# NTSB CHI08LA171: Piper PA-28R-200, N6144J, Watseka, IL, June 22, 2008 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: June 22, 2008, 12:50 local (17:50 UTC) - Place: Watseka, IL - Coordinates: 40.77, -87.731109 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.7700&lon=-87.7311&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Enroute-descent: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor, 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report March 5, 2009 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA-Springfield FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 68479 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI08LA171 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/68479/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI08LA171 ## Probable cause The loss of engine power for undetermined reasons. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Engine (reciprocating)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058500): Aircraft › Aircraft power plant · Not specified (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-28R-200, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058500/cases.md?model=7102811), [All aircraft, 497 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058500/cases.md) - [Not determined](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000): Not determined › Not determined · Unknown/Not determined; cases with it: [Piper PA-28R-200, 16 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md?model=7102811), [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. - [Enroute-descent: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-28R-200, 32 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=7102811), [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md) - [Landing: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440); cases with it: [Piper PA-28R-200, 30 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=7102811), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092); cases with it: [Piper PA-28R-200, 14 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md?model=7102811), [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md) ## Analysis According to the pilot, the flight was cruising at 4,500 feet mean sea level (msl) when he initiated a descent in order to avoid some clouds. As the airplane descended through approximately 4,000 feet msl, the engine started to "sputter." The pilot switched fuel tanks, but he could not restore engine power. The pilot set up for a forced landing to a small road. The airplane touched down on the road, bounced, departed the left side of the road, and impacted an embankment. An examination of the airplane and engine revealed no preimpact mechanical anomalies. ## Factual narrative On June 22, 2008, about 1250 central daylight time, a Piper PA-28R-200 (Arrow II), N6144J, piloted by a private pilot, was substantially damaged during a forced landing following a loss of engine power near Watseka, Illinois. The pilot was receiving flight-following services at the time. The personal cross-country flight was being conducted under 14 CFR Part 91 without a flight plan. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. The pilot was uninjured and the passenger sustained minor injuries. The flight departed French Lick Municipal Airport (FRH), French Lick, Indiana, about 1110. The intended destination was Lansing Municipal Airport (IGQ), Lansing, Illinois. The pilot stated the airplane was in cruise flight at the time of the loss of engine power. He noted that flight-following services were obtained after departure, and the flight diverted west of course to avoid weather. He added that the navigation instruments seemed to be inaccurate, and as a result, the flight got off course to an extent that the controller inquired about the intended route of flight. The controller subsequently provided a radar vector back on course. The flight was cruising at 4,500 feet mean sea level (msl). The pilot initiated a descent in order to avoid some clouds ahead. As the airplane descended through approximately 4,000 feet msl, the engine started to sputter. He switched fuel tanks, but could not restore engine power. He set up for a forced landing to a roadway. The airplane touched down on the road and bounced once. It subsequently departed the left side of the road where it impacted an embankment before coming to rest. According to the pilot, the airplane was topped off prior to the initial departure from IGQ, but it had not been fueled prior to the return flight. The airplane's fuel gauges indicated one-quarter full in one tank and full in the other tank. He noted that he had set the fuel flow at 11 gallons per hour (gph) during the flight. The airplane log sheet indicated that it had been flown 3.7 hours since departure from IGQ en route to FRH, the day before the accident. The airplane flight manual noted that the fuel consumption at 75-percent power was approximately 10.15 gph, with the engine properly leaned. The usable fuel capacity was 48 gallons. An examination of the airplane revealed no systems anomalies that could have contributed to the power loss or the accident. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N6144J](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N6144J-2018-04-18), registration cancelled 2018-04-18, S/N 28R-7635302, built 1976 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28R-200 - Registry model: [Piper PA-28R-200](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28r-200) (registry code 7102811) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming I0360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-i0360-series) (registry code 41515, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 28R-7635302 - Engines: Lycoming IO-360-C1C 200 hp reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Associated Air Activities - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: FRH, French Lick, IN - Destination: IGQ, Lansing, IL ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 46; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; last flight review June 6, 2008; seat: left; flight hours: 290 total, 13 in this make and model, 237 as pilot in command, 5 in the last 90 days, 5 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 320° at 7 knots, gusting 17 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 81 °F, dew point 46 °F - Altimeter: 29.89 inHg - Observed at: IKK, 19 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 20080622840729A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20080622840729A), Jun 22, 2008: Piper PA28R200, Watseka, IL, Substantial damage. (-23) On June 22nd the pilot in command and one passenger of N6144J, a Piper PA-28R-200, was VFR en-route from french lick, in (frh) to lansing, IL (igo) on a… 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.