# NTSB CHI03LA100: Piper PA-22-108, N4860Z, Rose Hill, KS, April 9, 2003 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: April 9, 2003, 16:35 local (21:35 UTC) - Place: Rose Hill, KS - Coordinates: 37.566112, -97.131942 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.5661&lon=-97.1319&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor, 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report September 30, 2003 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - Wichita FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 56823 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI03LA100 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/56823/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI03LA100 ## Probable cause The loss of engine power due to the failure of the left magneto and the pilot's failure to identify the malfunctioning magneto. A factor to the accident was the soft terrain condition encountered during the forced landing. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power, cruise - ignition system,magneto - failure (cause) - emergency procedure - inadequate, pilot in command - Forced landing, descent - emergency - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - roll - terrain condition - soft (contributing factor) ## Analysis While in cruise flight the engine experienced a loss of power and the pilot performed a forced landing into a hayfield. During the landing rollout the airplane nosed over after encountering a soft area of the field. In response to the loss of engine power, the pilot stated he applied carburetor heat and selected a different fuel tank with no effect on engine operation. An engine test run was performed and the engine would not operate on the left magneto. The left magneto was disassembled and the timing gear keeper was found laying loose in the case. The keeper, timing gear keyway slot, and magneto drive shaft were all worn. The timing gear and keeper were replaced with serviceable components and the magneto was reinstalled on the engine. The engine operated on both magnetos, with acceptable engine rpm drops when selected on the individual magnetos. ## Factual narrative On April 9, 2003, at 1635 central daylight time, a Piper PA-22-108, N4860Z, piloted by a private pilot, sustained substantial damage during a forced landing near Rose Hill, Kansas. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The personal flight was operating under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91 without a flight plan. The pilot was not injured and his passenger reported minor injuries. The flight departed Eureka Municipal Airport (13K), Eureka, Kansas, at 1550 and was en route to Cook Airfield (K50), Derby, Kansas, at the time of the forced landing. According to the pilot's written statement, about one mile east of Rose Hill the engine began "cutting out." The pilot reported the engine "would run for 2 or 3 seconds and cut out for 2 or 3 seconds, over and over again." The pilot stated he applied carburetor heat and selected a different fuel tank, with no effect on engine performance. The pilot reported he performed a forced landing to a hayfield and during the landing rollout the airplane nosed over after encountering a soft area of the field. An inspector with the Federal Aviation Administration performed the on-scene investigation. The carburetor was reinstalled on the engine, as it had become detached during the accident. An engine test run was performed and at first the engine would not start. The spark plugs were removed and cleaned due to oil fouling. The spark plugs were reinstalled and the engine started. A magneto check was performed and the engine would not operate on the left magneto. The left magneto was disassembled and the timing gear keeper was found laying loose in the case. The keeper, timing gear keyway slot, and magneto drive shaft were all worn. The timing gear and keeper were replaced with serviceable components and the magneto was reinstalled on the engine. The engine operated on both magnetos, with acceptable engine rpm drops when selected on the individual magnetos. The magneto manufacturer issued a service bulletin during June 1972 that called for the replacement of cam washers (p/n 10-51354) having a thickness of 0.063-inches with a thicker 0.095-inches washer. The purpose of the replacement was to "insure secureness of the magneto cam to magnet shaft." The magneto's cam washer from the accident aircraft was measured with a dial-caliper and was 0.063-inches thick. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N4860Z](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N4860Z), registered now, S/N 22-8436, built 1961 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Piper PA-22-108 - Registry model: [Piper PA-22-108](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-22-108) (registry code 7102204) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-235 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-235-series) (registry code 41505, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 22-8436 - Airframe hours: 1876 - Engines: Lycoming O-235-C1B 108 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Larry D. Dutton - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, December 20, 2002, 13 hours before - Departed: 13K, Eureka, KS - Destination: K50, Derby, KS ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 80; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review February 23, 2002; seat: left; flight hours: 1,564 total, 549 in this make and model, 1,510 as pilot in command, 22 in the last 90 days, 6 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: variable at 3 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 59 °F, dew point 19 °F - Altimeter: 30.20 inHg - Observed at: ITC, 15 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 20030409035079A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20030409035079A), Apr 9, 2003: Piper PA22108, Rose Hill, KS, Substantial damage. (-23) On a pleasure flight from eureka, Kansas to derby, Kansas, while approaching cook field the engine began to lose power. An emergency landing was… 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.