# NTSB CEN16LA382: Piper PA 28-140, N4470X, Wooster, OH, September 21, 2016 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: September 21, 2016, 12:36 local (16:36 UTC) - Place: Wooster, OH - Coordinates: 40.873054, -81.942779 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.8731&lon=-81.9428&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Enroute: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor, 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report November 14, 2017 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 94066 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN16LA382 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/94066/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=94066 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN16LA382 ## Probable cause A total loss of engine power for reasons that could not be determined because postaccident examination of the 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: 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-landing roll: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-140, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md?model=7102802), [All aircraft, 2,287 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md) ## Analysis The private pilot stated that, about 30-40 minutes into the cross-country flight, at an altitude of 3,500 ft, the engine suddenly experienced a total loss of power. The pilot turned on the fuel boost pump, adjusted the mixture, and switched fuel tanks to restart the engine. The propeller rotated, but the engine did not start. The pilot subsequently landed the airplane in a soybean field. Upon touching down, the nose gear dug into the dirt and the airplane nosed over. A postaccident examination of the engine did not reveal any preexisting mechanical malfunctions or anomalies that would have resulted in the loss of engine power. ## Factual narrative On September 21, 2016 at 1236 eastern daylight time, a Piper PA-28-140, N4470X, nosed over during an off-airport landing in near Wooster, Ohio, following a loss of engine power. The private pilot received a minor injury and the passenger was not injured. The airplane was substantially damaged. The aircraft was registered to and operated by a private individual under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the flight, which was not operating on a flight plan. The flight originated from the Norwalk-Huron County Airport (5A1), Norwalk, Ohio, with an intended destination of the Carrol County-Tolson Airport (TSO), Carrollton, Ohio.The pilot reported the airplane operated normally during the first part of the flight. About 30 to 40 minutes into the flight, at an altitude of 3,500 ft, the engine suddenly lost all power. The pilot turned on the fuel boost pump, adjusted the mixture, and switched fuel tank to restart the engine. The propeller rotated, but the engine did not start. The pilot subsequently landed the airplane in a soybean field. Upon touching down, the nose gear dug into the dirt and the airplane nosed over. The pilot and passenger kicked out the windscreen and exited the airplane. A postaccident examination of the airplane was conducted by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector. The inspector reported he verified there was fuel going to the engine, the magnetos sparked, compression on all cylinders, and continuity throughout the engine. The inspector reported the air intake duct was crushed, which most likely occurred during the accident sequence. The examination did not reveal any preimpact anomalies that would have resulted in the loss of engine power. The temperature and dewpoint were not conducive to carburetor icing at cruise power. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N4470X](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4470X-2018-08-20), registration cancelled 2018-08-20, S/N 28-7625040 (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 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 28-7625040 - Year built: 1975 - Airframe hours: 3744 - Engines: LYCOMING O-320-E3D 150 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, April 16, 2016, 5 hours before - Departed: 5A1, Norwalk, OH - Destination: TSO, Carrollton, OH ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 74; injuries: minor; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review June 16, 2015; seat: left; restraint: lap only; flight hours: 388 total, 155 in this make and model, 388 as pilot in command ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 220° at 3 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 81 °F, dew point 61 °F - Altimeter: 30.22 inHg - Observed at: KCAK, 27 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 20160921019529A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20160921019529A), Sep 21, 2016: Piper PA-28-140, Wooster, OH, Substantial damage. Aircraft was enroute from norwalk, Ohio (5A1) to carrollton county airport (TSO) when aircraft experienced a sudden engine failure during cruise flight at 3500… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on September 20, 2017, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=94066. 935 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 415 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40456460&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Record of Conversations (item 2, .PDF, 453 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40456461&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversations-Master.PDF - Carburetor Icing Chart (item 3, .PDF, 67 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40456462&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Carburetor%20Icing%20Chart-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.