# NTSB BFO95LA043: Piper PA-28-180D, N6539J, Jeannette, PA, April 6, 1995 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: April 6, 1995, 17:16 local (21:16 UTC) - Place: Jeannette, PA - Coordinates: 40.330711, -79.620559 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.3307&lon=-79.6206&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious, 1 minor - Status: Completed, report October 13, 1995 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 9039 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=BFO95LA043 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/9039/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/BFO95LA043 ## Probable cause the failure of the magneto pinion gear failure, which resulted in a total loss of engine power during initial climbout over usuitable terrain. ## 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, takeoff - initial climb - ignition system,magneto - failure,total (cause) - Forced landing, emergency landing after takeoff - terrain condition - none suitable (cause) - In flight collision with object, emergency landing after takeoff - object - tree(s) ## Analysis THE CFI REPORTED THAT DURING TAKE OFF CLIMB, AT AN ALTITUDE OF APPROXIMATELY 150 FEET ABOVE THE GROUND, THE AIRPLANE'S ENGINE LOST TOTAL POWER. DURING THE EMERGENCY DESCENT THE AIRPLANE COLLIDED WITH TREES. POSTACCIDENT EXAMINATION OF THE ENGINE REVEALED ITS RIGHT MAGNETO'S PINION GEAR HAD FAILED RESULTING IN A TOTAL FAILURE OF THE MAGNETO. ## Factual narrative On April 6, 1995, about 1716 eastern daylight time, a Piper PA- 28-180, N6539J, lost total engine power during initial climb out from runway 20 at the Pittsburgh-Boquet Airpark in Jeanette, Pennsylvania. The airplane was destroyed when it collided with trees during the emergency descent. The certificated flight instructor (CFI) received minor injuries and the one passenger was seriously injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the local flight, no flight plan was filed. The personal flight was conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. The CFI reported that he was practicing takeoffs and landings at the Pittsburgh-Boquet Airpark. He stated that during initial climb after the second takeoff, at 150 feet above the ground, the airplane's engine lost total power. The pilot stated that he made a forced landing into trees with "...A Nose High Attitude Above Treetops To Cushion The Impact." The airplane collided with trees and came to rest upside down. Postaccident examination of the airplane's engine revealed its right magneto did not function. The magneto was dismantled and its internal components examined. Examination of the components revealed teeth on the nylon pinion gear had failed. The failure modes of the teeth were not determined. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N6539J](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N6539J-1996-01-20), registration cancelled 1996-01-20, S/N 284981 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28-180D - Registry model: [Piper PA-28-180](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-180) (registry code 7102808) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 28-4981 - Airframe hours: 3603 - Engines: LYCOMING O-360-A4A 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: King, Richard H. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal; Standard, Utility - Last inspection: Annual, May 27, 1994, 64 hours before - Airport: 5G8, Pittsburgh-Boquet Airpark, runway 20, 2,605 × 50 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 58; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: right; flight hours: 3,918 total, 515 in this make and model, 3,069 as pilot in command, 5 in the last 90 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 240° at 18 knots, gusting 27 - Visibility: 15 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 70 °F, dew point 37 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: PIT ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 19950406047749A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19950406047749A), Apr 6, 1995: Piper PA28180, Jeannette, PA, Destroyed. Lost power on takeoff. Hit trees on landing. Right magneto pinion gear failed. Total magneto failure. 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.