# NTSB CEN15LA383: Piper PA 25-235, N4652Y, Harvey, ND, August 21, 2015 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: August 20, 2015, 19:00 local (Aug 21, 2015, 00:00 UTC) - Place: Harvey, ND - Coordinates: 47.787498, -99.936111 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=47.7875&lon=-99.9361&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Enroute: Loss of engine power (partial)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report April 4, 2016 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 91864 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN15LA383 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/91864/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=91864 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN15LA383 ## Probable cause The partial loss of engine power due to a failed magneto and two cylinders with low compression. Contributing to the accident was the pilot/owner’s decision to operate the airplane with an ongoing engine issue. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Engine (reciprocating): recip eng rear section](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058540): Aircraft › Aircraft power plant · Failure (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-25-235, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058540/cases.md?model=7102504), [All aircraft, 42 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058540/cases.md) - [Info processing/decision: decision making/judgment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Owner/builder (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-25-235, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md?model=7102504), [All aircraft, 3,098 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Enroute: Loss of engine power (partial)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-25-235, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342/sequence.md?model=7102504), [All aircraft, 1,858 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Landing gear collapse](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094); cases with it: [Piper PA-25-235, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md?model=7102504), [All aircraft, 1,787 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Dragged wing/rotor/float/other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/093); cases with it: [Piper PA-25-235, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/093/sequence.md?model=7102504), [All aircraft, 319 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/093/sequence.md) ## Analysis The commercial pilot/owner noted that, during previous flights in the agricultural application airplane, he had heard a "wheezing" sound coming from the engine. During a conversation with a mechanic about the issue, the mechanic stated that the abnormal engine sound could have been due to an issue with an engine valve. Although an annual inspection was completed after the pilot first noted the issue, no maintenance was conducted to resolve the issue. Despite this, the pilot chose to continue flying the airplane. The pilot reported that, while en route to the destination field during the accident flight, he heard a noise come from the engine, followed by a partial loss of power as the engine shuddered. He subsequently made a forced landing to a wheat field. A postaccident engine examination revealed that the right magneto was not functioning, and two of the cylinders did not pass compression checks. The loss of engine power is consistent with a failed magneto and two cylinders with low compression. ## Factual narrative On August 20, 2015, about 1900 central daylight time, a Piper PA-25 Pawnee airplane, N4652Y, experienced a loss of engine power and made a forced landing in a field near Harvey, North Dakota. The commercial pilot was not injured and the airplane sustained substantial damage. The airplane was registered to a private individual and operated by Jake's Flying Service of Harvey, North Dakota, under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 137 as an aerial application flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident and no flight plan was filed. The local flight originated from a private strip near Harvey, North Dakota about 1855. The pilot reported that while en route to the destination field, he heard noise from the engine and noticed a loss of power as the engine shuddered. He made a forced landing to a wheat field. During the landing roll the left main landing gear collapsed and the airplane skidded to a stop. The left wing skin was wrinkled. The pilot reported that prior to the accident flight he noticed a "wheezing" sound coming from the engine. He recalled that in a previous conversation with a mechanic, the mechanic stated that the "wheezing" could be a valve issue. The pilot reported that an annual inspection was completed on May 23, 2015, but no maintenance inspection was completed after the "wheezing" sound was noticed. A local mechanic conducted a postaccident engine examination which revealed two significant findings. The right magneto was "dead" and would not produce a spark at any of the terminals. The No. 2 and No. 6 cylinders did not pass the compression checks. The examination did not reveal any other anomalies. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N4652Y](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N4652Y), registered now, S/N 25-4372, built 1967 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA 25-235 - Registry model: [Piper PA-25-235](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-25-235) (registry code 7102504) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-540 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-540-series) (registry code 41532, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 25-4372 - Year built: 1967 - Airframe hours: 5077 - Engines: LYCOMING O-540-B2C5 235 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Aerial application, Part 137 - Operator: Jakes Flying Service - Registered owner: Jacob Valenzuela - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, May 23, 2015 - Departed: Harvey, ND - Destination: Harvey, ND ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 30; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; last flight review May 26, 2014; seat: center; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 1,136 total, 487 in this make and model, 934 as pilot in command, 155 in the last 90 days, 57 in the last 30 days, 5 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Lowest ceiling: none ## 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 20150820013899A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20150820013899A), Aug 20, 2015: Piper PA-25-235, Harvey, ND, Substantial damage. On August 20th at approximately 7:00 pm the pilot was en-route to a field for aerial application. During the flight, he heard a "bang" in the engine… ## Other investigations on N4652Y (1) 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. - [NTSB CHI99LA230](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI99LA230), Jul 12, 1999: Piper PA-25-235 (N4652Y), Fargo, ND, substantial damage. Probable cause: the altitude/clearance not maintained by the pilot. ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on February 23, 2016, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=91864. 3.1 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=40436859&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Correspondence - Pilot Emails (item 2, .PDF, 104 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40436860&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Correspondence%20-%20Pilot%20Emails-Master.PDF - Correspondence - Mechanic Email (item 3, .PDF, 125 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40436861&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Correspondence%20-%20Mechanic%20Email-Master.PDF - Photos (item 4, .PDF, 2 photos, 359 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40436862&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photos-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.