# NTSB CEN18LA281: Piper PA28, N7080F, Shreveport, LA, July 19, 2018

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: July 19, 2018, 08:02 local (13:02 UTC)
- Place: Shreveport, LA
- Coordinates: 32.540279, -93.745002 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.5403&lon=-93.7450&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Maneuvering: Loss of engine power (partial)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report June 3, 2020
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Central Region
- Parties: FAA FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 97818
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN18LA281
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/97818/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=97818
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN18LA281

## Probable cause

The partial loss of engine power for reasons that could not be determined based on the available evidence.

## 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)
- [Accessory gear-boxes](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058300): Aircraft › Aircraft power plant · Failure; cases with it: [Piper PA-28-140, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058300/cases.md?model=7102802), [All aircraft, 19 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058300/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Maneuvering: Loss of engine power (partial)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-140, 47 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342/sequence.md?model=7102802), [All aircraft, 1,858 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342/sequence.md)
- [Emergency descent: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-140, 56 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=7102802), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/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 departed on a postmaintenance check flight after an annual inspection on the previous day. According to the pilot, the airplane was flown in the local traffic pattern before departing the area. As the airplane climbed through 2,500 ft, it was not climbing more than 300 ft per minute without losing airspeed, and the pilot noticed a decrease in engine rpm. The pilot indicated that the oil pressure and oil temperature were normal, the vacuum gauge indicated "zero," and gyroscopic instruments began to drift and tumble. The pilot proceeded directly for the nearest airport, and when on final approach for the runway, the engine rpm and airspeed decreased. The engine did not respond to throttle inputs, and the pilot landed the airplane on a river levy. The airplane bounced, contacted a road, and came to rest against the airport perimeter fence, which resulted in substantial damage to both wings. Examination of the engine revealed that the output shaft of the vacuum pump was sheared. It could not be determined if the vacuum pump output shaft failed before or during the accident sequence. Additional engine information was not available. The reason for the partial loss of engine power could not be determined.

## Factual narrative

On July 19, 2018, about 0802 central daylight time, a Piper PA28A, N7080F, sustained substantial damage during a forced landing after a partial loss of engine power near the Shreveport Executive Airport (DTN), Shreveport, Louisiana. The commercial pilot, who was the sole occupant, was not injured. The airplane was owned and piloted by a private individual. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and a flight plan was not filed. The post-maintenance check flight was conducted under the provisions of Title 14 Federal Code of Regulations Part 91. The flight originated about 0730 from DTN. The annual inspection on the airplane was completed on July 18, 2018, and the purpose of the flight was a post-maintenance check flight. According to the pilot, after takeoff from DTN, he stayed in the local traffic pattern and performed two touch and go landings. He proceeded north of the airport and climbed through 2,500 ft; however, the airplane could not attain more than a 300-ft per minute rate of climb without losing airspeed, and he noticed a decrease in engine RPM's. The oil pressure and oil temperature were in the normal operating range, the vacuum gauge indicated "zero," and gyroscopic instruments began to drift and tumble. The pilot proceeded directly for DTN and planning to land on runway 14. On final, the engine RPM's decreased and the airplane airspeed decreased. The engine did not respond to throttle inputs and the pilot was forced to land the airplane on a river levy. The airplane bounced into the air and came back down, contacted a road, and came to rest against the perimeter fence of runway 14. Both wings sustained substantial damage. Examination of the engine by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector revealed that the output shaft of the vacuum pump was sheared. The pilot did not submit the National Transportation Safety Board Accident Report Form 6120, and additional engine information was not available. The reason for the vacuum pump output shaft failure and partial loss of engine power was not determined.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N7080F](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N7080F-2022-03-05), registration cancelled 2022-03-05, S/N 28-7725085 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA28
- 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: 28-7725-085
- Year built: 1976
- Airframe hours: 3301.18
- Engines: Lycoming O-320-E3D 150 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: None
- Last inspection: Annual, July 18, 2018, 0 hours before
- Departed: DTN, Shreveport, LA
- Destination: DTN, Shreveport, LA
- Airport: DTN, Shreveport Executive
- Equipment: None

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 32; injuries: none; commercial, private; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; last flight review January 5, 2018; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 265 total, 7 in this make and model, 3 in the last 90 days, 0.5 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 210° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 84 °F, dew point 75 °F
- Altimeter: 29.93 inHg
- Observed at: DTN

## 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 20180719011679A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20180719011679A), Jul 19, 2018: Piper PA-28-140, Shreveport, LA, Substantial damage. The aircraft was being flown after the annual inspection. The flight remained in the traffic pattern for two circuits then exited toward the north practice…

## Other investigations on N7080F (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 CHI77DEC46](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI77DEC46), Sep 10, 1977: Piper PA-28 (N7080F), Fraser, MI, substantial damage

## Docket (3 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on January 23, 2020, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=97818. 733 KB in all.

- Pilot Statement CEN18LA281 (item 1, .PDF, 28 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40480181&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%20Statement%20CEN18LA281-Master.PDF
- Memorandum for the Record FAA Inspector Findings CEN18LA281 (item 2, .PDF, 180 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40480182&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Memorandum%20for%20the%20Record%20FAA%20Inspector%20Findings%20CEN18LA281-Master.PDF
- Photo Array CEN18LA281 (item 3, .PDF, 525 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40480183&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%20Array%20CEN18LA281-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.

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