20220509011899A

Accident · Destroyed

FAA accident report · Diamond Aircraft Ind DA 42 · Lehighton, PA · May 9, 2022

Date: May 9, 2022 · 14:00 local
Place: Lehighton, PA
Phase of flight: Cruise/Level Flight
Operating rules: Pilot school (Part 141)
Operator: G7WA
Damage: Destroyed
Aircraft: N988JA
NTSB investigation: NTSBERA22LA237
Reported as: Diamond Aircraft Ind DA 42
Reported engine: Lycoming IO-360-M1A+
People aboard: 3
Fatal injuries: 0
Other injuries: 3
Pilot’s certificates: Commercial pilot, flight instructor
Pilot’s flight hours: 2,970 total175 in this make and model4 in the last 90 days

N988JARegistration cancelled Jul 19, 2023 · Diamond Aircraft Ind DA 42S/N 42.AC150 · Built 2009 Airframe modelDiamond Aircraft Ind DA 42 Engine modelLycoming IO-360-M1A+Reciprocating

From the FAA’s Accident/Incident Data System (AIDS), through its Aviation Safety Information Portal, as reported. The NTSB investigates accidents separately, and its record of an accident is the fuller one. The aircraft is matched to the registry 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.

What happened

The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.

The crew ?was conducting a training flight in a DA42 northwest of allentown pa. ATC required us to maintain below 5000 for traffic. We conducted a simulated engine securing drill. We followed the checklist and successfully secured the right engine. During the process we lost a few hundred feet.

Using the checklist we initiated restart procedures. The restart procedure took some time to complete. We slowly increased manifold pressure in order to keep shock cooling to a minimum. As we slowly advanced the throttle it became apparent the engine was not producing power, only windmilling.

We tried to get the engine functioning but without success. We were now descending and abeam the ridge tops, and believed our only option was an off field landing. We selected a field and executed our landing. Touchdown was smooth and under control. We slid into a ditch by the side of a crossing road and the aircraft inverted. We shutdown the fuel and master and exited the aircraft.?

As the FAA filed it

THE CREW ?WAS CONDUCTING A TRAINING FLIGHT IN A DA42 NORTHWEST OF ALLENTOWN PA. ATC REQUIRED US TO MAINTAIN BELOW 5000 FOR TRAFFIC. WE CONDUCTED A SIMULATED ENGINE SECURING DRILL. WE FOLLOWED THE CHECKLIST AND SUCCESSFULLY SECURED THE RIGHT ENGINE. DURING THE PROCESS WE LOST A FEW HUNDRED FEET.

USING THE CHECKLIST WE INITIATED RESTART PROCEDURES. THE RESTART PROCEDURE TOOK SOME TIME TO COMPLETE. WE SLOWLY INCREASED MANIFOLD PRESSURE IN ORDER TO KEEP SHOCK COOLING TO A MINIMUM. AS WE SLOWLY ADVANCED THE THROTTLE IT BECAME APPARENT THE ENGINE WAS NOT PRODUCING POWER, ONLY WINDMILLING.

WE TRIED TO GET THE ENGINE FUNCTIONING BUT WITHOUT SUCCESS. WE WERE NOW DESCENDING AND ABEAM THE RIDGE TOPS, AND BELIEVED OUR ONLY OPTION WAS AN OFF FIELD LANDING. WE SELECTED A FIELD AND EXECUTED OUR LANDING. TOUCHDOWN WAS SMOOTH AND UNDER CONTROL. WE SLID INTO A DITCH BY THE SIDE OF A CROSSING ROAD AND THE AIRCRAFT INVERTED. WE SHUTDOWN THE FUEL AND MASTER AND EXITED THE AIRCRAFT.?

NTSB investigation

The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.

NTSB ERA22LA237Accident · Minor injuriesClass 3 · LimitedFinal reportLehighton, PAThe flight instructor’s inadequate supervision of the flight and his failure to secure the right engine following an unsuccessful engine restart attempt, which resulted in the airplane’s inability to maintain altitude and a subsequent off-airport landing.May 9, 2022 · Substantial damage