# NTSB CEN13LA552: Piper PA 28-180, N4756L, Frankenmuth, MI, September 18, 2013 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: September 18, 2013, 19:20 local (23:20 UTC) - Place: Frankenmuth, MI - Coordinates: 43.314167, -83.711387 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=43.3142&lon=-83.7114&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 4 uninjured - Status: Completed, report August 14, 2014 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: Flight Standards District Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 88084 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN13LA552 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/88084/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=88084 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN13LA552 ## Probable cause An intermittent loss of engine power for reasons that could not be determined because postaccident examinations revealed no 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: [Piper PA-28-180, 18 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md?model=7102808), [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. - [Initial climb: Loss of engine power (partial)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-180, 19 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342/sequence.md?model=7102808), [All aircraft, 1,858 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342/sequence.md) - [Landing: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-180, 11 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md?model=7102808), [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that an intermittent engine power loss occurred during the initial takeoff climb. Despite troubleshooting efforts, the engine continued to run intermittently as the pilot initiated a turn back toward the airport. The pilot attempted to land on the runway but then chose to conduct a forced landing to a hayfield. The airplane subsequently rolled into a cornfield and was substantially damaged. Postaccident examinations of the airframe, engine, and fuel system revealed no evidence of mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. The recorded temperature and dew point at the time of the accident was conducive for the accumulation of carburetor icing during glide power settings. However, the intermittent engine power loss occurred while the airplane was at a high-throttle setting during initial climb, which was not consistent with carburetor icing. ## Factual narrative On September 18, 2013, about 1920 eastern daylight time, a Piper PA-28-180 airplane, N4756L, was substantially damaged during a forced landing near William 'Tiny' Zehnder Field Airport (66G), Frankenmuth, Michigan. The pilot and three passengers were not injured. The airplane was registered to and operated by the pilot under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight. Day visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the local flight, which departed without a flight plan about 1918. The pilot reported there was an intermittent loss of engine power about 700 feet above ground level during initial takeoff climb from Runway 9. The pilot initiated a turn back towards the airport, during which time the engine continued to run intermittently. He checked the engine mixture control to full rich, ignition switch on, magneto switch to both, and pulled the carburetor heat lever on. The pilot attempted to land on Runway 27, but due to continued intermittent engine power, elected to land in a hayfield. The airplane subsequently rolled into a cornfield, substantially damaging both wings. During examination by Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) personnel, the engine started and ran normally and no anomalies were observed with the engine or fuel system. A follow on examination of the engine and fuel systems was conducted by an airframe and power plant mechanic, with no engine or fuel system anomalies observed. The weather observation station at Saginaw County Airport (KHYX), Saginaw, Michigan, located about 10 miles northwest of the accident site, reported the following conditions at 1934: wind 170 degrees at 4 knots, visibility 10 miles, clear skies, temperature 21 degrees Celsius (C), dew point 10 C, altimeter setting 30.02. Based on the recorded temperature and dew point near the time of the accident, the engine was in the range of susceptibility for carburetor icing during glide power settings. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N4756L](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N4756L), registered now, S/N 28-4086, built 1967 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA 28-180 - Registry model: [Piper PA-28-180](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-180) (registry code 7102808) (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: 28-4086 - Year built: 1967 - Airframe hours: 2837 - Engines: LYCOMING O&VO-360 SER 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Ferrier Mark A - Registered owner: Ferrier Mark A - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, January 18, 2013 - Departed: 66G, Frankenmuth, MI - Destination: 66G, Frankenmuth, MI - Airport: 66G, Wm 'Tiny' Zehnder Field ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 38; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review July 28, 2013; seat: left; restraint: lap only; flight hours: 72 total, 18 in this make and model, 40 as pilot in command, 1 in the last 90 days, 1 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 170° at 4 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 70 °F, dew point 50 °F - Altimeter: 30.02 inHg - Observed at: KHYX, 10 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 20130918017729A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20130918017729A), Sep 18, 2013: Piper PA-28-180, Frankenmuth, MI, Substantial damage. On September 18, 2013 at 1920 eastern daylight time, a Piper PA-28-180 aircraft, N4756L, registered to and operated by a private pilot, received substantial… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on May 7, 2014, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=88084. 4.5 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 2.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40412072&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Examination of engine by mechanic (item 2, .PDF, 2.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40412073&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Examination%20of%20engine%20by%20mechanic-Redacted.PDF - Carburetor icing SAIB (item 3, .PDF, 111 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40412074&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Carburetor%20icing%20SAIB%20-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.