# NTSB ERA10LA070: Piper PA28-151, N41765, Port Charlotte, FL, November 20, 2009 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: November 20, 2009, 11:30 local (16:30 UTC) - Place: Port Charlotte, FL - Coordinates: 26.918333, -81.987777 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=26.9183&lon=-81.9878&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Enroute-cruise: Loss of engine power (partial)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 3 uninjured - Status: Completed, report July 22, 2010 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 75077 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA10LA070 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/75077/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=75077 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA10LA070 ## Probable cause A partial loss of engine power due to the separation of the spark plug hole helicoil from the bottom position of the No. 3 cylinder for undetermined reasons. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Engine (reciprocating): recip eng cyl section](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058530): Aircraft › Aircraft power plant · Failure (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-151, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058530/cases.md?model=7102805), [All aircraft, 373 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058530/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Enroute-cruise: Loss of engine power (partial)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-151, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342/sequence.md?model=7102805), [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 PA-28-151, 10 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=7102805), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md) ## Analysis During cruise flight, the helicoil of the No. 3 cylinder bottom spark plug separated for undetermined reasons, resulting in the spark plug separating from the engine and the partial loss of engine power. The pilot maneuvered the airplane for a forced landing to a clearing, but collided with trees short of his intended landing point. No determination was made as to when the helicoil was installed. The engine was overhauled about 17 years prior to the accident, and had accumulated approximately 2,142 hours at the time of the accident. ## Factual narrative On November 20, 2009, about 1130 eastern standard time, a Piper PA-28-151, N41765, registered to Universel Technologies/Unitec, Inc., experienced partial loss of engine power and was substantially damaged during a forced landing in a wooded area near Port Charlotte, Florida. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan was filed for the 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 91 personal, local flight, from Charlotte County Airport (PGD), Punta Gorda, Florida. The certificated commercial pilot and two passengers were not injured. The flight originated from PGD about 1100. The pilot stated that after takeoff, while flying over the Port Charlotte area, he heard a loud "pop" sound, followed by a substantial loss of engine power. Attempts to restore engine power were unsuccessful and the engine was not producing enough power to sustain flight. He announced on the PGD common traffic advisory frequency that he intended on performing a forced landing and also activated the emergency locater transmitter. While descending for the forced landing, the airplane collided with small trees short of a clearing and the right wing then contacted elevated terrain, causing the airplane to yaw 180 degrees to the right. The airplane came to rest upright and all occupants exited it. Postaccident inspection of the engine by a Federal Aviation Administration airworthiness inspector revealed the bottom spark plug from the No. 3 cylinder was not secured to the cylinder, and had only remained secured to the engine by the ignition lead. A helicoil threaded insert remained attached to the threaded portion of the spark plug, but the insert was unwound. Review of the maintenance records revealed the engine was overhauled in 1992. The entry pertaining to the overhaul indicates that two repaired cylinders were installed and the other two cylinders, which were reconditioned, were installed. A review of the serviceable tags for the two cylinders that were repaired revealed no indication that a helicoil was installed. No determination was made as to when the helicoil was installed in the bottom spark plug position of the No. 3 cylinder. The engine had accumulated approximately 2,142 hours since major overhaul. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N41765](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N41765-2011-08-01), registration cancelled 2011-08-01, S/N 28-7415327, built 1974 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA28-151 - Registry model: [Piper PA-28-151](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-151) (registry code 7102805) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 28-7415327 - Airframe hours: 12682 - Engines: LYCOMING O-320-E3D 150 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Universel Technologies/Unitec Inc - Registered owner: Universel Technologies/Unitec Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility; Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, October 26, 2009, 2 hours before - Departed: PGD, Punta Gorda, FL - Destination: PGD, Punta Gorda, FL ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 28; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; last flight review September 30, 2009; seat: left; flight hours: 303 total, 87 in this make and model, 194 as pilot in command, 36 in the last 90 days, 10 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 30° at 4 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 81 °F, dew point 64 °F - Altimeter: 30.03 inHg - Observed at: PGD ## 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 20091120053489A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20091120053489A), Nov 20, 2009: Piper PA28-151, Port Charlotte, FL, Destroyed. On November 20, 2009 at approximately 1100 EDT, a Piper PA-28-151, N41765, serial number 28-7415327 registered to universel technologies / unitec inc., piloted… ## Other investigations on N41765 (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 CHI87LA043](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI87LA043), Dec 6, 1986: Piper PA28-151 (N41765), Marquette, MI, substantial damage ## Docket (6 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on May 4, 2010, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=75077. 1.1 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 467 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40324368&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Weather Reports and Records (item 2, .PDF, 20 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40321668&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Weather%20Reports%20and%20Records-Master.PDF - Excerpts from Maintenance Records (item 3, .PDF, 462 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40325161&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Excerpts%20from%20Maintenance%20Records-Redacted.PDF - Record of NTSB Conversation (item 4, .PDF, 23 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40325239&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20NTSB%20Conversation-Master.PDF - Photo 1: Digital Photograph Provided by Recovery Crew. View of the Bottom Spark Plug from the No. 3 Cylinder. (item 5, .PDF, 34 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40325240&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201%3A%20Digital%20Photograph%20Provided%20by%20Recovery%20Crew.%20View%20of%20the%20Bottom%20Spark%20Plug%20from%20the%20No.%203%20Cylinder.-Master.PDF - Photo 2: Digital Photograph Provided by Recovery Crew. View of the No. 3 Cylinder Bottom Spark Plug Hole. (item 6, .PDF, 51 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40325241&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%202%3A%20Digital%20Photograph%20Provided%20by%20Recovery%20Crew.%20View%20of%20the%20No.%203%20Cylinder%20Bottom%20Spark%20Plug%20Hole.-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.