# NTSB CEN18LA299: Piper PA28, N624FL, Columbia, IL, July 28, 2018 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: July 28, 2018, 12:25 local (17:25 UTC) - Place: Columbia, IL - Coordinates: 38.461666, -90.229446 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.4617&lon=-90.2294&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Takeoff: Loss of engine power (partial)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 3 serious, 1 minor - Status: Completed, report September 14, 2020 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 97921 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN18LA299 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/97921/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=97921 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN18LA299 ## Probable cause The airplane's inability to climb due to reduced engine power as a result of insufficient compression in all cylinders and fouled spark plugs in the No. 2 cylinder while operating near its maximum gross weight. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Engine (reciprocating): recip eng cyl section](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058530): Aircraft › Aircraft power plant · Fatigue/wear/corrosion (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-140, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058530/cases.md?model=7102802), [All aircraft, 373 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058530/cases.md) - [Engine (reciprocating): recip eng cyl section](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058530): Aircraft › Aircraft power plant · Not serviced/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-140, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058530/cases.md?model=7102802), [All aircraft, 373 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058530/cases.md) - [Aircraft capability: maximum weight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01061035): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not specified (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-140, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01061035/cases.md?model=7102802), [All aircraft, 152 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01061035/cases.md) - [Object/animal/substance: wire](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022032): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome; cases with it: [Piper PA-28-140, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022032/cases.md?model=7102802), [All aircraft, 588 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022032/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Takeoff: 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) - [Initial climb: 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 During the pilot's departure for the local flight, witnesses observed the airplane climbing at a shallower attitude than normal. The airplane appeared to level off and then contacted transmission lines about 1/2 mile from the departure end of the runway, which resulted in substantial damage to the airplane. A postaccident examination of the engine found fouled sparkplugs in cylinder No. 2 and a compression check of all the cylinders revealed that they were all below 60 psi. Cylinder No. 2 was at 18 psi, and the other three cylinders were about 50 psi. An engine manufacturer's service letter stated if the pressure reading is below 60 psi, removal and overhaul of the cylinders should be considered. A weight and balance calculation revealed that the airplane was operating near its maximum gross weight. The circumstances of the accident are consistent with the partial loss of engine power due to low compression in all of the cylinders and fouled sparkplugs in the No. 2 cylinder. The loading of the airplane near its maximum gross weight combined with a reduction in available engine power likely did not allow for the airplane to climb normally. ## Factual narrative ***This report was modified on September 3, 2020. Please see the docket for this accident to view the original report.*** On July 28, 2018, about 1225 central daylight time, a Piper PA-28-140 airplane, N624FL, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Columbia, Illinois. The pilot and two passengers were seriously injured, and one passenger sustained minor injuries. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight. According to information obtained by the responding Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector, the airplane departed runway 3 at Sackman Field (H49) and was en route to Alton, Illinois. Witnesses told the FAA they observed the airplane depart the airport and climb at a shallower than normal attitude. The airplane appeared to level off as it continued away from the airport until it contacted transmission lines about 1/2 mile from the departure end of the runway. The FAA inspectors postaccident examination of the airframe did not find any anomalies which would have precluded normal operation. An examination of the engine conducted by the FAA inspector found fouled sparkplugs in cylinder No. 2 and a compression check of all the cylinders found low compression on each. (The No. 1 cylinder compression was 50 psi, the No. 2 cylinder compression was 19 psi, the No. 3 cylinder compression was 52 psi, and the No. 4 cylinder compression was 50 psi.) A borescope and visual inspection of the No. 2 cylinder did not detect the reason for its low compression. Lycoming Service Instruction 1191A states that "if the pressure reading for all cylinders is equal and above 70 psi; the engine is satisfactory; less then 65 psi indicates wear has occurred and subsequent compression checks should be made at 100 hour intervals to determine rate and amount of wear. If the pressure reading is below 60 psi …, removal and overhaul of the cylinders should be considered." The instruction also states that low pressure in a single cylinder is indicative of air passing by the piston or valve. In addition, the FAA inspector performed a weight and balance calculation with the occupants' weights obtained by first responders and verified by the pilot. The calculation revealed that the airplane was near the airplane's maximum gross weight. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N624FL](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N624FL-2020-04-03), registration cancelled 2020-04-03, S/N 28-7125513, built 1971 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Piper PA28 (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: 28-7125513 - Year built: 1971 - Airframe hours: 6719 - Engines: Lycoming O-320 SERIES 150 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, November 15, 2017, 66 hours before - Departed: H49, Columbia, IL - Destination: H49, Columbia, IL - Airport: H49, Sackman Field, runway 03, 2,450 × 150 ft, grass/turf ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Flight instructor; age 36; injuries: serious; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3; last flight review March 28, 2015; seat: right; flight hours: 243 total, 200 in this make and model, 11 in the last 90 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 11,000 ft broken - Temperature: 79 °F, dew point 63 °F - Altimeter: 30.13 inHg - Observed at: KCPS, 7 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 20180728018179A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20180728018179A), Jul 28, 2018: Piper PA-28-140, Columbia, IL, Substantial damage. The PA-28-140, N624FL, departed the 2450 ft grass runway 03 at Sackman Field Airport in Columbia, Illinois at 14:20 CDT, on 28 July 2018 with a destination of… ## Other investigations on N624FL (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 NYC00LA073](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC00LA073), Feb 6, 2000: Piper PA-28-140 (N624FL), Vincentown, NJ, substantial damage. Probable cause: The CFI's delay in remedial action after the student pilot lost control of the airplane. A factor in the accident was the CFI's lack of total experience in flight instruction. ## Docket (5 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on July 2, 2020, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=97921. 610 KB in all. - NTSB 6120 not received (item 1, .PDF, 50 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40485087&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=NTSB%206120%20not%20received-Master.PDF - Investigation Findings (item 2, .PDF, 269 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40485088&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Investigation%20Findings-Master.PDF - Accident Photo (item 3, .PDF, 120 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40485089&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Accident%20Photo-Master.PDF - Factual Narrative Changes (item 4, .PDF, 37 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40486646&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Factual%20Narrative%20Changes-Master.PDF - Lycoming Service Instruction 1191A (item 5, .PDF, 133 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40486647&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Lycoming%20Service%20Instruction%201191A-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.