# NTSB CEN21LA193: Piper PA28R, N2973R, McKinney, TX, April 18, 2021 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report - Date: April 17, 2021, 19:50 local (Apr 18, 2021, 00:50 UTC) - Place: McKinney, TX - Coordinates: 33.176889, -96.587681 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.1769&lon=-96.5877&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Approach-VFR pattern base: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 2 minor - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 3 - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: Piper Aircraft, FAA North Texas FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 102930 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN21LA193 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/102930/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=102930 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN21LA193 ## Probable cause A total loss of engine power for reasons that could not be determined based on the available information. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Engine (reciprocating)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058500): Aircraft › Aircraft power plant · Failure (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-28R-200, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058500/cases.md?model=7102811), [All aircraft, 497 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058500/cases.md) - [Engine (reciprocating)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058500): Aircraft › Aircraft power plant · Unknown/Not determined (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-28R-200, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058500/cases.md?model=7102811), [All aircraft, 497 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058500/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Approach-VFR pattern base: 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) - [Approach-VFR pattern base: Unknown or undetermined](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/000); cases with it: [Piper PA-28R-200, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/000/sequence.md?model=7102811), [All aircraft, 1,703 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/000/sequence.md) - [Approach-VFR pattern base: 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) - [Approach-VFR pattern base: Collision during takeoff/land](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490); cases with it: [Piper PA-28R-200, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490/sequence.md?model=7102811), [All aircraft, 1,309 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490/sequence.md) ## Analysis The student was turning from base to final in the airport traffic pattern when the engine lost total power. The student transferred control of the airplane to the instructor; the airplane sustained substantial damage during the subsequent forced landing to an open field. Postaccident examination of the airframe and engine revealed no anomalies. The fuel selector handle was found near one of the two OFF detent positions; however, the position of the fuel selector at the time of the loss of power could not be determined. Based on the available information, the reason for the loss of engine power could not be determined. ## Factual narrative On April 17, 2021, about 1950 central daylight time, a Piper PA-28R-200 airplane, N2973R, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near McKinney, Texas. The flight instructor and student pilot sustained minor injuries. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 instructional flight. While turning from base to final during the second traffic pattern iteration, the engine lost total power. The student transferred the flight controls to the instructor. After the confirming the total loss of engine power, the instructor reported he initiated the “memorized emergency checklist.” The instructor stated that the propeller was turning the whole time. He stated that he attempted to restore engine power, notified the tower controller of the emergency, and performed a forced landing to an open field. The student reported that he did not see the instructor reach down toward the fuel selector with his left hand, and the only item the flight instructor touched with his right hand was the throttle. The student reported that he performed the landing, as the instructor “passed out.” The student was able to egress from the airplane after it came to rest, and he found the instructor was laying over his seat. The instructor came to briefly and then passed out again. The student then contacted first responders. The airplane sustained substantial damage to both wings and the fuselage. A postaccident examination of the airframe and engine did not find any anomalies. The fuel selector valve remained intact. The fuel selector valve was located on the lower left cockpit sidewall. A flat metal disc labeled with the selector handle detent positions remained attached to the sidewall with a screw and the selector handle remained installed on the valve shaft. The selector handle was near one of the two OFF detent positions. The airplane was not equipped with the fuel selector valve cover or handle mentioned in Piper Aircraft Service Bulletin (SB) 840A, Fuel Selector Valve Cover Replacement. The SB describes its purpose, and states: To announce the availability of a new fuel selector valve cover assembly and mating handle, which reduces the possibility of pilot mismanagement of the fuel system through inadvertent selection to the “OFF” position, resulting in power interruption or stoppage. A review of the airplane’s maintenance records revealed that the most recent annual inspection was completed 11 days before the accident. There was no record of an annual inspection in the previous 9 years. The airplane’s tachometer hour meter had only accumulated 0.2 hours since the annual inspection 9 years prior. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N2973R](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N2973R), registered now, S/N 28R-35358 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA28R (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-35358 - Year built: 1969 - Airframe hours: 4679 - Engines: Lycoming Engines IO-360-C1C 200 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, April 6, 2021, 0.2 hours before - Departed: F46, Rockwall, TX - Destination: Same as departure - Airport: TKI, Mckinney Ntl, runway 36, 7,002 × 150 ft, grass/turf - Equipment: Stall warning system, Electronic flight bag or handheld device, ADS-B ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Flight instructor; age 23; injuries: minor; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; last flight review August 26, 2020; seat: left; restraint: lap only; flight hours: 743 total, 4 in this make and model, 672 as pilot in command, 208 in the last 90 days, 59 in the last 30 days - Student pilot; age 53; injuries: minor; student; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; seat: right; restraint: lap only; flight hours: 21 total, 1 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 350° at 7 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 57 °F, dew point 39 °F - Altimeter: 30.08 inHg - Observed at: KTKI, 1 nm away - METAR: KTKI 180053Z 35007KT 10SM CLR 14/04 A3008 RMK AO2 SLP194 T01390044 ## 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 20210417022509A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20210417022509A), Apr 17, 2021: Piper PA-28R-200, Mckinney, TX, Substantial damage. Instructor pilot ([privacy data omitted]) - we were performing touch and go's, on 2nd touch and go, while on approach student pilot calls out loss of power and… ## Docket (5 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on July 28, 2022, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=102930. 22.5 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 9 pages, 1.5 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13140807&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=NTSB%20Form%206120_1%20Redacted-Rel.pdf - Accident photographs (item 2, PDF, 8 pages, 5.5 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13140926&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Accident%20Photographs-Rel.pdf - Examination reports (item 3, PDF, 4 pages, 266 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13140589&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Examination%20Reports%20Redacted-Rel.pdf - Additional documents (item 4, PDF, 14 pages, 15.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13141049&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Additonal%20Documents%20Redacted-Rel.pdf - NTSB party member form (item 5, PDF, 1 page, 252 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13140817&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=NTSB%20Party%20Member%20Form%20Redacted-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.