# NTSB CEN13LA097: North American T-28C, N280JM, Moody, TX, December 8, 2012 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: December 8, 2012, 15:30 local (21:30 UTC) - Place: Moody, TX - Coordinates: 31.190555, -97.407218 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=31.1906&lon=-97.4072&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Approach-VFR pattern base: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 2 minor - Status: Completed, report February 4, 2015 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA San Antonio FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 85790 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN13LA097 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/85790/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=85790 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN13LA097 ## Probable cause The total loss of engine power for reasons that could not be determined because the examination of the engine did not reveal any anomalies that would have precluded normal operation. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Not determined](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000): Not determined › Not determined · Unknown/Not determined (probable cause); cases with it: [North American T-28C, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md?model=6402507), [All aircraft, 2,247 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Approach-VFR pattern base: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) (defining event); cases with it: [North American T-28C, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=6402507), [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md) - [Approach-VFR pattern base: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440); cases with it: [North American T-28C, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=6402507), [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: [North American T-28C, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=6402507), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) - [Post-impact: Fire/smoke (post-impact)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/170); cases with it: [North American T-28C, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/170/sequence.md?model=6402507), [All aircraft, 354 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/170/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that, while on a base leg to practice a low approach, the engine suddenly lost total power. The pilot executed an off-airport forced landing, which resulted in substantial damage to the engine mount, lower forward fuselage, and the wing spar. A postimpact fire immediately ensued in the engine compartment, which was quickly extinguished with handheld fire extinguishers. An adequate amount of fuel was found on board. An examination of the airframe and engine revealed no evidence of mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. ## Factual narrative On December 8, 2012, about 1530 central standard time, a North American T-28C, single engine airplane, N280JM, was substantially damaged when it impacted terrain during an off airport forced landing near Charping Airport (5TA1), Moody, Texas. The airplane was registered to and operated by a private individual. The pilot and passenger sustained minor injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and a flight plan had been not filed for the 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The airplane had departed from Draughon-Miller Central Texas Regional Airport (TPL), Temple, Texas, about 1400 for the local flight.The pilot reported that he was on a base leg for a practice low approach to the 2,200 foot long turf runway at 5TA1, when there was a sudden complete loss of engine power. The pilot's brief efforts to restart the engine were unsuccessful and he executed an off-airport forced landing with the landing gear retracted and the speed brakes stowed. There was an immediate postimpact fire in the engine compartment which was extinguished with handheld fire extinguishers brought by several witnesses who had responded quickly. A postaccident examination showed the engine mount, lower forward fuselage, and wing spar sustained substantial damage. There was fire damage to the engine compartment and the upper engine cowling and smoke damage to the cockpit area. There was adequate fuel on board. The supercharger had been tested before departure on both low and high with no deficiency noted. Both magnetos and the engine driven fuel pump and electric fuel boost pump had also been tested with no deficiency noted. The examination of the airframe and engine revealed no evidence of mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N280JM](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N280JM-2018-03-13), registration cancelled 2018-03-13, S/N 226-166 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: NORTH AMERICAN T-28C - Registry model: [North American T-28C](https://openairdocs.org/model/north-american-t-28c) (registry code 6402507) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Wright R-1820 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/wright-r-1820-series) (registry code 67020, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 226-166 - Airframe hours: 4049 - Engines: WRIGHT R-1820-86B 1475 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Fire: On-Ground - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, July 13, 2012, 30 hours before - Departed: TPL, Temple, TX - Destination: TPL, Temple, TX - Airport: 5TA1, Charping, runway 19, 2,200 × 60 ft, grass/turf ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 49; injuries: minor; private; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review June 27, 2012; seat: front; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 4,089 total, 22 in this make and model, 3,900 as pilot in command, 69 in the last 90 days, 39 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 120° at 9 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 75 °F, dew point 63 °F - Altimeter: 29.79 inHg - Observed at: KTPL, 3 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 20121208026849A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20121208026849A), Dec 8, 2012: North American T-28C, Temple, TX, Substantial damage. During cruise pilot reported engine became silent with no prior warning, decision was made to make emergency gear up landing in dirt field, minor injury to… ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on January 5, 2015, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=85790. 1.2 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 477 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40383693&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Summary of IICs Findings (item 2, .PDF, 59 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40420601&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Summary%20of%20IICs%20Findings-Master.PDF - Maps (item 3, .PDF, 216 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40383694&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Maps-Master.PDF - Photo - View of the wreckage from the left side (FAA Photo) (item 4, .PDF, 431 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40383697&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%20-%20View%20of%20the%20wreckage%20from%20the%20left%20side%20%20(FAA%20Photo)-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.