# NTSB CEN20LA016: Piper PA-28R-200, N75139, Springtown, TX, October 13, 2019

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report
- Date: October 13, 2019, 12:15 local (17:15 UTC)
- Place: Springtown, TX
- Coordinates: 32.986667, -97.61972 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.9867&lon=-97.6197&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Enroute-cruise: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 1 minor
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Investigation class: Class 3
- NTSB office: Central Region
- Parties: FAA Flight Standards
- NTSB case key (mKey): 100496
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN20LA016
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/100496/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=100496
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN20LA016

## Probable cause

A total loss of engine power for undetermined reasons.

## 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-28R-200, 16 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md?model=7102811), [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-cruise: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-28R-200, 32 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=7102811), [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md)
- [Emergency descent: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440); cases with it: [Piper PA-28R-200, 30 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=7102811), [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-28R-200, 45 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=7102811), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot/mechanic stated that he was asked to look at an airplane that had been involved in a loss of engine power event and forced landing the day before. His intention was to fly the airplane back to the flight school if it was safe to do so. He determined that the left fuel tank was empty, and the right fuel tank was full. He performed a pre-flight inspection and an extended run-up with no anomalies noted. The takeoff and initial climb were normal, and he circled the airport while climbing to cruise altitude before proceeding to the destination. About 10 miles north of the departure airport, the engine "suddenly" lost power with no prior indication of a problem. The airplane did not have sufficient altitude to return to the airport, and the pilot performed a forced landing, during which the airplane impacted a steel fence gate. A postrecovery engine run did not reveal any anomalies consistent with an inability to produce rated power, and the reason for the loss of engine power could not be determined.

## Factual narrative

On October 13, 2019, about 1215 central daylight time, a Piper PA-28R-200 airplane, N75139, was substantially damaged during a forced landing following a loss of engine power near Springtown, Texas. The pilot sustained minor injuries. The airplane was registered to U.S. Aviation Group LLC and operated by U.S. Aviation Academy as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 positioning flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and the flight was not operated on a flight plan. The flight originated from Kezer Air Ranch Airport (61TE), Springtown, Texas, about 1200 and was destined for Denton Enterprise Airport (DTO), Denton, Texas. The pilot, who was also a mechanic, stated that he was requested to go to 61TE to look at an airplane which had been involved in a loss of engine power event and forced landing the day before. His intention was to fly it back to DTO if it was safe to do so. He subsequently determined that the left fuel tank was empty, and the right fuel tank was full. He performed a pre-flight inspection which included taking a fuel sample from the right tank and the gascolator. No contamination was observed. After selecting the right fuel tank, the engine "started normally" and "ran smoothly." He taxied to the runup pad and conducted an "extensive run-up" looking for "any indication of [an] abnormality." All engine instrument indications were normal. After lining up on the runway, he advanced the throttle to takeoff power and held the brakes again looking for "any indication of [an] abnormality." With the engine running smoothly, he released the brakes. After takeoff, he circled the airport while climbing to 4,500 ft mean sea level before heading to DTO. About 10 miles north of 61TE, the engine "suddenly" lost power with no prior indication of a problem. He attempted to glide back to the departure airport, but the airplane did not have sufficient altitude. The airplane impacted a steel fence gate during the forced landing. A postrecovery engine run did not reveal any anomalies consistent with an inability to produce rated power. The engine started without difficulty and ran smoothly at all power settings. A magneto check was unremarkable; each magneto exhibited an approximate 75 rpm drop. An examination of the fuel selector did not reveal any anomalies.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N75139](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N75139-2021-08-20), registration cancelled 2021-08-20, S/N 28R-7635269, built 1976 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Piper PA-28R-200
- Registry model: [Piper PA-28R-200](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28r-200) (registry code 7102811) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming I0360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-i0360-series) (registry code 41515, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 28R-7635269
- Year built: 1976
- Airframe hours: 8995.2
- Engines: Lycoming IO-360-C1C 200 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Positioning, Part 91
- Operator: U.S. Aviation Academy
- Registered owner: U.S. Aviation Group LLC
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, August 19, 2019, 25 hours before
- Departed: 61TE, Springtown, TX
- Destination: DTO, Denton, TX
- Airport: 61TE, Kezer Air Ranch

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 48; injuries: none; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; last flight review July 12, 2019; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 2,000 total, 60 in this make and model, 900 as pilot in command, 100 in the last 90 days, 50 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 200° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 72 °F, dew point 37 °F
- Altimeter: 30.03 inHg
- Observed at: DTO, 12 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 20191013019559A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20191013019559A), Oct 13, 2019: Piper PA-28R-200, Springtown, TX, Substantial damage. On October 13, 2019 at approximately 12:15 local time, aircraft N75139, a Piper PA-28R-200, s/n: 28R-7635269, crashed in a grassy field approximately 800 feet…

## Other investigations on N75139 (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 DEN80FTE35](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN80FTE35), Mar 31, 1980: Piper PA-28R (N75139), Denver, CO, substantial damage

## Docket (6 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on February 28, 2020, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=100496. 4.4 MB in all.

- Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 1.4 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40480875&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF
- Mechanic's Statement (item 2, .PDF, 84 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40480876&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Mechanic%27s%20Statement-Master.PDF
- Engine Test Run Data Sheet (item 3, .PDF, 366 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40480877&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Engine%20Test%20Run%20Data%20Sheet-Master.PDF
- Summary of Fuel Selector Examination (item 4, .PDF, 26 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40480878&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Summary%20of%20Fuel%20Selector%20Examination-Master.PDF
- Maintenance Records -- Airframe (item 5, .PDF, 1.4 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40480879&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Maintenance%20Records%20--%20Airframe-Master.PDF
- Maintenance Records -- Engine (item 6, .PDF, 1.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40480880&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Maintenance%20Records%20--%20Engine-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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