# NTSB ERA09LA137: Piper PA-28-180, N9459J, Jasper, GA, January 17, 2009 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: January 17, 2009, 13:19 local (18:19 UTC) - Place: Jasper, GA - Coordinates: 34.453334, -84.457221 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.4533&lon=-84.4572&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: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report November 9, 2009 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 73257 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA09LA137 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/73257/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=73257 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA09LA137 ## Probable cause A total loss of engine power for an undetermined reason. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Aircraft](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01050000): Aircraft › Aircraft power plant · Not specified (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-180, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01050000/cases.md?model=7102808), [All aircraft, 151 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01050000/cases.md) - [Not determined](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000): Not determined › Not determined · Unknown/Not determined (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-180, 18 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md?model=7102808), [All aircraft, 2,247 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/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-28-180, 37 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=7102808), [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-180, 96 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=7102808), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot in the left seat was receiving his flying club annual review. Following local airwork, the pilot entered the traffic pattern for touch-and-go landings. The first two traffic patterns and landings were uneventful. Immediately after takeoff following the second landing, the engine lost power, momentarily recovered, then lost power again. Unable to make the runway, a forced landing was performed in an area adjacent to the runway. The airplane landed hard and came to a stop. The left wing buckled, left main landing gear was driven up into the wing, and the nose gear collapsed. An examination of the airplane at the accident site did not reveal a reason for the loss of power. There was adequate fuel on board the airplane and no contaminants were found. During a subsequent examination of the wreckage, the engine was successfully run on the airframe with fuel recovered from the wings. The flight was not operated in conditions conducive to carburetor icing. ## Factual narrative On January 17, 2009, about 1319 eastern standard time, a Piper PA-28-180, N9459J, registered to the Lockheed Martin Employee Association Flying Club, was substantially damaged during a forced landing at the Pickens County Airport (JZP), Jasper, Georgia. The instructional flight was conducted under 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. Day, visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed. The certificated commercial pilot and flight instructor were not injured. The flight originated at Cobb County Airport (RYY), Marietta, Georgia, about 1237. The pilot flying in the left seat reported that after basic airwork was conducted, he entered the traffic pattern at JZP for transition training. On climbout from the second touch-and-go landing on runway 16, approximately 150 feet above the ground, the engine lost power. The engine then momentarily regained power, and then stopped running. The electric fuel pump was confirmed on, and positive fuel pressure was verified. He lowered the nose and the airplane landed hard, to the right of the runway surface. According to a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector, the commercial pilot was receiving his annual flying club checkout. The inspector examined the airplane at the accident site. The left main landing gear was driven up into the wing and the nose gear collapsed. The left wing was buckled. The FAA inspector found fuel in both wing tanks. One propeller blade was bent aft approximately 20 degrees and the other blade was not bent or twisted. The blade surfaces were free of chordwise scratching or leading edge gouges. The fuel tank selector handle was in the left tank detent. There was no evidence of water or contaminants found in the fuel system. On January 29, 2009, an examination of the airplane and engine was conducted at Atlanta Air Recovery, Griffin, Georgia under the direction of a NTSB investigator. The airframe was secured to a flatbed trailer in preparation for an engine run. The airplane battery was in good condition and used to supply electrical power to the starter. Remaining fuel in the wing tanks was used as a fuel source. The ignition key was turned to the start position and the engine started with no anomalies. The engine throttle was advanced to 2,300 rpm and no anomalies were observed. The throttle was set at 1,200 rpm and the engine ran at that power setting until all supplied fuel was depleted. No mechanical anomalies were noted that would have prevented the engine from operating normally. The 1324 weather observation for Cherokee County Airport (47A), Canton, Georgia, located approximately 9 nautical miles south of the accident site, included the following: sky clear, surface winds from 210 degrees at 4 knots, 10 statute miles visibility, temperature 37 degrees Fahrenheit (F), dew point minus 2 degrees F, and an altimeter setting of 30.35 inches of mercury. According to the FAA carburetor icing probability chart, the flight was not conducted inconditions that were conducive to carburetor icing. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N9459J](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N9459J-2009-02-19), registration cancelled 2009-02-19, S/N 28-3572, built 1966 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28-180 - Registry model: [Piper PA-28-180](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-180) (registry code 7102808) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming O&VO-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-vo-360-series) (registry code 41514, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 28-3572 - Airframe hours: 4124 - Engines: LYCOMING O-360-43A 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Lockheed Martin Employee Assoc Flying Club Inc - Registered owner: Lockheed Martin Employee Assoc Flying Club Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, August 25, 2008, 73 hours before - Departed: RYY, Marietta, GA - Destination: JZP, Jasper, GA - Airport: JZP, Pickens County, runway 16, 5,000 × 100 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Flight instructor; age 54; injuries: none; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review November 29, 2006; seat: right; flight hours: 940 total, 47 in this make and model, 840 as pilot in command, 3 in the last 90 days, 0 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours - Pilot; age 66; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review December 1, 2007; seat: left; flight hours: 4,560 total, 48 in this make and model, 2,076 as pilot in command, 5 in the last 90 days, 1 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 4 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 37 °F, dew point -2 °F - Altimeter: 30.35 inHg - Observed at: 47A, 9 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 20090117002769A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20090117002769A), Jan 17, 2009: Piper PA28180, Jasper, GA, Destroyed. (-23) N9459J, a Piper PA-28-180, departed ryy for jzp. When arriving at jzp, a before landing check was conducted iaw the aircraft checklist, where the fuel… ## Other investigations on N9459J (1) 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. - [NTSB MKC68F0442](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MKC68F0442), Nov 7, 1967: Piper PA-28 (N9459J), Willard, MO, substantial damage ## Docket (5 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 23, 2009, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=73257. 2.1 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 628 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40313693&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Memo of Record - Engine Examination (item 2, .PDF, 46 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40313694&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Memo%20of%20Record%20-%20Engine%20Examination-Master.PDF - Other Pertinent Forms and Reports - LMEA Flying Club Safety Report (item 3, .PDF, 665 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40314045&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Other%20Pertinent%20Forms%20and%20Reports%20-%20LMEA%20Flying%20Club%20Safety%20Report-Master.PDF - Photo 1: N9459J, Side View (LMEA Flying Club Digital Photo) (item 4, .PDF, 396 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40314046&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201%3A%20N9459J,%20Side%20View%20(LMEA%20Flying%20Club%20Digital%20Photo)-Master.PDF - Photo 2: N9459J, Frontal View (LMEA Flying Club Digital Photo) (item 5, .PDF, 394 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40314047&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%202%3A%20N9459J,%20Frontal%20View%20(LMEA%20Flying%20Club%20Digital%20Photo)-Master.PDF 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.