# NTSB CEN23LA259: Piper PA-28RT-201T, N8446B, Baytown, TX, June 23, 2023 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report - Date: June 23, 2023, 14:58 local (19:58 UTC) - Place: Baytown, TX - Coordinates: 29.802339, -94.969755 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.8023&lon=-94.9698&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Maneuvering: Unknown or undetermined](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/000) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 3 - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 192451 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN23LA259 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/192451/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=192451 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN23LA259 ## Probable cause The total loss of engine power for undetermined reasons and the subsequent impact with terrain. ## 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-28RT-201T, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md?model=7102817), [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. - [Maneuvering: Unknown or undetermined](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/000) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-28RT-201T, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/000/sequence.md?model=7102817), [All aircraft, 1,703 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/000/sequence.md) ## Analysis About 30 minutes into the local flight, 5 to 7 miles east of the airport, the engine began to run rough. The pilot leaned the fuel mixture and the engine returned to a normal operating condition. A few minutes later the engine began to run rough again. The pilot enriched the fuel mixture, turned on the auxiliary fuel pump to the low position, and the engine returned to a normal operating condition. The pilot returned to the airport, entered a left downwind, and elected to fly a normal traffic pattern. When the airplane was on the final leg of the traffic pattern and about 1/2 to 1 mile from the airport, the engine lost total power. The pilot was unable to make the airport and executed a forced landing to an adjacent field. During the forced landing, the landing gear collapsed, and the airplane came to rest upright. The airplane sustained substantial damage to both wings and the fuselage. A postaccident examination of the airframe and engine revealed no mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. Due to impact related damage, the engine could not be functionally tested and the reason for the total loss of engine power was not determined. ## Factual narrative On June 23, 2023, about 1458 central daylight time, a Piper PA-28RT-201T airplane, N8446B, sustained substantial damage when it was involved in an accident near Baytown, Texas. The pilot sustained minor injuries. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. According to the pilot, he planned to locally practice some instrument flight maneuvers in preparation for an upcoming instrument flight rules check ride. After about 30 minutes of flight time, while 5 to 7 miles east of the airport, the engine began to run rough. The pilot leaned the fuel mixture and the engine returned to a normal operating condition. A few minutes later the engine began to run rough again. The pilot enriched the fuel mixture, turned on the auxiliary fuel pump to the low position, and the engine returned to a normal operating condition. The pilot returned to the airport, entered a left downwind, and elected to fly a normal traffic pattern. When the airplane was on the final leg of the traffic pattern and about about 1/2 to 1 mile from the airport, the engine lost total power. The pilot was unable to make the airport and executed a forced landing to an adjacent field. During the forced landing, the landing gear collapsed and the airplane came to rest upright. The airplane sustained substantial damage to both wings and the fuselage (see Figure 1). The pilot estimated the airplane contained about 50 gallons of fuel before takeoff. Figure 1. Accident airplane (Source: Pilot/owner of the airplane) A postaccident examination of the airframe and engine revealed an unspecified amount of usable fuel in both wing fuel tanks and no contamination. Fuel was present in the engine fuel lines forward of the firewall, engine fuel pump, throttle body, and fuel manifold valve. The magnetos were manually rotated and produced spark at each spark plug. Mechanical continuity was confirmed throughout the engine and accessories when the propeller was manually rotated. The engine turbocharger compressor and turbine wheels were free to rotate. Due to impact damage to the underside of the engine and engine crankshaft, the engine could not be functionally tested. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N8446B](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N8446B), registered now, S/N 28R-8231001, built 1981 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28RT-201T - Registry model: [Piper PA-28RT-201T](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28rt-201t) (registry code 7102817) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental TSIO-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-tsio-360-series) (registry code 17019, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 28R-8231001 - Year built: 1981 - Airframe hours: 4020 - Engines: Continental TSIO-360-FB 200 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, February 10, 2023 - Destination: Same as departure - Airport: HPY - Equipment: Stall warning system, Electronic primary flight display, Electronic multifunction display ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 69; injuries: minor; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; last flight review September 27, 2021; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 480 total, 310 in this make and model, 430 as pilot in command, 30 in the last 90 days, 3 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 180° at 4 knots, gusting 11 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Temperature: 95 °F, dew point 75 °F - Altimeter: 29.89 inHg - Observed at: KEFD, 15 nm away - METAR: KEFD 232054Z 18004G11KT 10SM SCT046 35/24 A2989 ## 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 20230623009759A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20230623009759A), Jun 23, 2023: Piper PA-28RT-201T, Baytown, TX, Substantial damage. Pilot stated that on 23 June 2023 at approx 1400 he completed a pre-flight noting oil and gas levels. Gas was approx 25 gallons per wing. Pilot flew in close… ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on April 18, 2024, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=192451. 153 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 8 pages, 2.7 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16071134&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=NTSB%20incident%20report%20for%20N8446B%20off%20airport%20landing_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Record of conversation - FAA inspector (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 67 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16070662&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=ROC%20FAA-Rel.pdf - Excerpts of aircraft records (item 3, PDF, 3 pages, 150 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16071026&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Excerpts%20of%20Aircraft%20Records_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Investigation photograph (item 4, PDF, 1 page, 142 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16070616&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%20Array-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.