# NTSB CHI04LA147: North American T-28C, N404DK, Manitowoc, WI, June 4, 2004 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: June 4, 2004, 18:20 local (23:20 UTC) - Place: Manitowoc, WI - Coordinates: 44.128887, -87.680557 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=44.1289&lon=-87.6806&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report March 30, 2005 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA-Milwaukee FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 59414 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI04LA147 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/59414/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI04LA147 ## Probable cause Failure of the number 4 piston articulating rod resulting in a complete loss of engine power during initial climb. The ditch was a contributing factor. ## 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, takeoff - initial climb - engine assembly,connecting rod - failure,total (cause) - Forced landing, emergency descent/landing - In flight collision with terrain/water, emergency landing after takeoff - terrain condition - roadway/highway (contributing factor) - terrain condition - ditch (contributing factor) ## Analysis The airplane was substantially damaged during a forced landing after takeoff following a loss of engine power. The pilot stated that as he was reducing to climb power after takeoff, about 200 feet above ground level, when he felt a severe vibration and heard several "bangs." He reported that the engine "wound down". He made a slight left turn toward an open field adjacent to a barn to set up for a gear-up forced landing. He noted that the touchdown was smooth and the aircraft slid for approximately 335 feet. The aircraft yawed as it slid and came to a stop when the tail struck a ditch adjacent to a roadway. A post-accident examination determined that the #4 articulating rod had failed resulting in the engine failure. ## Factual narrative On June 4, 2004, about 1820 central daylight time, a North American T-28C, N404DK, owned and piloted by an airline transport pilot, was substantially damaged during a forced landing following a loss of engine power shortly after takeoff from runway 35 (5,000 feet by 100 feet, asphalt) at the Manitowoc County Airport (MTW), Manitowoc, Wisconsin. The flight was operating under 14 CFR Part 91 and was not on a flight plan. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. The pilot reported no injuries. The local flight was originating at the time of the accident. The pilot stated that as he was reducing to climb power after takeoff, about 200 feet above ground level, he felt a severe vibration and heard several "bangs." He reported that the engine "wound down". He made a slight left turn toward an open field adjacent to a barn to set up for a gear-up forced landing. He noted that the touchdown was smooth and the aircraft slid for approximately 335 feet. The aircraft yawed as it slid and came to a stop when the tail struck a ditch adjacent to a roadway. A post-accident examination determined that the #4 articulating rod had failed resulting in the engine failure. The pilot reported that the engine had accumulated 10,005 hours total time, with 11.4 hours since overhaul. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N404DK](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N404DK), registered now, S/N 140461, built 1956 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: North American T-28C - Registry model: [North American T-28C](https://openairdocs.org/model/north-american-t-28c) (registry code 6402507) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Wright R-1820 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/wright-r-1820-series) (registry code 67020, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 140461 - Airframe hours: 6646 - Engines: Wright 1820-86B 1425 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Air race/show, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Condition, August 22, 2003, 4.5 hours before - Departed: MTW, Manitowoc, WI - Airport: MTW, Manitowoc County, runway 35, 5,000 × 100 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 66; injuries: none; airline transport, military, flight engineer; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2; last flight review March 29, 2004; seat: front; flight hours: 30,000 total, 324 in this make and model, 29,000 as pilot in command, 10 in the last 90 days, 10 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 120° at 8 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 63 °F, dew point 45 °F - Altimeter: 30.18 inHg - Observed at: MTW, 1 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 20040604016709A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20040604016709A), Jun 4, 2004: Namer T28C, Manitowoc, WI, Substantial damage. (-23) On June 4th, 2004, at 1810 CDT, a north American T-28C, N404DK, registered to duane d. kalember of traverse city, Michigan lost power on climb-out after… 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.