# NTSB ERA19LA033: Piper PA28, N68DW, New Market, VA, October 25, 2018 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: October 25, 2018, 09:15 local (13:15 UTC) - Place: New Market, VA - Coordinates: 38.654998, -78.668334 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.6550&lon=-78.6683&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: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report April 20, 2020 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 98569 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA19LA033 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/98569/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=98569 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA19LA033 ## Probable cause A loss of engine power on takeoff due to restricted air flow to the engine. ## 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 · Not specified (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-181, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057160/cases.md?model=7102807), [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-28-181, 9 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342/sequence.md?model=7102807), [All aircraft, 1,858 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342/sequence.md) - [Landing: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-181, 23 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=7102807), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md) - [Landing: Part(s) separation from AC](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/338); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-181, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/338/sequence.md?model=7102807), [All aircraft, 563 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/338/sequence.md) - [Landing: Landing gear collapse](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-181, 11 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md?model=7102807), [All aircraft, 1,787 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md) ## Analysis The private pilot stated that, shortly after takeoff for the cross-country, personal flight, the engine suddenly lost partial power. Subsequently, he made a forced landing to a corn field, during which the left main landing gear penetrated the left wing and separated from the airplane, the nose landing gear collapsed, and the firewall and engine mount sustained substantial damage. Postaccident examination of the engine did not reveal evidence of any preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. The carburetor exhibited no external damage; however, when the air box and alternate air control were removed, a dead mouse fell out of the intake manifold. ## Factual narrative On October 25, 2018, at 0915 eastern daylight time, a Piper PA-28-181, N68WD, was substantially damaged when it made a forced landing to a field after a partial loss of engine power shortly after takeoff from the New Market Airport (8W2), New Market, Virginia. The private pilot was not injured. The airplane was registered to a private company and operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed for the flight that departed at 0850 and was destined for the Luray Caverns Airport (LUA), Luray, Virginia. The pilot stated that shortly after takeoff, the engine suddenly went to idle power. He was unable to maintain altitude and landed short in a cornfield. Upon landing, the left main landing gear penetrated thru the left wing and separated from the airplane. The nose landing gear collapsed, and the firewall and an engine mount were substantially damaged. A Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector performed a postaccident examination of the engine. The propeller was manually rotated, and compression and valve train continuity were established on each cylinder. Throttle and mixture cable continuity was established to the carburetor, but the mixture cable was jammed in place from impact damage. The throttle was not impinged and when moved, the accelerator pump moved and pumped fuel. Examination of the carburetor revealed no external damage; however, when the air box and alternate air control was removed a dead mouse fell out the intake manifold onto the ground. The pilot held a private pilot certificate with a rating for airplane single engine land and instrument airplane. His last FAA Third class medical was issued in September 2016. The pilot reported a total of 470 flight hours. Weather reported at Front Royal Warrenton County Airport (FRR), Front Royal, Virginia at 0935 was reported as calm wind, visibility 10 miles and clear skies. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N68DW](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N68DW), registered now, S/N 28-7890006, built 1977 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Piper PA28 (181) - Registry model: [Piper PA-28-181](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-181) (registry code 7102807) (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: 28-7890006 - Year built: 1977 - Airframe hours: 4100.88 - Engines: Lycoming O&VO-360 SER 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, November 15, 2017 - Departed: 8W2, New Market, VA - Destination: LUA, Luray, VA - Equipment: Stall warning system, Auto-pilot, Angle of attack indicator ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 72; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; last flight review September 30, 2016; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 470 total, 400 in this make and model, 410 as pilot in command ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Temperature: 41 °F, dew point 36 °F - Altimeter: 30.25 inHg - Observed at: FRR, 26 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 20181025020819A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20181025020819A), Oct 25, 2018: Piper PA-28-181, New Market, VA, Substantial damage. After takeoff, the pilot climbed to 2400 ft MSL, approximately 1500 ft AGL. The pilot stated that the engine rolled back to idle and all attempts at adjusting… ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 28, 2019, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=98569. 5.0 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 622 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40477232&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - NTSB Summary of Record - FAA Exam of Engine (item 2, .PDF, 138 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40477233&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=NTSB%20Summary%20of%20Record%20-%20FAA%20Exam%20of%20Engine-Master.PDF - Maintenance Records (item 3, .PDF, 3.7 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40477234&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Maintenance%20Records-Master.PDF - Photos (item 4, .PDF, 2 photos, 587 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40477235&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photos-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.