# NTSB ATL96LA128: Piper PA-32-300, N9VM, Georgetown, SC, September 19, 1996 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: September 19, 1996, 18:00 local (22:00 UTC) - Place: Georgetown, SC - Coordinates: 33.360359, -79.289062 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.3604&lon=-79.2891&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report July 28, 1997 - Report: Approved by Office Director - ADs cited in the narratives: [AD 78-09-07 R3](https://openairdocs.org/ad/78-09-07-R3), [AD 96-12-07](https://openairdocs.org/ad/96-12-07) (OpenAirDocs) - NTSB case key (mKey): 3760 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL96LA128 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/3760/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL96LA128 ## Probable cause failure of maintenance personnel to comply with an airworthiness directive, requiring periodic magneto inspections; inadequate annual inspection of the airplane by (other) maintenance personnel; and subsequent failure of the impulse coupling in the left magneto, which resulted in a jammed magneto, failure of the idler and crankshaft gears, and subsequent loss of engine power. The lack of suitable terrain for a forced landing was a related factor. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(total) - mech failure/malf, climb - to cruise - maintenance,compliance with ad - not followed, other maintenance personnel (cause) - maintenance,annual inspection - inadequate, other maintenance personnel (cause) - ignition system,magneto - failure (cause) - ignition system,magneto - jammed (cause) - Forced landing, emergency descent/landing - In flight collision with object, emergency landing - terrain condition - none suitable (contributing factor) - object - tree(s) ## Analysis While climbing through about 2,500 feet after takeoff, the engine lost power. The pilot was forced to land on unsuitable terrain, which resulted in a collision with a tree. After the accident, the engine's left magneto was found jammed due to a failed impulse coupling. The jammed magneto broke the idler gear and the crankshaft gear with which it meshed, precipitating a total loss of power. The impulse coupling was the subject of an airworthiness directive that required recurring inspections at each 500 hours of engine operation. Records showed that the last inspection of the magneto was in November 1988, 432 hours after the engine had been overhauled. The last annual inspection was in October 1995, with a tachometer time of 2,905 hours since overhaul. At the time of the accident, the engine had a total flight time of 3,109 hours recorded since overhaul. ## Factual narrative On September 19, 1996, about 1800 eastern daylight time, a Piper PA-32-300, N9VM, collided with trees and the ground during an emergency descent and forced landing at Georgetown, South Carolina. The airplane was operated by the owner/pilot under the provisions of Title 14 CFR Part 91, and visual flight rules. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. A flight plan was not filed for the personal flight. The commercial pilot received minor injuries, and the airplane was substantially damaged. The flight was originating at the time of the accident, and was destined for Savannah, GA. According to the pilot, about 2,500 feet, during the climb after takeoff, he heard a "whoosh," and noted that the engine oil pressure indicated zero. Subsequently, the engine lost power, with the propeller continuing to windmill. During the attempted forced landing, the airplane collided with trees and the ground. A Federal Aviation Administration airworthiness inspector, examined the engine on September 20, 1996. He reported that he discovered the left magneto was jammed. Further, the impulse coupling had failed and the left magneto would not rotate, after removal from the engine. The crankshaft gear did not rotate with the crankshaft. The crankshaft gear bolt was bent and had backed out enough to break the safety tab, and the dowel pin that aligns the gear to the crankshaft was sheared. Several teeth were broken from the left idler gear. Entries in the engine log indicated that the last recorded inspection of the magneto that is required by Airworthiness Directive (AD) 78-09-07R3 was November 2, 1988, which was 432.3 hours since engine overhaul. The AD specified recurring inspections of the magneto impulse coupling for wear each 500 hours of engine time in service. The AD was superseded by AD 96-12-07, however, the recurring inspection was still applicable. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N9VM](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N9VM-2010-07-19), registration cancelled 2010-07-19, S/N 32-7640009, built 1975 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Piper PA-32-300 - Registry model: [Piper PA-32-300](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-32-300) (registry code 7103212) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming TI0-540 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-ti0-540-series) (registry code 41533, turbo-prop) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 32-764009 - Airframe hours: 3109 - Engines: Lycoming IO-540-K1A5 300 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Warren A. Sherrer - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, October 6, 1995, 204 hours before - Departed: GGE - Destination: SAV, SAVANNAH, GA - Airport: GGE, Georgetown ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 54; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 8,000 total, 1,500 in this make and model, 8,000 as pilot in command, 40 in the last 90 days, 10 in the last 30 days, 5 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 61 °F, dew point 57 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: MYR, 25 nm away 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. --- 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.