REST APPROXIMATELY 150FT. INTO THE 8FT. TALL CORN.  THE NOSE-WHEEL MOUNT WAS SEVERELY DAMAGED BUT REMAINED INTACT.  WING LEADING EDGES WERE SIGNIFICANTLY DENTED.  NO PROPELLER STRIKES WERE NOTED.

THE FUEL TANKS AND ENGINE STRAINER WERE SUMPED. THE FUEL APPEARED CLEAN, BLUE AND NORMAL.  THE FUEL CAPS SHOWED NO SIGNS OF VAPOR LOCK AND THE VENTS WERE CLEAR.  THE FUEL SELECTOR VALVE WAS STIFF AND THE DETENTS WERE WEAK. THE ENGINE WAS UN-COWLED AND TEST RUN. ENGINE RUN WAS NORMAL AND BOTH MAGS CHECKED.  LOG BOOKS WERE EXAMINED AND ALL INSPECTIONS WERE CURRENT AND AD'S UP TO DATE.

WEATHER REPORT NEAR 66G AIRPORT AT 1933 UTC WAS: WIND 180 DEGREES AT 5KNOTS, VISIBILITY 10 STATUTE MILES, CLEAR, TEMP 70 DEW POINT 50 AND ALTIMETER 3002.

## 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 CEN13LA552](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN13LA552), Sep 18, 2013: Piper PA 28-180 (N4756L), Frankenmuth, MI, substantial damage. Probable cause: An intermittent loss of engine power for reasons that could not be determined because postaccident examinations revealed no anomalies that would have precluded normal operation.

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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