# NTSB CHI00LA211: Piper PA-36-285, N11A, Saint Vincent, MN, June 30, 2000 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: June 30, 2000, 08:00 local (13:00 UTC) - Place: Saint Vincent, MN - Coordinates: 48.970397, -97.219306 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=48.9704&lon=-97.2193&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report August 21, 2001 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 49762 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI00LA211 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/49762/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI00LA211 ## Probable cause the failure of the engine reduction gear assembly. Factors were the low altitude when the failure occurred and the crops. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(total) - mech failure/malf, cruise - reduction gear assy - failure,total (cause) - Forced landing, emergency descent/landing - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, emergency landing - terrain condition - crop (contributing factor) - altitude - low, pilot in command (contributing factor) ## Analysis The pilot was returning to the airport when the engine failed. A subsequent landing in a wheat field resulted. The pilot said, "After pulling out of field I felt an abnormal vibration, I pulled the throttle back 100 rpm and it seemed OK. After only approximately 1/2 mile the engine shook violently and quit." The aircraft was powered by a Continental 6-285 "Tiara" geared engine. A postaccident examination revealed that the prop driver gear shaft on the engine was protruding out of the front of the engine approximately one inch further than normal. The engine could not be rotated by hand. No other engine or airframe anomalies were detected that could be associated with a preexisting condition. ## Factual narrative On June 30, 2000, about 0800 central daylight time, a Piper PA-36-285, N11A, piloted by a commercial pilot, sustained substantial damage during a forced landing following a loss of engine power near Saint Vincent, Minnesota. The 14 CFR Part 137 aerial application flight was not on a flight plan. The pilot, who was the sole occupant was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The flight originated from the Pembina Municipal airport (PMB), Pembina, North Dakota, at 0700, and was returning to PMB when the accident happened. In a written statement the pilot said that he had finished spraying a field and, "...was returning to [the] airport of departure (Pembina). After pulling out of field I felt an abnormal vibration, I pulled the throttle back 100 rpm and it seemed OK. After only approximately 1/2 mile the engine shook violently and quit." The pilot said that he was only about 150 feet above ground level when the engine failure occurred. The airplane was subsequently landed in a wheat field where it was damaged. A Continental 6-285 "Tiara" geared engine powered the aircraft. A postaccident examination of the aircraft by a Federal Aviation Administration Inspector revealed that the prop driver gear shaft on the engine was protruding out of the front of the engine approximately one inch further than normal. The engine could not be rotated by hand. No disassembly of the engine was performed. No other engine or airframe anomalies were detected that could be associated with a preexisting condition. ## Aircraft - Registration: N11A (not matched to a registry record) - Reported make and model: Piper PA-36-285 - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 36-7560117 - Airframe hours: 3582 - Engines: Continental 6-285-CA2 285 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Aerial application, Part 137 - Registered owner: North Star Aviation Of Hallock - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, March 20, 2000, 59 hours before - Departed: PMB, PEMBINA, ND ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 40; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, expired; seat: center; flight hours: 5,200 total, 28 in this make and model, 28 in the last 90 days, 28 in the last 30 days, 6 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 240° at 5 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 151 °F, dew point 135 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: GFK, 60 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 20000630004479A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20000630004479A), Jun 30, 2000: Piper PA36285, St. Vincent, MN, No damage. (.23)Mr. Rose had finished spraying and was returning N11A to pembina, ND. Mr. Rose stated he felt a little vibration; he reduced power and tried to gain some… 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.