# NTSB DEN90FA027: Piper PA-46P-350, N919S, Des Moines, IA, November 27, 1989

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: November 27, 1989, 17:26 local (23:26 UTC)
- Place: Des Moines, IA
- Coordinates: 41.529762, -93.569931 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.5298&lon=-93.5699&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 3 serious
- Status: Completed, report August 14, 1990
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Safety recommendations: Yes
- NTSB case key (mKey): 17810
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN90FA027
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/17810/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN90FA027

## Probable cause

LOSS OF ENGINE POWER FOR UNDETERMINED REASON(S).  THE LIGHT CONDITIONS (DUSK) AND TREES IN IN THE EMERGENCY LANDING AREA WERE CONSIDERED TO BE CONTRIBUTING FACTORS.

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- In flight encounter with weather, descent
  - weather condition - icing conditions
  - anti-ice/deice system - improper use of, pilot in command
- Loss of engine power, approach - faf/outer marker to threshold (ifr)
  - reason for occurrence undetermined (cause)
  - exhaust system,turbocharger - separation
  - exhaust system,wastegate - separation
  - induction air control,alternate air/door - open
- Forced landing, descent - emergency
- In flight collision with object, landing
  - light condition - dusk (contributing factor)
  - object - tree(s) (contributing factor)

## Analysis

THE ACFT WAS ON AN ILS APCH AT DUSK IN IMC & ICING CONDS WITH THE ALTERNATE AIR ON. ACCORDING TO THE PLT, HE HAD JUST DSCNDD BELOW AN OVC, ON FINAL APCH, WHEN THE ENG LOST PWR & WOULD NOT RESPOND TO THROTTLE APPLICATION. A FORCED LANDING WAS MADE IN A WOODED AREA SHORT OF THE RWY & THE ACFT WAS EXTENSIVELY DMGD. DRG AN EXAM OF THE ENG, THE TURBOCHARGER & WASTEGATE TRANSITION PIPES WERE FND SEPD AT THE FLANGE. CARBONACEOUS RESIDUE WAS FND IN THE AREA OF SEPN, BUT NO HEAT DAMAGE WAS NOTED. THE GASKET, BOLTS, WASHERS & SELF-LOCKING NUTS (FOR HOLDING THE PIPES TOGETHER) WERE NOT FND. LATER, THE ENG RAN SUCCESSFULLY DRG AN OPNL CHECK. DRG THE INVESTIGATION, 3 SIMILAR CASES OF PIPE SEPN WERE IDENTIFIED, WHICH INVOLVED ANOTHER ACFT; THESE RESULTED IN ONLY PARTIAL LOSSES OF PWR. THE RGT FRONT SEAT PAX RPRTD SEEING A TRACE OF ICE ON THE WINGS AS THE ACFT WAS DSCNDG THRU CLOUDS. THE PITOT HEAT, STALL WARNING HEAT, & ICE LIGHT SWITCH WERE FND IN THE 'OFF' POSITION. AT 1650 CST, THE TEMP & DEW POINT AT THE SURFACE WERE 36 & 35 DEG, RESPECTIVELY.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N919S](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N919S-1995-12-12), registration cancelled 1995-12-12, S/N 4622076 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-46P-350
- Registry model: [Piper PA 46-350P](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-46-350p) (registry code 7104620) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 46-22076
- Airframe hours: 65
- Engines: LYCOMING TIO-540-AE2A 350 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Business, Part 91
- Operator: Paramount Leasing Corporation, doing business as Iowa Periodicals, Inc.
- Registered owner: Paramount Leasing Corporation
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, September 22, 1989, 50 hours before
- Departed: OMA, OMAHA, NE
- Destination: DSM, DES MOINES, IA
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: DMS, Des Moines Intl, runway 30R, 9,001 × 150 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 61; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 2,278 total, 832 in this make and model, 2,123 as pilot in command, 70 in the last 90 days, 27 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Dusk
- Wind: 310° at 12 knots, gusting 19
- Visibility: 4 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 800 ft overcast
- Temperature: 36 °F, dew point 34 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: DSM

## 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 19891127047269A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19891127047269A), Nov 27, 1989: Piper PA46350P, Des Moines, IA, Destroyed. Engine lost power on ILS approach. Stalled into trees.

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.

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