# NTSB DFW08LA058: Piper PA32-301FT, N1053F, Wiggins, MS, January 28, 2008 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: January 28, 2008, 07:15 local (13:15 UTC) - Place: Wiggins, MS - Coordinates: 30.80861, -89.19139 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.8086&lon=-89.1914&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Prior to flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/100) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Prior to flight: Powerplant sys/comp malf/fail](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/340) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report December 24, 2008 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Precision Airmotive Corporation, Piper Aircraft Inc., Lycoming Engines Inc., Federal Aviation Administration - ADs cited in the narratives: [AD 2008-06-51](https://openairdocs.org/ad/2008-06-51) (OpenAirDocs) - NTSB case key (mKey): 67440 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DFW08LA058 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/67440/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DFW08LA058 ## Probable cause The failure of the fuel servo gasket and subsequent partial loss of engine power. Contributing to the accident was the none-suitable terrain for the forced landing. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Fuel system](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022800): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Malfunction (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA32-301FT, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022800/cases.md?model=7103300), [All aircraft, 181 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022800/cases.md) - [Terrain: rough terrain](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021015): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA32-301FT, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021015/cases.md?model=7103300), [All aircraft, 442 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021015/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Prior to flight: Powerplant sys/comp malf/fail](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/340) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA32-301FT, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/340/sequence.md?model=7103300), [All aircraft, 820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/340/sequence.md) - [Enroute-cruise: Loss of engine power (partial)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342); cases with it: [Piper PA32-301FT, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342/sequence.md?model=7103300), [All aircraft, 1,858 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342/sequence.md) - [Emergency descent: Loss of engine power (partial)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342); cases with it: [Piper PA32-301FT, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342/sequence.md?model=7103300), [All aircraft, 1,858 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342/sequence.md) - [Emergency descent: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440); cases with it: [Piper PA32-301FT, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=7103300), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096); cases with it: [Piper PA32-301FT, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md?model=7103300), [All aircraft, 2,287 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md) ## Analysis While in cruise flight the airplane's engine lost partial power. Unable to maintain altitude, the pilot executed a forced landing to a clear cut area. During the landing roll, the airplane nosed over and came to rest in an inverted position. The pilot was able to exit the airplane unassisted. During an examination of the engine it was discovered that a brass hex plug, a component of the fuel injector servo, was hanging loose from its safety wire. The investigation revealed that the gasket, found between the brass hex plug and the aluminum regulator cover, had softened due to engine heat. This allowed the brass hex plug to vibrate and eventually fall out. This resulted in the partial loss of engine power. As a result of this investigation, the fuel servo manufacturer issued Mandatory Service Bulletin PRS-107 and the FAA issued Emergency Airworthiness Directive 2008-06-51. ## Factual narrative On January 28, 2008, about 0715 central standard time, a single-engine Piper PA32-301FT airplane, N1053F, was substantially damaged during a forced landing following a partial loss of engine power near Wiggins, Mississippi. The private pilot, sole occupant, was not injured. The airplane was registered to and operated by Soarin LLC., of Miami, Florida. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed for the 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The 632-nautical mile cross-country flight had originated from the Taylor Municipal Airport (T74), Taylor, Texas, and was destined for a fuel stop at the Marianna Municipal Airport (MAI), Marianna, Florida. The pilot's final destination was to be the Kendall-Tamiami Executive Airport (TMB), located in Miami, Florida. According to the pilot, while in cruise flight at 7,500-feet mean sea level (MSL), the airplane's engine lost partial power. The pilot turned on the electric fuel pump and switched fuel tanks to no avail. As the airplane descended, the pilot attempted to restore full engine power by cycling the propeller, adjusting the mixture and throttle settings, and by working through the emergency checklist. When engine power could not be restored, the pilot executed a forced landing to a clear cut area. During the landing roll the airplane nosed over and came to rest in an inverted position. The pilot was able to exit the airplane unassisted. The pilot later reported that as the airplane descended the engine made a "pinging" noise. An inspector from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) responded to the accident site. The inspector reported that the airplane's fuselage and wings had sustained structural damage. The airplane was recovered to Air Salvage of Dallas, located in Lancaster, Texas, for further examination. During an examination of the engine it was discovered that brass hex plug p/n 383493, a component of the fuel injector servo, was hanging loose from its safety wire. This brass hex plug, when installed, seals the fuel servo's regulator access hole. This plug is installed by the manufacturer and is not removed during routine aircraft maintenance. With a piece of tape placed over the servo regulator access hole, an engine test run was performed. Once started, the engine ran "normally" up to high cruise power. At a power setting similar to that used by the pilot just before the power loss (2400 rpm), the tape was removed and the engine immediately lost power, began "popping," and the rpm's decreased down to about 1600 rpm. The fuel injector servo, Precision Airmotive Corporation, model number RSA-10ED1, serial number (s/n) 70B82601, was removed and sent to the NTSB materials laboratory for examination. The examination revealed that insufficient torque of the brass hex plug had allowed the plug to vibrate in the fuel injector servo housing. This vibration resulted in the brass threads being worn away until the brass hex plug exited the aluminum regulator cover and hung free from the safety wire. During the investigation, Precision Airmotive Corporation determined that gasket part number (p/n) 365533, located between the brass hex plug p/n 383493 and the fuel servo regulator cover could shrink from engine heat ,which could result in the hex plug losing its torque against the regulator cover. As a result of this investigation, Precision Airmotive Corporation issued Mandatory Service Bulletin PRS-107 and the FAA issued Emergency Airworthiness Directive 2008-06-51. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N1053F](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N1053F-2018-04-24), registration cancelled 2018-04-24, S/N 3232064, built 2007 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA32-301FT - Registry model: [Piper PA32-301FT](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa32-301ft) (registry code 7103300) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming IO-540-K1G5](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-540-k1g5) (registry code 41674, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 3232064 - Airframe hours: 230 - Engines: LYCOMING IO-540-K1G5 300 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Soarin LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, January 7, 2007 - Departed: T74, TAYLOR, TX - Destination: MAI, MARIANNA, FL ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 52; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review July 9, 2007; seat: left; flight hours: 280 total, 152 in this make and model, 161 as pilot in command, 76 in the last 90 days, 25 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 210° at 6 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Temperature: 52 °F - Altimeter: 30.17 inHg ## 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 20080128009889A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20080128009889A), Jan 28, 2008: Piper PA32301FT, Wiggins, MS, Substantial damage. (-23) Aircraft was at 7500' when the engine lost power. Pilot could not make nearest airport (M24) and landed in open field, hit a burn of tree limbs,… 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.