# NTSB CEN20LA384: Piper PA32R, N3576X, Bonham, TX, September 7, 2020 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report - Date: September 7, 2020, 08:10 local (13:10 UTC) - Place: Bonham, TX - Coordinates: 33.580883, -96.179275 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.5809&lon=-96.1793&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Enroute-climb to cruise: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 3 - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 101924 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN20LA384 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/101924/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=101924 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN20LA384 ## Probable cause The loss of engine power due to a disconnected fuel injector line that was not properly tightened during recent maintenance. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Aircraft](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01050000): Aircraft › Aircraft power plant · Incorrect service/maintenance (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-32R-301T, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01050000/cases.md?model=7103220), [All aircraft, 151 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01050000/cases.md) - [Maintenance: scheduled/routine maintenance](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02062010): Personnel issues › Task performance · Maintenance personnel (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-32R-301T, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02062010/cases.md?model=7103220), [All aircraft, 320 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02062010/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Enroute-climb to cruise: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-32R-301T, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=7103220), [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440); cases with it: [Piper PA-32R-301T, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=7103220), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md) ## Analysis According to the pilot, he and a passenger departed on a personal flight. The airplane was on its first flight after maintenance work, which included the replacement of the engine exhaust. Shortly after departure, the pilot noted high turbine inlet and cylinder head temperatures. The pilot tried to return to the airport; however, about 2 miles short of the airport, the engine experienced a total loss of power. During the forced landing the landing gear collapsed in the soft terrain which resulted in substantial damage to the right wing. An engine examination found that the No. 6 cylinder fuel injector line was not connected. It was also noted that initially the turbocharge was not free to rotate, but once freed it rotated without resistance. The accident is consistent with a loss of engine power due to a fuel injector line not being connected. This is likely due to maintenance personnel not adequately tightening the No. 6 cylinder fuel injector line during the recent maintenance. ## Factual narrative On September 7, 2020, about 0810 central daylight time, a Piper PA-32R airplane, N3576X, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Bonham, Texas. The pilot and passenger were not injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. According to the pilot, the airplane was on its first flight after maintenance work was completed, which included the replacement of the engine exhaust. Shortly after departure, the pilot noted high turbine inlet and cylinder head temperatures. The pilot then decided to return to the airport; however, about 2 miles short of the airport, the engine lost total power. During the forced landing, the landing gear collapsed in the soft terrain, resulting in substantial damage to the right wing. An engine examination was conducted by the responding Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector. The examination found that the No. 6 cylinder fuel injector line was not connected. It was also noted that initially the turbocharger was not free to rotate, but once freed, it rotated without resistance. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N3576X](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N3576X), registered now, S/N 32R-8029035, built 1979 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Piper PA32R (301T) - Registry model: [Piper PA-32R-301T](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-32r-301t) (registry code 7103220) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming TI0-540 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-ti0-540-series) (registry code 41533, turbo-prop) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 32R-8029035 - Year built: 1979 - Airframe hours: 3284 - Engines: Lycoming TIO-540 reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: 4D Aviation LLC - Registered owner: 4D Aviation LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, October 15, 2019 - Departed: F00, Bonham, TX - Destination: 2F7, Commerce, TX - Airport: F00 - Equipment: Stall warning system, ADS-B, Auto-pilot, Electronic multifunction display, Satellite tracking device, Onboard weather, Electronic primary flight display ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 44; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; last flight review April 30, 2019; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 105 total, 25 in this make and model, 75 as pilot in command, 4 in the last 90 days, 4 in the last 30 days, 0.5 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 170° at 6 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Altimeter: 29.96 inHg ## 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 20200907016649A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20200907016649A), Sep 7, 2020: Piper PA-32R-301T, Bonham, TX, Substantial damage. On September 7, 2020, at approximately 0800, N3576X departed jones field airport (foo- Bonham, Texas) in route to commerce municipal airport (2F7- commerce,… ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on November 22, 2021, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=101924. 3.6 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 1.7 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=11681447&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120%20vers%202_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Initial notification details (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 82 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12907017&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Initial%20notification%20details-Rel.pdf - Exam (item 3, PDF, 1 page, 86 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=11680791&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=FAA%20email_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Photos (item 4, PDF, 3 pages, 1.7 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=11681457&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%201-Rel.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.