# NTSB CEN10LA023: Piper PA-32-260, N3357W, Peoria, IL, October 18, 2009 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: October 17, 2009, 19:13 local (Oct 18, 2009, 00:13 UTC) - Place: Peoria, IL - Coordinates: 40.664165, -89.693336 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.6642&lon=-89.6933&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Initial climb: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report December 20, 2010 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA-Springfield FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 74925 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN10LA023 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/74925/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=74925 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN10LA023 ## Probable cause A loss of engine power for undetermined reasons during climb out after takeoff, which resulted in a forced landing to a roadway. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Engine (reciprocating)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058500): Aircraft › Aircraft power plant · Not specified (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-32-260, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058500/cases.md?model=7103206), [All aircraft, 497 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058500/cases.md) - [Not determined](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000): Not determined › Not determined · Unknown/Not determined (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-32-260, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md?model=7103206), [All aircraft, 2,247 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md) - [Object/animal/substance: pole](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022010): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Effect on operation; cases with it: [Piper PA-32-260, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022010/cases.md?model=7103206), [All aircraft, 142 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022010/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Initial climb: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-32-260, 12 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=7103206), [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md) - [Emergency descent: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440); cases with it: [Piper PA-32-260, 19 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=7103206), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md) - [Emergency descent: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Piper PA-32-260, 30 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=7103206), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The accident occurred about 8 minutes after takeoff on the final leg of a three leg cross-country flight. The pilot reported engine roughness followed by a partial loss of engine power during the climb out after takeoff, followed by a complete loss of engine power. The pilot’s attempts to restore engine power were not successful and he subsequently executed a forced landing onto a road about 7 miles from the departure airport. The right main landing gear struck a traffic light during the approach and the airplane landed hard. A post impact fire ensued and the pilot evacuated the airplane without injury. Post-accident examination of the engine and associated components did not reveal anomalies consistent with a pre-impact failure or malfunction. ## Factual narrative On October 17, 2009, at 1913 central daylight time, a Piper PA-32-260, N3357W, was destroyed during a forced landing and post impact fire near Peoria, Illinois. The pilot executed the forced landing following a loss of engine power. The cross-country flight was being conducted under 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 without a flight plan. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. The pilot was not injured. The flight departed Greater Peoria Regional Airport (PIA), Peoria, Illinois, about 8 minutes prior to the accident. The intended destination was DuPage Airport (DPA), West Chicago, Illinois. The pilot was on a three leg cross country flight. The accident occurred shortly after takeoff on the final leg. The first and second legs from DPA to Quad City International Airport (MLI), Moline, Illinois, and from MLI to PIA were uneventful. The flight times for the first and second legs were reported as 55 minutes and 40 minutes, respectively. Shortly after takeoff from PIA, while climbing through about 3,800 feet mean sea level (msl), the engine started running rough and then partially lost power. The pilot stated that he immediately applied carburetor heat, but it had no effect. He reported that he set the mixture control to rich, turned on the electric fuel pumps and switched fuel tanks. About 3,000 feet msl, the engine “went quiet.” His attempts to restore engine power were not successful, and he subsequently executed a forced landing onto a road about 7 miles north-northeast of PIA. The right main landing gear struck a traffic light during the approach, resulting in a hard landing. A post impact fire ensued. The pilot evacuated the airplane without injury. A post accident examination of the engine did not reveal any anomalies consistent with a pre-impact failure or malfunction. Internal engine continuity was confirmed via crankshaft rotation. Compression was obtained at all cylinders. The magnetos and carburetor exhibited thermal damage consistent with the post impact fire. However, teardown examinations did not reveal any anomalies. The air intake appeared unobstructed. The throttle valve appeared intact and was in the full open position at the time of the exam. The spark plugs appeared intact and operational. The engine driven fuel pump was damaged and could not be operationally tested. The electric fuel pumps operated when electrical power was applied. The fuel selector valve was free to move between all four tanks. It appeared set to the right wing tip fuel tank at the time of the examination. Functional testing of the fuel selector did not reveal any anomalies. The pilot stated that he departed DPA initially with full fuel and estimated that 65 gallons remained at the time of the accident takeoff. The pilot/operator report noted that fuel was being used from the right inboard tank shortly prior to the loss of engine power. The airplane fuel system was comprised of 4 fuel tanks. The left and right main wing tanks (25 gallon capacityeach), and the left and right wing tip tanks (17 gallon capacity each). The airplane manual noted that the fuel consumption at 75-percent power would be expected to be about 14.1 gallons per hour. The airplane flight manual stated that fuel in the main tanks should be used first, before the wing tip tanks. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N3357W](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N3357W-2010-04-21), registration cancelled 2010-04-21, S/N 32-202, built 1965 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA-32-260 - Registry model: [Piper PA-32-260](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-32-260) (registry code 7103206) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-540 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-540-series) (registry code 41532, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 32-202 - Airframe hours: 5895 - Engines: LYCOMING O-540 SERIES 250 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Fire: On-Ground - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Illinois Aviation Academy, Inc. - Registered owner: STAC Aviation Corp - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, August 6, 2009 - Departed: PIA, Peoria, IL - Destination: DPA, West Chicago, IL - Airport: PIA, Greater Peoria Regional, runway 31, 10,104 × 150 ft, concrete ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 17; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; last flight review April 23, 2009; seat: left; flight hours: 134 total, 26 in the last 90 days, 10 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 6,500 ft broken - Temperature: 46 °F, dew point 30 °F - Altimeter: 30.35 inHg - Observed at: PIA, 9 nm away ## 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 20091017025709A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20091017025709A), Oct 17, 2009: Piper PA-32-260, Peoria. Crash S, IL, Destroyed. After take off from pia while on climb out about 6 miles from the departure airport at 2,500 feet the pilot reported to ATC his engine was running rough. The… ## Docket (5 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on September 16, 2010, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=74925. 8.8 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 1.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40335666&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Conversation Record -- Pilot (item 2, .PDF, 49 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40336091&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Conversation%20Record%20--%20Pilot-Master.PDF - Airframe Logbook -- Excerpts (item 3, .PDF, 1.4 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40336103&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Airframe%20Logbook%20--%20Excerpts-Redacted.PDF - Engine Logbook -- Excerpts (item 4, .PDF, 2.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40336105&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Engine%20Logbook%20--%20Excerpts-Redacted.PDF - Airplane Manual -- Excerpts (item 5, .PDF, 3.7 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40336097&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Airplane%20Manual%20--%20Excerpts-Master.PDF 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.