CEN09LA055

NTSB accident investigation · Piper PA-28-140 · Nacogdoches, TX · November 8, 2008

Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal report
Date
November 8, 2008, 10:00 local (15:00 UTC)
Place
Nacogdoches, TX
Injuries
2 uninjured
Damage
Substantial damage
Phase of flight
Initial climb
Aircraft
N8485RPiper PA-28-140
Defining event
Initial climb: Loss of engine power (partial)
Weather
Visual (VMC) · Day
Status
Completed · report December 24, 2008
Report
Approved by Office Director
NTSB office
Central Region
Parties
FAA FSDO
FAA report
20081108852389A
Case key
69431

From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.

On this page

Probable cause

The loss of engine power for undetermined reasons. A contributing factor was the lack of suitable terrain for the forced landing.

Findings · 3

NTSB’s coded findings. Those marked are part of the probable cause; the rest are factors or other findings. Under each, the cases with the same finding.

Engine (reciprocating)Aircraft › Aircraft power plant · MalfunctionPiper PA-28-140: 10 casesAll aircraft: 497 casesProbable cause
Object/animal/substance: tree(s)Environmental issues › Physical environment · Ability to respond/compensatePiper PA-28-140: 9 casesAll aircraft: 933 casesProbable cause
TerrainEnvironmental issues › Physical environment · Ability to respond/compensatePiper PA-28-140: 4 casesAll aircraft: 267 casesProbable cause

Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event is the one that best describes the accident. Under each, the cases with the same event anywhere in their sequence.

Analysis

After an hour of conducting flight maneuvers, the pilot and flight instructor proceeded to do a power-off landing. During the take-off from the runway, the engine lost partial power, and when it appeared that they would not be able to clear trees, they elected to conduct a forced landing. An inspection of the airplane, revealed that during the forced landing the airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing. After the aircraft was recovered to a hangar an examination/engine run was conducted. During the engine run, the magneto check was "good"; however, when the carburetor heat control was pulled, the engine started to run rough and lose power. The reason for the loss of engine power was not identified.

Factual narrative

On November 8, 2008, approximately 1000 central daylight time, a single-engine, Piper 140 airplane, N8485R, was substantially damaged during a forced landing following a loss of engine power, shortly after takeoff from the AL Mangham Jr. Regional Airport (KOCH), Nacogdoches, Texas. The airline transport rated pilot and flight instructor were not injured. The airplane was registered and operated by a private individual. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and a flight plan was not filed for the 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91, flight. According to the flight instructor and airline transport pilot, they were performing a flight review. After about an hour of conducting several flight maneuvers, they proceeded to do a power-off landing. During the take-off from runway 18, the engine lost partial power and when it appeared that they would not be able to clear trees, they elected to conduct a forced landing. A Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Inspector, who examined the airplane, reported that during the forced landing the airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing. The aircraft was recovered to a hangar. The flight instructor and FAA Inspector inspected the throttle and mixture controls before deciding to run the airplane's engine. The engine was started and allowed to warm briefly, before conducting a magneto check at 2,000-rpm. The magneto check was "good"; however, when the carburetor heat control was pulled, the engine started to run rough and not able to maintain 2,000-rpm. The reason for the loss of engine power was not identified.

Aircraft

Registration
N8485R
Reported as
Piper PA-28-140
Category
Airplane
Serial number
28-22395
Engine
Lycoming 0-320 SERIES, 180 horsepower, reciprocating
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Instructional · Part 91
Airworthiness certificate
Standard, Normal
Last inspection
Annual · March 3, 2008
Departed
Nacogdoches, TX
Destination
Nacogdoches, TX
Flight plan
Unknown
Airport
KOCH · AL Mangham Jr Regional Airport, runway 18, 5,000 × 75 ft, asphalt

Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

Flight crew · 2

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

Role
Flight instructor
Age
51
Injuries
None
Certificates
Flight instructor, Commercial
Airplane ratings
Single-engine land
Instrument ratings
Airplane
Medical
Class 2, With waivers/limitations
Last flight review
April 1, 2008
Seat
Right
Flight hours
2,320 total · 120 in this make and model · 65 in the last 90 days · 22 in the last 30 days · 2 in the last 24 hours
Role
Pilot
Age
53
Injuries
None
Certificates
Airline transport, Commercial
Airplane ratings
Single-engine land
Instrument ratings
Airplane
Medical
Class 2, With waivers/limitations
Last flight review
December 10, 2003
Seat
Left
Flight hours
2,955 total · 75 in this make and model · 2,639 as pilot in command · 1 in the last 90 days · 1 in the last 30 days · 1 in the last 24 hours

Weather

Conditions
Visual (VMC) · Day
Wind
Variable at 10 knots
Lowest ceiling
None
Temperature
64 °F, dew point 36 °F
Altimeter
30.11 inHg
Observed at
KOCH

FAA reports on this event · 1

The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.

Other investigations on N8485R · 1

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.