# NTSB ERA18LA241: Diamond DA40, N388MA, Mount Pleasant, TN, September 1, 2018 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: September 1, 2018, 17:15 local (22:15 UTC) - Place: Mount Pleasant, TN - Coordinates: 35.550277, -87.206665 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.5503&lon=-87.2067&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Approach-VFR pattern downwind: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report November 19, 2019 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 98219 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA18LA241 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/98219/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=98219 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA18LA241 ## Probable cause A total loss of engine power for reasons that could not be determined because postaccident examination of the airplane did not reveal any evidence of preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures 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: [Diamond Aircraft Ind DA 40, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md?model=2990002), [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 downwind: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) (defining event); cases with it: [Diamond Aircraft Ind DA 40, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=2990002), [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: [Diamond Aircraft Ind DA 40, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=2990002), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md) - [Landing: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Diamond Aircraft Ind DA 40, 12 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=2990002), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The private pilot reported that, while on a downwind leg of the airport traffic pattern, he reduced the engine power to prepare for landing; however, the engine lost total power. The pilot then advanced the throttle in an unsuccessful attempt to regain power. He subsequently attempted an engine restart to no avail and, at that time, realized that the airplane would not be able to glide to the runway. The pilot performed a forced landing to a field about 1 mile short of the runway threshold, which resulted in substantial damage to the landing gear and empennage. Postaccident examination of the airplane revealed that sufficient fuel remained in the left fuel tank and that the fuel selector was found positioned to the left fuel tank; sufficient fuel also remained in the right fuel tank. Further examination of the engine, fuel system, and ignition system did not reveal any evidence of preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. Although fuel unporting is possible with the amount of fuel that was available in the left tank, it was unlikely based on the airplane's attitude around the time of the loss of engine power. Thus, the reason for the loss of engine power could not be determined. ## Factual narrative On September 1, 2018, about 1715 central daylight time, a Diamond Aircraft DA 40, N388MA, operated by the private pilot, was substantially damaged during a forced landing to a field, following a total loss of engine power during approach to Maury County Airport (MRC), Mount Pleasant, Tennessee. The private pilot incurred minor injuries. The personal flight was conducted under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed for the local flight that departed MRC about 1615.The pilot reported that after flying over the local area for approximately 40 minutes, he returned to MRC and entered the airport traffic pattern for landing on runway 6. While on a downwind leg of the airport traffic pattern, he reduced the engine power in preparation for landing; however, the engine lost all power. The pilot then advanced the throttle in unsuccessful attempt to regain power. He subsequently attempted an engine restart with no success and at that time realized that the airplane would not be able to glide to the runway. The pilot then performed a forced landing to a field about 1 mile prior to the runway 6 threshold. Examination of the wreckage by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector revealed that during the landing, the nose landing gear and left main landing gear collapsed, and the empennage separated from the airframe. The inspector added that although there was some damage to the wings, though their respective fuel tank remained intact. He drained approximately 4 gallons of fuel from the left fuel tank and 10 to 11 gallons of fuel from the right fuel tank. The fuel was 100-low-lead aviation fuel and appeared bright, clear, and absent of any visible contamination. Additionally, the fuel selector was found positioned to the left fuel tank prior to being moved to the off position by rescue personnel. The inspector further examined the wreckage following its recovery to a storage facility. He was able to rotate the engine's crankshaft by hand and confirm crankshaft, camshaft, and valve train continuity to the rear accessory section of the engine. The engine had sat for almost 10 months and thumb compression was not attained on three of the four cylinders; however, a borescope examination of the cylinders did not reveal any anomalies. The mechanical fuel pump and magnetos tested satisfactorily. Air was blown through the fuel lines and no blockages were observed. No anomalies were noted with the fuel servo and it contained residual fuel. Its filter was absent of debris and the oil filter was absent of metallic contamination. The four-seat, low-wing, fixed tricycle-gear airplane, was manufactured in 2005. It was powered by a Lycoming IO-360-M1A, 180-horsepower engine, equipped with a constant-speed, two-blade Hartzell propeller. The airplane's most recent annual inspection was completed on January 9, 2018. At that time, the airframe and engine had accrued 1,346 hourssince new. The airplane flew an additional 40 hours from the time of the most recent inspection, until the accident. Review of a make and model airplane flight manual revealed that the left and right fuel tank each held 20.6 gallons of fuel, with .5 gallon unusable in each tank. According to a representative from the aircraft manufacturer, fuel unporting is possible with 4 to 6 gallons remaining in a fuel tank; however, it's more probable if the airplane is in a bank greater than a 45° angle. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N388MA](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N388MA-2020-01-15), registration cancelled 2020-01-15, S/N 40.522, built 2005 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Diamond DA40 (UNDESIGNAT) - Registry model: [Diamond Aircraft Ind DA 40](https://openairdocs.org/model/diamond-aircraft-ind-da-40) (registry code 2990002) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming I0360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-i0360-series) (registry code 41515, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 40.522 - Year built: 2005 - Airframe hours: 1386 - Engines: Lycoming IO-360-M1A 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, January 9, 2018, 40 hours before - Departed: MRC, Mount Pleasant, TN - Destination: MRC, Mount Pleasant, TN - Airport: MRC, Maury County Airport, runway 06, 6,000 × 100 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Stall warning system, Electronic primary flight display, Electronic multifunction display, Auto-pilot ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 60; injuries: minor; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review August 3, 2018; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 121 total, 100 in this make and model, 61 as pilot in command, 24 in the last 90 days, 10 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 110° at 7 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 88 °F, dew point 68 °F - Altimeter: 30.07 inHg - Observed at: MRC, 1 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 20180901012779A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20180901012779A), Sep 1, 2018: Diamond Aircraft Ind Inc DA 40, Mount Pleasant, TN, Substantial damage. On September 1, 2018 aprox. 1655 local time, N388MA a Diamond aircraft was returning to kmrc airport and entered the traffic pattern for a left downwind to… ## Other investigations on N388MA (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 ERA10CA341](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA10CA341), Jun 30, 2010: Diamond Aircraft Ind DA 40 (N388MA), Farmingdale, NY, substantial damage. Probable cause: The student pilot's failure to maintain directional control during a crosswind landing. ## Docket (6 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on July 15, 2019, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=98219. 3.8 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 2.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40474165&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Interview Summaries (item 2, .PDF, 69 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40474166&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Interview%20Summaries-Master.PDF - FAA Inspector Statement (item 3, .PDF, 206 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40474167&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=FAA%20Inspector%20Statement-Master.PDF - Excerpts from Airplane Flight Manual (item 4, .PDF, 183 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40474168&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Excerpts%20from%20Airplane%20Flight%20Manual-Master.PDF - Map of Accident Site (item 5, .PDF, 325 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40474169&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Map%20of%20Accident%20Site-Master.PDF - Photo Array (item 6, .PDF, 4 photos, 898 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40474170&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.