# NTSB investigations: Lycoming IO-540 series: Loss of engine power (total)

NTSB aviation accident and incident investigations since 1962: the probable cause, findings, aircraft, crew, weather and docket of each, linked to the FAA registry and the FAA’s own reports.

## Latest cases

- [NTSB ERA25LA215](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA25LA215.md): Piper PA32-300 · Branford, CT · Accident · Minor injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report · Jun 1, 2025 · N2242Z · Substantial damage
  > Maintenance personnel's improper installation and inspection of the crankshaft gear bolt during major overhaul, which resulted in the crankshaft gear disengaging from the accessory gears which led to a total loss of engine power.
- [NTSB WPR25LA136](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR25LA136.md): D'Apuzzo Senior Aero Sport · Phoenix, AZ · Accident · No injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Preliminary report · Apr 19, 2025 · N321WC · Substantial damage
  > On April 19, 2025, about 1106 Pacific daylight time, an experimental amateur built D'Apuzzo Senior Aero Sport, N321WC, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Phoenix, Arizona. The pilot was not injured. The airplane was operated as…
- [NTSB CEN24LA378](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN24LA378.md): Piper PA32 · Caro, MI · Accident · No injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report · Sep 30, 2024 · N31407 · Substantial damage
  > A total loss of engine power due to maintenance personnel’s failure to properly tighten the fuel supply line B-nut at the fuel servo.
- [NTSB CEN24LA155](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN24LA155.md): Piper PA-32-301 · Sullivan, MO · Accident · Minor injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report · Apr 11, 2024 · N651ED · Substantial damage
  > A bearing failure that resulted in fatigue failure of the crankshaft and a subsequent total loss of engine power.
- [NTSB GAA23WA127](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA23WA127.md): Piper PA-23-250 · San José Pinula, Guatemala · Accident · No injuries · Class 5 · Foreign · Apr 19, 2023 · N6630A · No damage
- [NTSB WPR21LA357](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR21LA357.md): Fonville Swearingen SX300 · Buckeye, AZ · Accident · Serious injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report · Sep 18, 2021 · N5SX · Substantial damage
  > The total loss of engine power due to the failure of the left magneto.
- [NTSB ERA21LA241](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA21LA241.md): Piper PA-24-260 · Robbinsville, NJ · Accident · Serious injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report · Jun 6, 2021 · N79RG · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s mismanagement of fuel, which resulted in a total loss of engine power.
- [NTSB ERA21LA123](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA21LA123.md): Piper PA-32-301 · Homestead, FL · Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report · Jan 22, 2021 · N8224H · Substantial damage
  > A total loss of power for reasons that could not be determined, as the airplane was not recovered from the water following the ditching.
- [NTSB WPR20LA239](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR20LA239.md): Vans RV7 · Henefer, UT · Accident · Minor injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report · Jul 26, 2020 · N514BS · Substantial damage
  > The total loss of engine power due to the separation of the idler gear shaft bolts as a result of improper installation, which allowed for the idler gear to become disengaged.
- [NTSB WPR20LA009](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR20LA009.md): Cessna 206 · Stockton, CA · Accident · Minor injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report · Oct 18, 2019 · N11379 · Substantial damage
  > A total loss of engine power after takeoff for reasons that could not be determined based on the available information.
- [NTSB CEN19LA098](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN19LA098.md): Piper PA32R · Waterloo, IL · Accident · Serious injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report · Mar 12, 2019 · N750R · Substantial damage
  > The loss of engine power due to a connecting rod failure for reasons that could not be determined due to secondary mechanical damage, which resulted in a subsequent forced landing.
- [NTSB CEN18LA348](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN18LA348.md): Piper PA32R · Falcon, CO · Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Aug 23, 2018 · N2880W · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's decision to depart with an inoperative left magneto, which resulted in degraded climb performance in high-density altitude conditions and a subsequent emergency landing.
- [NTSB ANC18LA058](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC18LA058.md): Robinson R44 · Bettles, AK · Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Jul 29, 2018 · N744AK · Substantial damage
  > Maintenance personnel's application of insufficient preload on the attachment hardware for the idler gear shaft during engine overhaul, which resulted in the dismounting of the idler gear shaft assembly due to wear and deformation and the subsequent total…
- [NTSB WPR17LA168](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR17LA168.md): Robinson Helicopter R44 II · Lake Sutherlin, MT · Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Jul 25, 2017 · N233JD · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s transition into an out-of-ground-effect hover in high-density altitude conditions that exceeded the helicopter’s performance capabilities, which resulted in loss of rotor rpm.
- [NTSB WPR17LA054](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR17LA054.md): Johnson Harmon Rocket · Corona, CA · Accident · 1 fatal · Limited investigation · Final report · Jan 17, 2017 · N275JS · Substantial damage
  > A total loss of engine power during takeoff due to fuel starvation as a result of a failure of internal components of the fuel servo.
- [NTSB ERA15LA294](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA15LA294.md): Commander 114 · Reading, PA · Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Aug 1, 2015 · N6566D · Substantial damage
  > The improper installation of the fuel supply line fitting at the fuel manifold, which resulted in the line loosening in-flight, fuel leakage, and a subsequent total loss of engine power.
- [NTSB WPR15LA196](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR15LA196.md): Piper PA 32R-301 · Boulder City, NV · Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Jun 22, 2015 · N35590 · Substantial damage
