# NTSB DEN01LA127: Piper PA-28-140, N6276W, Calhan, CO, July 21, 2001 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: July 21, 2001, 08:00 local (14:00 UTC) - Place: Calhan, CO - Coordinates: 39.030643, -104.289138 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.0306&lon=-104.2891&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 September 20, 2002 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA-- Flight Standards District Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 52784 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN01LA127 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/52784/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN01LA127 ## Probable cause the loss of engine power due to fuel contamination (water). A contributing factor was the lack of suitable terrain on which to perform a forced landing. ## 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 - fuel system,carburetor - contamination,water (cause) - Forced landing, emergency descent/landing - In flight collision with terrain/water, emergency descent/landing - unsuitable terrain or takeoff/landing/taxi area - encountered, pilot in command (contributing factor) - terrain condition - rough/uneven ## Analysis During the pre-flight examination of the airplane, the pilot found no water in the airplane's fuel tanks. Approximately 20 seconds after takeoff, at 400 feet above ground level, the engine lost power. He attempted to restart the engine, but was forced to land in a rough/uneven field north of the airport. The right wing spar was bent, and there was substantial damage to the firewall. Three months prior to the accident, the owner detected moisture in the fuel tanks and a "drying agent" was added. The airplane was not flown between the addition of the "drying agent" and the accident. Postaccident examination by an FAA Inspector found water in the bottom of the carburetor. ## Factual narrative On July 21, 2001, at approximately 0800 mountain daylight time, a Piper PA-28-140, N6276W, was substantially damaged during a forced landing following a loss of engine power near Calhan Airstrip, Calhan, Colorado. The commercial pilot, the sole occupant in the airplane, was not injured. The airplane was being operated by a private individual under Title 14 CFR Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed for the cross-country flight that was originating at the time of the accident. According to the pilot's written report, during the pre-flight examination of the airplane, he found no water in the fuel tanks. Approximately 20 seconds after takeoff, at 400 feet above ground level, the engine lost power. He attempted to restart the engine, but was forced to land in a rough/uneven field north of the airport. The right wing spar was bent, and there was substantial damage to the firewall. The pilot said that 3 months prior to the accident, the owner detected moisture in the fuel tanks, and a "drying agent" was added. The airplane was not flown between the addition of the "drying agent" and the accident. A Federal Aviation Administration Air Safety Inspector examined the airplane and found water in the bottom of the carburetor. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N6276W](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N6276W), registered now, S/N 28-20326 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Piper PA-28-140 - Registry model: [Piper PA-28-140](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-140) (registry code 7102802) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 28-20326 - Engines: Lycoming O-320-F2A 150 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Louis P. Luebbermann - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: 5V4, Calhan, CO - Destination: OOV, Colorado Sprgs, CO - Airport: 5V4, Calhan, runway 35, 4,565 × 50 ft, dirt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 61; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, single-engine sea; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review July 4, 2001; seat: front; flight hours: 1,077 total, 10 in this make and model, 1,064 as pilot in command, 8 in the last 90 days, 2 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 340° at 3 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 11,000 ft broken - Temperature: 75 °F, dew point 54 °F - Altimeter: 30.12 inHg - Observed at: COS, 23 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 20010721028559A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20010721028559A), Jul 21, 2001: Piper PA28140, Calhan, CO, No damage. (-23) On 21 July, 2001, at approximately 0800 MDT, N6276W, a Piper PA-28-140, landed off field shortly after takeoff from runway 17/35 of Calhan county airport… ## Other investigations on N6276W (1) 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. - [NTSB UNK65X1385](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/UNK65X1385), Feb 2, 1965: Piper PA28 (N6276W), Morristown, NJ, destroyed 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.