# Accident 20161031018269A: Piper PA-32-300, Bartow, FL, October 31, 2016

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: October 31, 2016, 15:02 local time
- Place: Bartow, FL
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Descent
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 27.9647° N, 81.7869° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=27.9647&lon=-81.7869&mi=10
- Aircraft: N3941X, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N3941X) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Piper PA-32-300 (registry code 7103212, https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-32-300) (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-32-300
- Reported engine: LYCOMING TI0-540 SER
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Private pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 2,347 total
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ERA17LA034](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA17LA034) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20161031018269A

## Narrative

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

ON OCTOBER 31, 2016, AT OR ABOUT 15:02 EDT, N3941X, A PIPER PA-32-300, WHILE APPROACHING THE BARTOW MUNICIPAL AIRPORT (BOW), BARTOW, FLORIDA, LOST POWER AND LANDED IN A PASTURE ONE MILE NORTH OF THE AIRPORT.

THE PILOT EXPLAINED THAT WHEN HE REDUCED POWER WHILE ENTERING THE LEFT DOWNWIND FOR RUNWAY 5 THE ENGINE SHOOK AND STOPPED PRODUCING POWER.  THE PILOT INDICATED THAT HE IDENTIFIED AN OPEN PASTURE AND MANEUVERED FOR LANDING IN THE PASTURE WHILE COMPLETING THE ENGINE FAILURE EMERGENCY PROCEDURES.  THE ENGINE DID NOT RESTART.

THE AIRPLANE TOUCHED DOWN ON A WEST HEADING IN THE FIRST THIRD OF THE RECTANGULAR PASTURE WHICH HAD A NORTH SOUTH POST AND BARB WIRE FENCE DIVIDING THE RECTANGULAR PASTURE INTO TWO SQUARE SECTIONS.  THE AIRPLANE ON LANDING ROLLOUT WENT THROUGH THE FENCE AND STRUCK A POST ON THE LEFT INBOARD WING AND A POST ON THE RIGHT OUTBOARD WING.

THE LEFT BRAKE FLUID LINE WAS SEVERED BY THE IMPACT OF THE POST ON THE LEFT INBOARD LEADING EDGE RESULTING IN THE AIRPLANE TURNING TO THE RIGHT AFTER PASSING THROUGH THE FENCE.  THE RIGHT TURNING MOMENT CREATED A SIDE LOAD ON THE NOSE GEAR WHICH CAUSED THE NOSE WHEEL TO COLLAPSE.  THE AIRPLANE CAME TO A REST WITH THE WINGS LEVEL NOSE DOWN ATTITUDE ON A NORTHEASTERLY DIRECTION.

FUEL AND OIL WAS CHECKED ON SCENE AND FOUND TO BE MORE THAN SUFFICIENT FOR COMPLETION OF THE FLIGHT.  FUEL AND OIL QUALITY APPEARED TO BE NORMAL.  A FIELD TEST OF THE FUEL SYSTEM INDICATED THAT FUEL WAS FLOWING TO THE INJECTORS.  VISUAL INSPECTION OF THE ENGINE DID NOT REVEAL ANY OBVIOUS REASON FOR ITS FAILURE.

ON NOVEMBER 3, 2016, INSPECTION OF THE AIRCRAFT ENGINE REVEALED FERROUS METAL IN THE ENGINE OIL FILTER WHICH IS INDICATIVE OF A FAILING OR FAILED INTERNAL ENGINE COMPONENT.  AIRCRAFT FIREWALL DAMAGE AND DEFORMATION OF THE FUSELAGE AFT OF THE FIREWALL WAS ALSO DISCOVERED RESULTING IN THE AIRCRAFT DAMAGE BEING CLASSIFIED AS SUBSTANTIAL.

ENGINE TIME SINCE MAJOR OVERHAUL (TSMO) WAS 2,063 HOURS.  THE RECOMMENDED TIME BEFORE OVERHAUL (TBO) FOR THIS ENGINE IS 2,000 HOURS.

THERE IS NO INDICATION THAT THE PILOT?S ACTIONS OR INACTION CAUSED THE ENGINE TO STOP DEVELOPING POWER.

THE WEATHER WAS VFR AND IS NOT CONSIDERED TO BE A FACTOR.

## 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 ERA17LA034](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA17LA034), Oct 31, 2016: Piper PA32 (N3941X), Bartow, FL, substantial damage. Probable cause: A total loss of engine power during approach for reasons that could not be determined because engine examinations did not reveal any evidence of mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have…

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.

---
OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.