# NTSB DFW07CA059: Piper PA-46-310P, N6914T, Madison, MS, January 28, 2007 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: January 28, 2007, 12:27 local (18:27 UTC) - Place: Madison, MS - Coordinates: 32.4363888888889, -90.1019444444444 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.4364&lon=-90.1019&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report April 25, 2007 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 65203 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DFW07CA059 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/65203/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DFW07CA059 ## Probable cause The loss of engine power due to water contamination in the fuel system. A factor was the muddy terrain. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, cruise - normal - fluid,fuel - contamination,water (cause) - Forced landing, descent - emergency - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, emergency landing - terrain condition - muddy (contributing factor) ## Analysis The airplane was damaged during a forced landing in a muddy field following a loss of engine power. The pilot said that while in cruise flight at 23,000 feet mean sea level, he heard a "medium loud pop" about one hour into the flight and noted an immediate drop in manifold pressure to approximately 15-inches. The pilot added that he thought the turbocharger had failed and that the engine would return to normal power when the airplane descended to an altitude below 10,000 feet; however, engine power never returned and the pilot elected to execute a forced landing to a muddy pasture. Two safety inspectors from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) performed an on-scene examination of the airplane and the engine. According to an inspector, the pilot landed in a muddy pasture and the airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage, engine firewall, and landing gear. Examination of the engine, the accessories, and the fuel system revealed no mechanical deficiencies. When the airplane was recovered, approximately 90 gallons of blue colored aviation fuel was drained from both wing tanks and their respective collector/sump tanks, which were located at the root of each wing. Approximately one-quart of water was drained from both the left and right wing collector/sump tanks, which have a capacity of one U.S. gallon each. The engine was test-run on the airframe utilizing the airplane's existing fuel system. Due to the cool outside air temperature, the engine needed to be primed before it started. Once the engine started, it was operated through various power settings and it ran continuously without interruption. The magnetos functioned normally and all engine gauge readings were normal. No mechanical deficiencies were noted that could have contributed to the loss of power. The pilot stated that he conducted a preflight inspection of the airplane, which included draining both collector/sump tanks. The pilot added that no water was detected in the fuel at that time. ## Factual narrative While in cruise flight at 23,000 feet mean sea level, the 2,597-hours pilot reported that he heard a "medium loud pop" about one hour into the flight and noted an immediate drop in manifold pressure to approximately 15-inches. The pilot added that he thought the turbocharger had failed and that the engine would return to normal power when the airplane descended to an altitude below 10,000 feet. However, engine power never returned and the pilot elected to execute a forced landing to a muddy pasture. Two safety inspectors from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) performed an on-scene examination of the airplane and the engine. According to an inspector, the pilot landed in a muddy pasture and the airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage, engine fire wall, and landing gear. Examination of the engine, the accessories, and the fuel system revealed no mechanical deficiencies. When the airplane was recovered, approximately 90 gallons of blue colored aviation fuel was drained from both wing tanks and their respective collector/sump tanks, which were located at the root of each wing. Approximately one-quart of water was drained from both the left and right wing collector/sump tank, which can hold a total capacity of one U.S. gallon each. The engine was test-run on the airframe utilizing the airplane's existing fuel system. Due to the cool outside air temperature, the engine needed to be primed before it started. Once the engine started, it was operated through various power settings and it ran continuously without interruption. The magnetos functioned normally and all engine gauge readings were normal. No mechanical deficiencies were noted that could have contributed to the loss of power. The pilot stated that he conducted a preflight inspection of the airplane, which included draining both collector/sump tanks. The pilot added that no water was detected in the fuel at that time. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N6914T](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N6914T-2018-01-23), registration cancelled 2018-01-23, S/N 46-8508074, built 1985 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Piper PA-46-310P - Registry model: [Piper PA-46-310P](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-46-310p) (registry code 7104605) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental TSIO-520 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-tsio-520-series) (registry code 17040, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 468508074 - Engines: Teledyne Continental TSIO-520 reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Nick White - Registered owner: Aviator's, Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: ROG, Rogers, AR - Destination: DTS, Destin, FL - Flight plan: IFR - Airport: MBO, Bruce Campbell Airport ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 61; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; seat: left; flight hours: 2,597 total, 185 in this make and model, 18 in the last 90 days, 10 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 320° at 10 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 39 °F, dew point 43 °F - Altimeter: 30.23 inHg - Observed at: JAN, 8 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 20070128000929A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20070128000929A), Jan 28, 2007: Piper PA46310P, Gluckstadt, MS, Substantial damage. (-23) Pilot stated that while in level flight at FL230 the engine popped and engine power diminished to 1500 RPM. Pilot stated that he attempted a restart… 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.