# NTSB CHI97LA038: Piper PA-28-180, N142AV, New Hudson, MI, December 4, 1996 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: December 4, 1996, 18:15 local (23:15 UTC) - Place: New Hudson, MI - Coordinates: 42.499195, -83.610816 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.4992&lon=-83.6108&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report June 30, 1997 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 10497 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI97LA038 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/10497/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI97LA038 ## Probable cause loss of engine power for undetermined reason(s). Darkness was a related factor. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power, takeoff - initial climb - reason for occurrence undetermined (cause) - weather condition - carburetor icing conditions - Forced landing, emergency landing after takeoff - In flight collision with object, emergency landing - light condition - dark night (contributing factor) - object - tree(s) - object - residence - maneuver to avoid obstructions - performed, pilot in command ## Analysis After taking off at night, the engine lost total power without warning at approximately 300 to 400 feet. The pilot checked the fuel, carburetor heat, and fuel pump without success of a restart. He turned about 270 degrees before maneuvering to avoid a house. The airplane struck a tree and part of an attached garage. Examination of the engine and aircraft systems did not reveal any discrepancies. The airplane had 2.4 hours of flight time, since the last annual inspection. The temperature and dew point were 32 and 20 degrees. According to icing probability charts, conditions were conducive for carburetor icing, but carburetor icing was not verified. ## Factual narrative On December 4, 1996, at 1815 eastern standard time (est), a Piper PA-28-180, N142AV, registered to New Hudson Aviation, Inc., of New Hudson, Michigan, received substantial damage after impacting a house during a forced landing following a total loss of engine power on initial climb out. The private pilot and passenger reported no injuries. The personal 14 CFR Part 91 flight was operating in visual meteorological conditions. No flight plan was on file. The flight departed New Hudson Airport, New Hudson, Michigan, at 1815 est, with the intended destination of Pontiac, Michigan. According to the pilot's written statement, he was returning from Detroit City Airport after receiving an annual inspection, to New Hudson to pick-up a passenger. After performing a runup, the pilot took off for Pontiac Airport. At approximately 300 to 400 feet, he lost total engine power without warning. The pilot checked fuel, carburetor heat and the fuel pump without success of a restart. The pilot turned approximately 270 degrees before maneuvering to avoid a house and struck trees and part of the garage of the house. The pilot upon exiting the airplane could not turn off the fuel selector, because it was jammed. Post accident examination of the airplane by the Federal Aviation Administration Inspector, stated that he removed the "P" leads from the magnetos and performed an operational check of the ignition switch. No discrepancies noted. The impulse coupling functioned properly, with spark at each ignition lead in proper sequence. The spark plugs were new and observed to have a gray color to them. All cylinders had compression. The Inspector removed the fuel line starting at the firewall to the carburetor and revealed the lines had residual fuel and were unobstructed. The fuel lines were installed at the annual inspection 2.4 hours previously. The carburetor was found with fuel in it. The accelerator pump functioned properly. The director of maintenance at the maintenance facility said the airplane departed with full fuel onboard. According to the owner/pilot he had 10 to 12 gallons in each tank prior to departure at New Hudson Airport. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N142AV](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N142AV-2000-01-04), registration cancelled 2000-01-04, S/N 28-8590006 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Piper PA-28-180 - Registry model: [Piper PA-28](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28) (registry code 7102801) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 28-8590006 - Airframe hours: 2918 - Engines: Lycoming O-360-A4M 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: New Hudson Aviation, Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, December 3, 1996, 2 hours before - Departed: Y47 - Destination: PTK, PONTIAC, MI - Airport: Y47, New Hudson, runway 25, 3,015 × 37 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 54; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; flight hours: 84 total, 64 in this make and model, 36 as pilot in command, 57 in the last 90 days, 3 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/dark - Wind: 340° at 6 knots - Visibility: 20 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 20,000 ft broken - Temperature: 32 °F, dew point 19 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: PTK, 13 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 19961204037119A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19961204037119A), Dec 4, 1996: Piper PA28*, New Hudson, MI, Substantial damage. Aircraft lost engine during climb and made an emergency landing, during the landing aircraft struck a house. (.19) on December 4, 1996, at 1815 eastern… 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.