# NTSB DEN03LA050: Piper PA-28R-200, N16438, Delta, CO, March 13, 2003 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: March 13, 2003, 12:05 local (19:05 UTC) - Place: Delta, CO - Coordinates: 38.706665, -108.150276 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.7067&lon=-108.1503&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report November 25, 2003 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Salt Lake City, UT - NTSB case key (mKey): 56656 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN03LA050 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/56656/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN03LA050 ## Probable cause the loss of engine power due to company maintenance personnel's inadequate major engine overhaul (an oil pressure fitting in the engine accessory drive case had not been capped). Contributing factors were the loss of engine oil, and lack of suitable terrain for 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, cruise - normal - maintenance,overhaul,major - inadequate, company maintenance personnel (cause) - lubricating system,oil port/passage,internal - not secured (contributing factor) - fluid,oil - loss,total (contributing factor) - Forced landing, emergency descent/landing - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, emergency descent/landing - terrain condition - rough/uneven - terrain condition - none suitable (contributing factor) ## Analysis The airplane's engine had just been overhauled, and this was the initial flight test. The pilot said the airplane was performing normally, then the engine speed (rpm) increased to red line. He adjusted the prop control to compensate for the high engine rpm, but the engine stopped. The pilot then told the pilot-flying that he had control of the airplane. He proceeded to shut the fuel off, and selected a field for the forced landing. He stabilized the airplane at best glide airspeed, and subsequently the landing gear automatically deployed. The pilot selected a secondary landing site, which was on the back side of a hill. The airplane bounced several times while "rapidly" descending down the hill. The airplane came to rest with the nose gear and left main gear collapsed. Additionally, the left wing spar and firewall were bent. A postaccident examination of the engine showed that one oil pressure fitting in the engine accessory drive case had not been capped. ## Factual narrative On March 13, 2003, at approximately 1205 mountain standard time, a Piper PA-28R-200, N16438, was substantially damaged when it collided with terrain during a forced landing near Delta, Colorado. The private pilot and his passenger were not injured. Echo Aviation Partnership, LLP, was operating the airplane under Title 14 CFR Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the local maintenance test flight that originated at approximately 1155 from Montrose, Colorado. The pilot had not filed a flight plan. According to the pilot, the airplane's engine had just been overhauled, and this was the initial flight test. He said the takeoff/departure was normal, and "the airplane climbed to a cruise altitude of 8,000 feet with no difficulty." Eight minutes into the flight, the pilot noted the engine's speed (revolutions per minute [rpm]) increase to red line. He then adjusted the propeller control to compensate for the high engine rpm. Reduction of the engine's rpm was followed by the engine stopping. The pilot then told the pilot-flying that he had control of the airplane. He then proceeded to shut the fuel off, and selected a field for the forced landing. He stabilized the airplane at best glide airspeed, and subsequently the landing gear automatically deployed. The pilot selected a secondary landing site, which was on the back side of a hill. The airplane bounced several times while "rapidly" descending down the hill. The airplane came to rest with the nose gear and left main gear collapsed. Additionally, the left wing spar and firewall were bent. A postaccident examination of the engine showed that one oil pressure fitting in the engine accessory drive case had not been capped. ## Aircraft - Registration: N16438 (not matched to a registry record) - Reported make and model: Piper PA-28R-200 - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 28R-7335147 - Airframe hours: 5269.2 - Engines: Lycoming IO-360-CIC 200 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Flight test, Part 91 - Registered owner: Echo Aviation Partnership LLP - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, March 13, 2003, 0.1 hours before - Departed: MTJ, Montrose, CB ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 56; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: right; flight hours: 3,800 total, 1 in this make and model, 3,800 as pilot in command, 1 in the last 24 hours - Pilot; age 34; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 0° at 4 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 64 °F, dew point 21 °F - Altimeter: 30.19 inHg - Observed at: MTJ, 17 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 20030313003569A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20030313003569A), Mar 13, 2003: Piper PA28R200, Delta, CO, Substantial damage. (-23) Pilot stated (Mr. Owen) at cruise approx. 8,000 feet, engine vibratedseverely and seemed to seize, (prop stopped). Smoke came out of engine area. Pilot… 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.