# NTSB DEN08LA082: Piper PA-32-300, N303TE, Houston, TX, April 30, 2008 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: April 29, 2008, 19:57 local (Apr 30, 2008, 00:57 UTC) - Place: Houston, TX - Coordinates: 29.634445, -95.278892 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.6344&lon=-95.2789&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Approach-VFR pattern final: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor, 3 uninjured - Status: Completed, report July 30, 2008 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA Flight Standards District Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 67908 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN08LA082 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/67908/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN08LA082 ## Probable cause Loss of engine power for reasons undetermined. Contributing to the accident was a lack of suitable terrain for a forced landing. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Not determined](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000): Not determined › Not determined · Unknown/Not determined (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-32-300, 14 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md?model=7103212), [All aircraft, 2,247 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md) - [Terrain](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021000): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Not specified (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-32-300, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021000/cases.md?model=7103212), [All aircraft, 267 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021000/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Approach-VFR pattern final: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-32-300, 25 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=7103212), [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md) - [Emergency descent: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Piper PA-32-300, 43 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=7103212), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that the engine lost power abruptly, as if someone had flipped a switch. He attempted to restart the engine and executed a forced landing in a plowed field, just short of the runway threshold, resulting in substantial damage to the airplane. The engine was examined and test run without issues or anomalies. An examination of the remaining airplane systems revealed no anomalies. ## Factual narrative On April 29, 2008, at 1957 central daylight time, a Piper PA-32-300, N303TE, piloted by a commercial pilot, was substantially damaged during a forced landing to a field one mile south of runway 04 at William P. Hobby Airport (HOU), Houston, Texas. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The personal flight was being conducted under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 without a flight plan. The commercial pilot sustained minor injuries and the three passengers were not injured. The cross country flight departed Calhoun County Airport (PKV), Port Lavaca, Texas, approximately 1800, and was en route to HOU. According to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) airworthiness inspector who responded to the accident site, the airplane was on final approach for runway 04. The pilot reported that the engine lost power, as if someone had "flipped a switch." The pilot stated that the engine did not sputter and no abnormalities were noted prior to the loss of engine power. He reported that the fuel selector valve was selected for the left main tank. Following the power loss he selected the right tank, and then returned back to the left tank. During the forced landing, the nose landing gear separated, both main landing gear were compressed up through the top of the wings, the fuselage was wrinkled, and the propeller was bent. The FAA inspector observed fuel in all four fuel tanks. On May 13, 2008, an examination and engine test run was conducted, under the auspices of the Safety Board. The engine was run utilizing the airplane's fuel system, except for an external fuel tank in lieu of the wing tanks. The engine started and operated through its full power band without interruption. During the last engine run, the fuel selector was placed between two of the tanks and the engine failed within 15 to 20 seconds. The examination of the airplane's engine and fuel system revealed no mechanical deficiencies. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N303TE](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N303TE-2013-08-15), registration cancelled 2013-08-15, S/N 32-40429, built 1967 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Piper PA-32-300 - Registry model: [Piper PA-32-300](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-32-300) (registry code 7103212) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming TI0-540 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-ti0-540-series) (registry code 41533, turbo-prop) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 32-40429 - Engines: Lycoming TI0-540 310 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: PKV, Port Lavaca, TX - Destination: HOU, Houston, TX - Airport: HOU, William P Hobby ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 68; injuries: minor; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review June 1, 2007; seat: left; flight hours: 16,000 total, 800 in this make and model, 16,000 as pilot in command, 25 in the last 90 days, 10 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 170° at 6 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 72 °F, dew point 48 °F - Altimeter: 30.04 inHg - Observed at: KHOU, 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 20080429835379A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20080429835379A), Apr 29, 2008: Piper PA32300, Houston, TX, Substantial damage. (-23) On approach to runway #4 at Houston Hobby airport (khou), this single engine Piper PA-32-300 experienced an unknown engine failure and crashed landed in… 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.