# NTSB ERA16LA061: Piper PA-24, N88F, Millville, NJ, December 4, 2015 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: December 4, 2015, 12:45 local (17:45 UTC) - Place: Millville, NJ - Coordinates: 39.367778, -75.072219 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.3678&lon=-75.0722&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Initial climb: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor, 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report October 2, 2017 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - SAIBs cited in the narratives: [SAIB CE-09-35](https://openairdocs.org/saib/CE-09-35) (OpenAirDocs) - NTSB case key (mKey): 92405 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA16LA061 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/92405/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=92405 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA16LA061 ## Probable cause The total loss of engine power during initial climb for reasons that could not be determined because postaccident examination of the engine revealed no anomalies that would have precluded normal operation. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Not determined](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000): Not determined › Not determined · Unknown/Not determined (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-24-250, 13 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md?model=7102404), [All aircraft, 2,247 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md) - [Runway/land/takeoff/taxi surface: soft surface](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023020): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome; cases with it: [Piper PA-24-250, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023020/cases.md?model=7102404), [All aircraft, 264 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023020/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Initial climb: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-24-250, 23 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=7102404), [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md) - [Emergency descent: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440); cases with it: [Piper PA-24-250, 23 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=7102404), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md) ## Analysis The private pilot and flight instructor were conducting an instructional flight. The pilot reported that, before the flight, he conducted a preflight inspection and before-takeoff check, which were normal. During the initial climb and when the airplane was about 150 ft above ground level, the engine lost total power. The pilot chose to land the airplane straight ahead between two taxiways on the airport. The airplane impacted a grassy area and sustained substantial damage to the left wing and fuselage. An examination of the airframe and engine did not reveal any evidence of preimpact mechanical failures or malfunctions that would have precluded normal operation, and there was sufficient fuel onboard at the time of the accident. Although the weather conditions at the time of the accident were conducive to serious carburetor icing at glide power, the pilot applied full power for takeoff; therefore, it is unlikely that carburetor ice formed during the takeoff sequence. The investigation could not determine the reason for the total loss of engine power. ## Factual narrative On December 4, 2015, about 1245 eastern standard time, a Piper PA-24-250, N88F, was substantially damaged during a forced landing following a total loss of engine power near Millville, New Jersey. The private pilot/owner incurred minor injuries and the flight instructor was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed for the local flight, which originated from Millville Municipal Airport (MIV), Millville, New Jersey, about 1245, and was destined for South Jersey Regional Airport (VAY), Mount Holly, New Jersey. The instructional flight was conducted under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91.According to the pilots, they had flown the airplane earlier in the day with no anomalies noted. Then, after a brief break, the private pilot/owner of the airplane completed a preflight inspection and engine run up with no anomalies noted. Then, they departed runway 32. After takeoff, about 150 feet above ground level, the private pilot/owner retracted the landing gear, and then the engine experienced a total loss of power. The private pilot/owner lowered the nose and noted that the airplane was "too low and fast to try a restart." He elected to land the airplane straight ahead between two taxiways on the airport. The airplane impacted a grassy area and sustained substantial damage to the left wing and fuselage. A postaccident examination of the airplane by a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector revealed that the left and right fuel tanks contained an undetermined amount of fuel, and no debris was noted in the fuel. All three propeller blades remained attached to the propeller hub, exhibited chordwise scratching, and were bent in the aft direction. An examination of the engine revealed that there were no obvious oil or fuel leaks. In addition, the FAA inspector reported that the carburetor contained approximately two tablespoons of fuel. The auxiliary fuel pump was placed in the "ON" position and fuel was noted flowing from the carburetor drain plug. Throttle control cable continuity was confirmed to the engine. Both the left and right magnetos produced spark on all leads when rotated manually. The ignition leads were normal in appearance. All spark plugs appeared to be in "normal" condition with no fouling or damage. Suction and compression was observed on all cylinders when the engine crankshaft was rotated manually. The fuel system appeared normal and there were no contaminants in the tanks. According to FAA records and maintenance logbooks, the airplane was manufactured in 1960, and registered to the private pilot/owner on November, 9, 2015. It was powered by a Lycoming O-540 series, 250-hp engine. The most recent annual inspection was completed on November 30, 2015, at a tachometer reading of 152.7 hours, and a total time of 3455.47 flight hours. The tachometer indicated 154.3 hours at the time of accident. According to the 1254 weather observation at the airport, the temperatureand dew point were 50 degrees F and 32 degrees F, respectively. According to the carburetor icing probability chart in FAA Special Airworthiness Information Bulletin CE-09-35 (Carburetor Icing Prevention), dated June 30, 2009, the temperature/dew point at the time of the accident was conducive to the formation of serious icing at glide power. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N88F](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N88F-2017-03-15), registration cancelled 2017-03-15, S/N 24-1961, built 1960 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA-24 (250) - Registry model: [Piper PA-24-250](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-24-250) (registry code 7102404) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-540 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-540-series) (registry code 41532, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 24-1961 - Year built: 1960 - Airframe hours: 3454.97 - Engines: LYCOMING O-540 SERIES 250 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, November 30, 2015 - Departed: MIV, Millville, NJ - Destination: VAY, MOUNT HOLLY, NJ - Airport: MIV, Millville Muni, runway 32, 5,058 × 150 ft, concrete - Equipment: None ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 73; injuries: minor; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; seat: left - Flight instructor; age 74; injuries: none; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review May 22, 2015; seat: right; restraint: lap only; flight hours: 4,952 total, 150 in this make and model, 4,852 as pilot in command, 42 in the last 90 days, 12 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 260° at 12 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 50 °F, dew point 32 °F - Altimeter: 30.45 inHg - Observed at: MIV ## 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 20151204020139A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20151204020139A), Dec 4, 2015: Piper PA-24-250, Millville, NJ, Substantial damage. PA-24-250, N88F, s/n 24-1961 departed Millville Municipal Airport, NJ (miv), for flight instruction from a certified flight instructor, and shortly after… ## Docket (8 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 21, 2017, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=92405. 4.6 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 409 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40455496&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 - CFI (item 2, .PDF, 2.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40455497&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1%20-%20CFI-Master.PDF - FAA Inspector Statement (item 3, .PDF, 34 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40455498&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=FAA%20Inspector%20Statement-Master.PDF - Fueling Information (item 4, .PDF, 403 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40455499&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Fueling%20Information-Master.PDF - Weather Observations (item 5, .PDF, 101 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40455500&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Weather%20Observations-Master.PDF - Maintenance Log Excerpts (item 6, .PDF, 612 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40455501&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Maintenance%20Log%20Excerpts-Master.PDF - Carburetor Icing Probability Chart (item 7, .PDF, 206 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40455502&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Carburetor%20Icing%20Probability%20Chart-Master.PDF - Photo Array (Courtesy of FAA) (item 8, .PDF, 3 photos, 751 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40455503&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%20Array%20(Courtesy%20of%20FAA)-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.