# NTSB CHI00LA253: Piper PA-38-112, N2545N, Coopersville, MI, August 12, 2000 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: August 12, 2000, 00:22 local (04:22 UTC) - Place: Coopersville, MI - Coordinates: 43.060508, -85.930686 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=43.0605&lon=-85.9307&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report April 25, 2001 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 50026 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI00LA253 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/50026/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI00LA253 ## Probable cause fuel starvation due to the blocked carburetor. Factors relating to the accident were the foreign object (tab), the improper maintenance performed on the carburetor, and the corn crop. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(partial) - mech failure/malf, cruise - fuel system,carburetor - blocked(total) (cause) - maintenance - improper, owner/pilot mechanic (contributing factor) - fluid,fuel - starvation (cause) - fuel system,carburetor - foreign object (contributing factor) - Forced landing, emergency descent/landing - emergency procedure - attempted, pilot in command(cfi) - In flight collision with terrain/water, emergency landing - terrain condition - crop (contributing factor) ## Analysis The airplane was returning to Muskegon, Michigan following a circuit, cross-country flight. As the airplane approached Muskegon, the instructor pilot said he told his student to perform a climbing turn and a descending turn. As the student finished the maneuver, 'I heard the engine go to idle.' The instructor pilot said they realized that the engine had quit. The instructor pilot took control of the airplane and made several restart attempts. The instructor pilot located a field on the ground to land on, shut off everything but the master switch and landed. The instructor pilot said he tried to keep the nose wheel off the ground, but in a couple of seconds, they were stopped. An examination of the engine's carburetor revealed that a 1/4 inch long and 1/8 inch diameter, angular tab, was totally blocking the hole in the seat. Examination of the remaining airplane systems revealed no anomalies. ## Factual narrative On August 12, 2000, at 0022 eastern daylight time (edt) a Piper PA-38-112, N2545N, operated by a commercial pilot, sustained substantial damage when it impacted in a corn field during a forced landing near Coopersville, Michigan. Prior to the forced landing, the airplane's engine lost power. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The instructional flight was being conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. No flight plan was on file. The instructor pilot and the dual student reported no injuries. The circuit, cross-country flight originated at Muskegon, Michigan, on August 11, 2000, at 2135. In his written statement the instructor pilot said that he and his student took off from Muskegon, Michigan, flew to Lansing, Michigan for 5 takeoffs and landings, flew to Grand Rapids, Michigan, for 5 takeoffs and landings, and was returning to Muskegon. As the airplane approached Muskegon, the instructor pilot said he told his student to perform a climbing turn and a descending turn. As the student finished the maneuver, "I heard the engine go to idle. I looked at my student thinking he had cut the throttles, and at the same time, he looked at me thinking I was going to say, OK you lost your engine and what would you do?" The instructor pilot said they then realized that the engine had quit. The instructor pilot took control of the airplane and performed the engine restart checklist. The propeller was windmilling, but the engine would not restart. The instructor pilot said he positioned the fuel selector to the right tank and then back to the left tank. The engine still would not restart. The instructor pilot located a field on the ground to land on, shut off everything but the master switch and landed. The instructor pilot said he tried to keep the nose wheel off the ground, but in a couple of seconds, they were stopped. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspectors examined the airplane at the accident site. The airplane rested upright in a cornfield. The nose wheel was broken aft. The lower portion of the firewall was bent aft. One propeller blade was bent aft. The leading edges of both wings showed inward bends. Flight control continuity was established. An examination of the engine's carburetor revealed that a 1/4 inch long and 1/8 inch diameter, angular tab, was totally blocking the hole in the seat. The tab was identified as that used to install a helicoil (threaded insert used to replace stripped out threads when reinstalling a component). Examination of the remaining engine components, engine controls and other airplane systems revealed no anomalies. Airplane maintenance records indicated the carburetor had been reinstalled 300 hours previous to the accident. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N2545N](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N2545N-2000-09-28), registration cancelled 2000-09-28, S/N 38-79A0908 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Piper PA-38-112 - Registry model: [Piper PA-38-112](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-38-112) (registry code 7103812) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 38-79A0908 - Airframe hours: 7849 - Engines: Lycoming O-235-L2C 112 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Registered owner: Pomono, Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal; Standard, Utility - Last inspection: Annual, June 30, 2000, 62 hours before - Departed: MKG, MUSKEGON, MI ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 27; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: right; flight hours: 727 total, 320 in this make and model, 666 as pilot in command, 308 in the last 90 days, 130 in the last 30 days, 6 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/dark - Wind: 30° at 4 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 64 °F, dew point 61 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: MKG, 15 nm away 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.