# NTSB ERA16LA280: Piper PA 28R-201, N3783M, Northampton, MA, August 6, 2016 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: August 6, 2016, 11:45 local (15:45 UTC) - Place: Northampton, MA - Coordinates: 42.328056, -72.611114 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.3281&lon=-72.6111&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Initial climb: Loss of engine power (partial)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report April 20, 2020 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 93777 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA16LA280 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/93777/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=93777 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA16LA280 ## Probable cause The failure of the alternate air valve plate hinge pin, which caused the alternate air valve plate to lodge in the fuel servo assembly, which resulted in a restriction of air to the fuel servo assembly, a loss of engine power, and an off-airport emergency landing. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Power plant: air intake](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057160): Aircraft › Aircraft power plant · Failure (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-28R-201, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057160/cases.md?model=7102816), [All aircraft, 50 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057160/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 (partial)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-28R-201, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342/sequence.md?model=7102816), [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-28R-201, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=7102816), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md) - [Emergency descent: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Piper PA-28R-201, 8 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=7102816), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The flight instructor indicated that, during a simulated soft-field takeoff on an instructional flight, the airplane's climb performance noticeably deteriorated. As the airplane reached about 150 ft above ground level, the engine started to lose power. The flight instructor chose to make an emergency off-airport landing, during which the right wing and firewall were substantially damaged. A postaccident examination of the airplane revealed that the alternate air valve plate was lodged in the air intake and blocked the fuel servo. Further examination revealed that the hinge pin that held the alternate air valve plate was worn completely through, which caused the plate assembly to separate from its mounting location and lodge in the fuel servo. This obstruction likely restricted the intake air to the engine and thus led to the loss of engine power on takeoff. Examination of the alternate air valve plate revealed that it had been altered from its original design, although there were no maintenance records documenting the alteration. The investigation could not determine whether this alteration contributed to the failure of the alternate air valve plate's mounting mechanism. ## Factual narrative On August 06, 2016, about 1145 eastern daylight time, a Piper PA-28R-201, N3783M, was substantially damaged during a forced landing following a partial loss of engine power near Northampton Airport (7B2), Northampton, Massachusetts. The flight instructor and pilot receiving instruction were not injured. The instructional flight was conducted under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed for the flight, which originated from 7B2, about 1143.According to the flight instructor, during a simulated soft field take-off, the airplane's climb performance deteriorated noticeably. As the airplane reached approximately 150 feet above ground level, the engine started to lose power. He then realized that continuing the climb was not possible, and any increase in pitch resulted in an immediate decrease in airspeed. The flight instructor elected to make an emergency off airport landing in a corn field near the end of the departure runway. During the landing sequence the right wing and firewall were damaged. A post accident examination of the airplane by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector revealed that the alternate air valve plate had separated from its mounting location and was lodged in the fuel servo air intake, blocking the fuel servo. After further examination of the alternate air valve plate it was noted that the hinge pin was worn completely through the plate assembly. A review of manufacturer engineering drawings showed that the plate assembly was modified using a spring attached to the plate. A review of the logbooks did not reveal an entry of a modification, or repair of the part. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N3783M](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N3783M-2016-10-31), registration cancelled 2016-10-31, S/N 28R-7837137, built 1978 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA 28R-201 (201) - Registry model: [Piper PA-28R-201](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28r-201) (registry code 7102816) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming I0360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-i0360-series) (registry code 41515, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 28R-7837137 - Year built: 1978 - Airframe hours: 10855 - Engines: LYCOMING IO-360-C1C6 200 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Northhampton Aeronautics - Registered owner: Northhampton Aeronautics - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, July 8, 2016, 53 hours before - Departed: 7B2, Northampton, MA - Destination: 7B2, Northampton, MA - Airport: 7B2, Northampton Airport - Equipment: Stall warning system, Auto-pilot ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Flight instructor; age 58; injuries: none; airline transport, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review December 31, 2015; seat: right; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 6,399 total, 268 in this make and model, 6,288 as pilot in command - Pilot; age 29; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; last flight review July 15, 2015; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 240 total, 10 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 79 °F, dew point 70 °F - Altimeter: 29.72 inHg - Observed at: BAF, 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 20160806016349A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20160806016349A), Aug 6, 2016: Piper PA-28R-201, Northampton, MA, Destroyed. The student conducted a simulated soft field takeoff. The instructor stated that the initial acceleration and liftoff appeared normal for the current… ## Docket (6 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 29, 2019, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=93777. 4.9 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 768 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40477265&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - FAA Inspector's Statement (item 2, .PDF, 109 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40477266&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=FAA%20Inspector%27s%20Statement-Master.PDF - Maintenance Log Excerpts (item 3, .PDF, 1.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40477267&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Maintenance%20Log%20Excerpts-Master.PDF - Excerpts from Maintenance Manual (item 4, .PDF, 160 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40477268&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Excerpts%20from%20Maintenance%20Manual-Master.PDF - Weather Information (item 5, .PDF, 145 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40477269&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Weather%20Information-Master.PDF - Photo Array (item 6, .PDF, 3 photos, 2.4 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40477270&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%20Array-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.