# NTSB ERA19TA111: Piper PA32, N1563X, West Palm Beach (Atlantic Ocean), February 28, 2019 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Final report - Date: February 28, 2019, 13:52 local (18:52 UTC) - Place: West Palm Beach (Atlantic Ocean) - Coordinates: 26.659444, -79.688056 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=26.6594&lon=-79.6881&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Enroute-change of cruise level: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report August 10, 2020 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA IFO - NTSB case key (mKey): 99039 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA19TA111 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/99039/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=99039 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA19TA111 ## Probable cause A total loss of engine power for reasons that could not be determined based on the available evidence, which resulted in a ditched landing in the ocean. ## 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-32-260, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md?model=7103206), [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. - [Enroute-change of cruise level: Loss of engine power (partial)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342); cases with it: [Piper PA-32-260, 11 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342/sequence.md?model=7103206), [All aircraft, 1,858 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342/sequence.md) - [Enroute-change of cruise level: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-32-260, 12 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=7103206), [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md) - [Enroute: Attempted remediation/recovery](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060); cases with it: [Piper PA-32-260, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md?model=7103206), [All aircraft, 1,422 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md) - [Emergency descent: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440); cases with it: [Piper PA-32-260, 19 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=7103206), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md) - [Landing: Ditching](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/441); cases with it: [Piper PA-32-260, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/441/sequence.md?model=7103206), [All aircraft, 186 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/441/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot departed on the personal flight after topping off the airplane's fuel tanks. He reported that, about 15 minutes after leveling off at 3,500 ft mean sea level, he initiated a climb to 7,500 ft, and the engine immediately started to "sputter"; the airplane was about 20 miles off the coast of Florida over the Atlantic Ocean. He turned on the fuel boost pump, switched fuel tanks, and applied carburetor heat, to no avail. The engine lost total power shortly thereafter. The pilot subsequently ditched the airplane into the ocean, egressed, and was rescued. The airplane was not recovered, which precluded a postaccident examination. ## Factual narrative On February 28, 2019, at 1352 eastern standard time, a privately owned and operated Piper PA32-260, N1563X, was ditched into the Atlantic Ocean about 25 nautical miles east of West Palm Beach, Florida. The private pilot was uninjured. The airplane was not recovered and presumed substantially damaged. The flight was operated under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed for the personal flight, which departed Treasure Coast International Airport (FPR), Fort Pierce, Florida, around 1330 and was destined for Great Harbour Cay Airport (MYBG), Bullocks Harbour, Bahamas.According to the pilot, he topped off all fuel tanks in FPR, and was flying with visual flight rules flight following to the Bahamas. About 15 minutes after leveling off at 3,500 ft mean sea level, the engine started to "sputter" immediately after the pilot initiated a climb to 7,500 ft. He turned on the fuel boost pump, observed that the fuel pressure was adequate, but noted no improvement in engine performance. He then switched fuel tanks and applied carburetor heat but was unable to diagnose the problem, and the engine lost all power shortly thereafter. He turned into the wind, extended full flaps to reduce the airplane's ground speed, and advised air traffic control that he would be ditching. After landing in the water, the pilot egressed without incident onto the airplane's wing and deployed a life raft; the airplane subsequently sank and was not recovered. The pilot activated a personal emergency position-indicating radio beacon and was rescued. According to Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) records, the pilot held a private pilot certificate with ratings for airplane single-engine and multi-engine land instrument airplane. A review of the pilot's logbook revealed 6,918.9 total hours of flight experience of which 810 hours were in the accident airplane make and model. The pilot's last flight review was logged February 8, 2018. According to FAA records, the airplane was manufactured in 1975 and was powered by a 260-hp Lycoming O-540-E485 reciprocating engine. The airplane's most recent annual inspection was completed March 19, 2018, at a recorded tachometer reading of 898.2 hours and an airframe total time of 6,461.2 hours. The engine had accumulated 1,807.5 hours since major overhaul. The pilot reported 84 gallons of fuel onboard at the time of takeoff. At 1353, the weather reported at Palm Beach International Airport (PBI), about 25 miles west of the accident site, included winds from 080° at 8 knots, visibility 10 miles, scattered clouds at 3,600 ft, temperature 24° C, dew point 17° C, and an altimeter setting of 30.05 inches of mercury. Review of a Carburetor Icing Probability Chart for the given temperature and dew point revealed that the conditions were conducive to moderate icing at cruise power. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N1563X](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N1563X-2019-08-09), registration cancelled 2019-08-09, S/N 32-7500037, built 1975 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Piper PA32 (260) - Registry model: [Piper PA-32-260](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-32-260) (registry code 7103206) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-540 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-540-series) (registry code 41532, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 32-7500037 - Year built: 1975 - Airframe hours: 6461 - Engines: Lycoming O-540 E485 260 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, March 19, 2018 - Departed: KFPR, Fort Pierce, FL - Destination: MYBG, Bullocks Harbou - Equipment: Handheld GPS, Electronic primary flight display, Electronic flight bag or handheld device, Auto-pilot, Video recording device, Stall warning system, Onboard weather ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 67; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review February 8, 2018; seat: front; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 6,507 total, 810 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 80° at 8 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Temperature: 75 °F, dew point 63 °F - Altimeter: 30.04 inHg - Observed at: PBI, 25 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 20190228022469A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20190228022469A), Feb 28, 2019: Piper PA-32-260, Palm Beach, FL, Destroyed. Departed fpr for great harbor cay, Bahamas. Flight following with ATC. Cleared to climb to 7500' at approx. 3700' pilot reported rough running engine, reported… ## Other investigations on N1563X (2) 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 NYC04LA071](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC04LA071), Feb 9, 2004: Piper PA-32-260 (N1563X), Collegeville, PA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from trees during approach to the runway. Factors in the accident were the dark night and snowbank. - [NTSB NYC78DHD07](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC78DHD07), Feb 27, 1978: Piper PA-32 (N1563X), West Chester, PA, substantial damage ## Docket (5 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on April 2, 2019, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=99039. 2.3 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 671 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40471560&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Pilot's Statement (item 2, .PDF, 88 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40471561&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%27s%20Statement-Master.PDF - FAA Inspector's Statement (item 3, .PDF, 62 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40471562&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=FAA%20Inspector%27s%20Statement-Master.PDF - Maintenance Records (item 4, .PDF, 1.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40471563&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Maintenance%20Records-Master.PDF - Weather Reports and Records (item 5, .PDF, 183 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40471564&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Weather%20Reports%20and%20Records-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.