# NTSB ERA21LA213: Piper PA-28-161, N271SG, Okeechobee, FL, April 29, 2021 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report - Date: April 29, 2021, 10:52 local (14:52 UTC) - Place: Okeechobee, FL · a/c impacted 6 ft muddy ditch in field - Coordinates: 27.240701, -80.965417 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=27.2407&lon=-80.9654&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Enroute: Loss of engine power (partial)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious, 1 minor - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 3 - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 103045 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA21LA213 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/103045/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=103045 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA21LA213 ## Probable cause A total loss of engine power for reasons that could not be determined based on available information. ## 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-28-161, 14 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md?model=7102803), [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: Loss of engine power (partial)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-161, 13 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342/sequence.md?model=7102803), [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-28-161, 19 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=7102803), [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: [Piper PA-28-161, 58 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=7102803), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis About 5,500 ft mean sea level during cruise flight, the engine began running rough and eventually lost all power. The pilot applied carburetor heat and turned on the fuel pump, but engine power was not restored. The airplane sustained substantial damage during the subsequent forced landing to a field. Postaccident examination and test run of the engine revealed no evidence of preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. The reason for the loss of power could not be determined based on the available information. ## Factual narrative On April 29, 2021, about 1052 eastern daylight time, a Piper PA-28-161, N271SG, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Okeechobee, Florida. The private pilot was seriously injured, and the student pilot sustained minor injuries. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. According to the private pilot, the purpose of the cross-country flight was for both pilots to build flight time. Shortly after departing on the second leg of their flight, at an altitude about 5,500 ft mean sea level (msl), the engine began running rough. The private pilot applied carburetor heat, but the engine continued to lose power, followed by a sudden drop in rpm. She noticed a drop in fuel pressure and turned on the fuel pump, but engine power was not restored. When the airplane was about 2,000 ft msl, the student pilot, who had previous experience performing a forced landing, assumed control of the airplane and landed the airplane in a field. According to the Federal Aviation Administration inspector who responded to the accident site, the airplane came to rest in a muddy ditch and sustained substantial damage to the fuselage. The engine air box, exhaust, and nose gear assembly were pushed upward into the engine compartment. Fuel was present throughout the fuel system, carburetor, and fuel filters, and the fuel was absent of water and debris. The fuel gauges indicated that the left and right wing tanks each contained 12 gallons of fuel. The throttle, mixture, and carburetor heat controls operated normally. The fuel selector was found in the left wing tank position; the fuel selector operated normally. All flight control cables were continuous from the cockpit controls to the control surfaces. Manual manipulation of the aileron, stabilator, and rudder cables operated their respective control surfaces. A detailed examination of the engine revealed no evidence of preimpact malfunctions or anomalies. The engine was subsequently test run, during which it performed normally through all power settings. Disassembly of the carburetor found no contamination inside the bowl. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N271SG](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N271SG), registered now, S/N 28-42071, built 2000 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28-161 - Registry model: [Piper PA-28-161](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-161) (registry code 7102803) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 28-42071 - Year built: 2000 - Engines: Lycoming O-320 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Airborne Systems Inc. - Registered owner: American Air Academy Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, April 16, 2021 - Departed: KIMM, Immokalee, FL - Destination: KCOI, Merritt Island, FL - Equipment: Unknown ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 26; injuries: serious; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; seat: right; flight hours: 170 total, 70 in this make and model - Student pilot; age 23; injuries: minor; student; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; seat: left ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 180° at 11 knots - Temperature: 81 °F, dew point 70 °F - Altimeter: 30.07 inHg - Observed at: KOBE, 6 nm away - METAR: KOBE 291455Z AUTO 18011KT SCT020 27/21 A3007 RMK AO2 ## Docket (6 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on February 1, 2023, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=103045. 19.5 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 3.4 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15031252&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=NTSB%206120%20form_Redacted_-Rel.pdf - Pilot's statement (item 2, PDF, 2 pages, 121 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12355955&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Memorandum%20Of%20Record%20%20-%20Pilot%20statements-Rel.pdf - FAA inspector's statement (item 3, PDF, 2 pages, 120 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12355272&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Memorandum%20Of%20Record%20%20-%20Inspector%20statement-Rel.pdf - Maintenance records (item 4, PDF, 11 pages, 8.7 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12430047&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=N271SG%20mx%20records_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Release of aircraft wreckage, NTSB form 6120.15 (item 5, PDF, 1 page, 5.5 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12427972&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Signed%20NTSB%20Wreckage%20Release%20form%20for%20N271SG_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Photos (item 6, PDF, 5 pages, 1.7 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12355337&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%20Array-Rel.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.