  > A total loss of engine power during cruise flight for reasons that could not be determined based on the available evidence.
- [NTSB CEN15LA231](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN15LA231.md): Robinson Helicopter R44 II · Columbia, IL · Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · May 13, 2015 · N165RV · Substantial damage
  > A total loss of engine power while maneuvering at low altitude for reasons that could not be determined during postaccident examination.
- [NTSB WPR14LA345](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR14LA345.md): Piper PA 28-236 · Salmon, ID · Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Aug 13, 2014 · N2190H · Substantial damage
  > Maintenance personnel’s improper surface preparation of the accessory mount pad for the installation of the engine’s dry vacuum pump, which resulted in the loss of engine oil, oil pressure, and engine power during flight. Contributing to the accident was the…
- [NTSB ERA14LA369](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA14LA369.md): Piper PA-32-300 · Helena, AL · Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Jul 31, 2014 · N9103K · Destroyed
  > A total loss of engine power for reasons that could not be determined due to postcrash fire damage.
- [NTSB CEN14CA318](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN14CA318.md): Meyer Geoffrey A Goat · Wolcott, CO · Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report · Jun 16, 2014 · N987SL · Substantial damage
  > The failure of an oil line leading to the oil pressure transducer which resulted in oil starvation and subsequent loss of engine power.
- [NTSB WPR14FA218](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR14FA218.md): Nebert Vans RV-10 · Toledo, OR · Accident · 2 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · May 31, 2014 · N62DN · Substantial damage
  > A total loss of engine power due to fuel starvation because of a blocked fuel line that resulted from the pilot’s improper maintenance practices and the pilot’s subsequent failure to maintain adequate airspeed while attempting a forced landing, which led to…
- [NTSB WPR14LA071](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR14LA071.md): Piper PA 32-301 · Los Angeles, CA · Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Dec 18, 2013 · N8169C · Substantial damage
  > The total loss of engine power during takeoff due to fuel starvation, which resulted from the pilot’s failure to adequately manage the fuel supply.
- [NTSB CEN13LA233](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN13LA233.md): Piper PA-32-301 · Paris, TX · Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Apr 19, 2013 · N82723 · Substantial damage
  > The improper installation of the connecting rod bolts, which resulted in an engine failure.
- [NTSB CEN13LA194](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN13LA194.md): Robinson Helicopter R44 II · Eagle Nest, NM · Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Mar 14, 2013 · N392GP · Substantial damage
  > A total loss of engine power due to a rapid throttle change during autorotation, which the flight instructor initiated in response to a low rotor rpm warning, which resulted from the separation of one of the magnets used to provide rotor rpm indications from…
- [NTSB WPR13LA085](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR13LA085.md): Jeremiah Jackson Vans RV-10 · Julian, CA · Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Jan 5, 2013 · N262NJ · Substantial damage
  > A loss of engine power due to oil starvation as a result of a disconnected oil line. Contributing to the accident was an insufficiently tightened oil line fitting.
- [NTSB ERA12FA265](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA12FA265.md): Sapp Larry E Seawind 3000 · Deland, FL · Accident · Serious injuries · Field investigation · Final report · Apr 2, 2012 · N514KT · Substantial damage
  > A total loss of engine power for reasons that could not be determined because the damage and postimpact fire precluded thorough examination of the engine and its systems.
- [NTSB ERA10FA409](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA10FA409.md): Piper PA-32R-301 · Washington, GA · Accident · 1 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Aug 10, 2010 · N220ST · Substantial damage
  > The manufacturer's inadequate quality control and improper manufacture of the fuel servo diaphragm assembly, which resulted in fatigue cracking of the hub stud and subsequent loss of engine power due to fuel starvation.
- [NTSB WPR10LA272](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR10LA272.md): Eagle Eagle DW-1 · Waterville, WA · Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Jun 1, 2010 · N8815U · Substantial damage
  > A worn wire in the magneto system, which allowed intermittent grounding and a loss of engine power.
- [NTSB LAX08CA249](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX08CA249.md): Fowler SX300 · Cheyenne, WY · Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report · Jul 30, 2008 · N99F · Substantial damage
  > Loss of engine power due to fuel starvation.
- [NTSB DFW08CA136](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DFW08CA136.md): Piper PA-36 · Thomas, OK · Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report · May 9, 2008 · N2368Y · Substantial damage
  > The disconnected throttle linkage resulting in the loss of engine power during takeoff-initial climb. A factor contributing to the accident was the muddy forced landing site.

## The whole list in SQL

Runs in DuckDB 1.2 or later on the release's Parquet files over HTTPS:

```sql
SELECT c."ntsbNumber", c."eventDate", c."eventType", c."eventCity", c."eventStateOrRegion", a.n_number, a."aircraftMake", a."aircraftModel", c."highestInjuryLevel", c."totalFatal", c."completionStatus", c.report_url
FROM 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_case_detail.parquet' c LEFT JOIN 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_aircrafts.parquet' a ON a.case_mkey = c."mKey" AND a.position = 1
WHERE c."mKey" IN (SELECT x.case_mkey FROM 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_aircrafts.parquet' x WHERE x.engine_model_code IN ('41530', '41585')
    AND EXISTS (SELECT 1 FROM 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_events.parquet' e WHERE e.case_mkey = x.case_mkey AND e.aircrafts_position = x.position AND e."isDefiningEvent" AND e."tier2Number" = '341'))
ORDER BY c."eventDate" DESC, c."ntsbNumber" DESC
```

This list as a web page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/cases?engine=41530

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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.