# NTSB CEN13LA367: Piper PA-28-140, N589FL, De Smet, SD, June 21, 2013 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: June 20, 2013, 21:00 local (Jun 21, 2013, 02:00 UTC) - Place: De Smet, SD - Coordinates: 44.385833, -97.551666 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=44.3858&lon=-97.5517&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Enroute-cruise: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report March 24, 2014 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - NTSB case key (mKey): 87268 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN13LA367 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/87268/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=87268 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN13LA367 ## Probable cause A loss of engine power for reasons that could not be determined because postaccident examinations of the airplane and engine revealed no mechanical malfunctions or failures 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: [Piper PA-28-140, 27 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md?model=7102802), [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. - [Enroute-cruise: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-140, 42 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=7102802), [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md) - [Landing: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-140, 137 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=7102802), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that the engine surged during cruise descent and was not developing sufficient power to maintain altitude. She reported that she performed the emergency checklist procedures, including applying carburetor heat, but that they were unsuccessful and that she then executed a forced landing to a field. During the landing roll, the airplane struck a ditch and a rock, which caused the left main landing gear to collapse and damaged the firewall. Postaccident examination of the airplane did not reveal any preimpact anomalies with the engine or fuel system that would have precluded normal operation. Fuel was found on board the airplane. The engine behavior was not indicative of carburetor ice. A test run confirmed the engine's ability to function, and no defects were noted. ## Factual narrative On June 20, 2013, about 2100 central daylight time, a Piper PA-28-140, N589FL, sustained substantial damage to the firewall during a forced landing following a loss of engine power during cruise flight near De Smet, South Dakota. The pilot and pilot rated passenger were not injured. The airplane was registered to a private individual and operated by the pilot under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. The two pilots were competing in a cross country air race when the accident occurred. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the flight, which was not on a flight plan. The flight originated from the Rawlins Municipal Airport (RWL), Rawlins, Wyoming, at an unconfirmed time. The Brookings Regional Airport (BKX), Brookings, South Dakota, was the intended destination. The pilot reported that prior to the accident flight, she and another pilot had completed a flight that originated from the Grant County Regional Airport (GCD), John Day, Oregon, and ended at RWL. She reported that the flight lasted 5.7 hours and that 41 gallons of fuel were consumed during the flight. After filling the airplane's fuel tanks, the two pilots departed RWL and proceeded to Spearfish, South Dakota, where they performed a fly-by, and then continued on toward BKX. The pilot reported that when the airplane was about 50 miles from BKX at 7,500 feet altitude, they started a slow descent. She reported that as the airplane descended through 5,500 feet altitude, the engine speed dropped to 1,000 rpm and then spiked to 2,750 rpm. The pilot reported that the engine again dropped to 1,000 rpm and then spiked to 2,750 rpm. She stated that she performed the emergency checklist procedures, including switching fuel tanks, insuring the primer was in and locked, cycling the magnetos, applying carburetor heat, opening the throttle, and applying full rich mixture. She reported that these efforts were unsuccessful and the engine continued to surge. At this point the pilot realized that they were not within gliding range of an airport and selected a field in which to make an off-airport landing. She stated that the landing was successful but during the landing roll the airplane went through a ditch and hit a rock. The pilot reported that the accident flight was 4.8 hours in duration when the engine problems occurred. Postaccident examination of the airplane did not reveal any preimpact anomalies with regard to the engine or fuel system. A subsequent engine test run was performed by the aircraft salvage operator on the request of the National Transportation Safety Board's (NTSB) investigator in-charge. The salvage operator reported that the engine started and idled normally for several minutes. A full power run was not accomplished due to safety concerns. During the engine test run, the fuel selector was positioned on the left tank and the electric fuel pump was tested with no anomalies detected. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N589FL](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N589FL-2014-12-18), registration cancelled 2014-12-18, S/N 28-7125449, built 1971 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28-140 - Registry model: [Piper PA-28-140](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-140) (registry code 7102802) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming O&VO-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-vo-360-series) (registry code 41514, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 28-7125449 - Engines: LYCOMING O-320-D3G 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Air race/show, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: RWL, Rawlins, WY - Destination: BKX, Brookings, SD ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 20; injuries: none; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; last flight review July 23, 2012; seat: left; restraint: lap only; flight hours: 510 total, 110 in this make and model, 375 as pilot in command, 10 in the last 24 hours - Pilot-rated passenger; age 23; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; seat: right; restraint: lap only ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 160° at 7 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 81 °F, dew point 70 °F - Altimeter: 29.81 inHg - Observed at: BKX, 32 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 20130620011299A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20130620011299A), Jun 20, 2013: Piper PA-28-140, Desmet, SD, Substantial damage. On June 20, 2013 at 9:15 pm CDT a Piper pa 28-140 owned by [privacy data omitted], lost power on a cross country flight and an emergency landing was made near… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on January 22, 2014, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=87268. 3.0 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 2.5 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40408121&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Pilot's narrative (item 2, .PDF, 362 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40408101&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%27s%20narrative-Redacted.PDF - Record of conversation with mechanic. (item 3, .PDF, 53 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40408099&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20conversation%20with%20mechanic.-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.