# NTSB ERA21LA349: Piper PA-28-161, N864LM, Grant-Valkaria, FL, August 30, 2021

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report
- Date: August 30, 2021, 08:19 local (12:19 UTC)
- Place: Grant-Valkaria, FL · Rural farmland 16 nm west of Valkaria Airport
- Coordinates: 27.93975, -80.860111 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=27.9398&lon=-80.8601&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Enroute: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 2 minor
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Investigation class: Class 3
- NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation
- Parties: FAA/FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 103810
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA21LA349
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/103810/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=103810
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA21LA349

## Probable cause

A total loss of engine power for undetermined reasons.

## 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 (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-161, 22 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=7102803), [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md)
- [Enroute-cruise: Emergency descent initiated](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/130); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-161, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/130/sequence.md?model=7102803), [All aircraft, 42 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/130/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)

## Analysis

The pilot reported that the preflight, departure, and climb phases of the flight were normal and uneventful. She leveled off at 7,500 feet mean sea level and began to lean the mixture. While leaning, the engine rpm dropped below 1,000. She responded by increasing the mixture to full rich and applying full throttle; however, the engine did not respond. The airplane began to lose altitude rapidly and she tried to restart the engine to no avail. She declared an emergency and was unable to glide to a nearby airport, so she force-landed the airplane in a farm field. The airplane collided with a fence and a ditch before coming to a stop, which resulted in substantial damage to the airframe. A postaccident examination of the wreckage revealed no evidence of any preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation, and the reason for the loss of engine power could not be determined.

## Factual narrative

On August 30, 2021, about 0819 eastern daylight time, a Piper PA-28-161, N864ZLM, was substantially damaged during a forced landing at Grant-Valkaria, Florida. The private pilot and the pilot-rated passenger sustained minor injuries. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The pilot reported that the preflight inspection, departure, and climb phases of flight were normal and uneventful. She leveled off at 7,500 feet mean sea level and began to lean the mixture. While leaning, the engine rpm dropped below 1,000. She responded by increasing the mixture to full rich and applying full throttle; however, the engine did not respond. The airplane began to lose altitude rapidly and she tried to restart the engine to no avail. She declared an emergency, and air traffic control provided radar vectors to Valkaria Airport (X59), Valkaria, Florida. Unable to make the airport, she force-landed the airplane in a farm field. The airplane collided with a fence and a ditch before coming to a stop. The pilot and passenger exited the airplane and were met by first responders. Inspectors with the Federal Aviation Administration responded to the accident site and examined the wreckage. Both wings and the fuselage received substantial damage. There was no fire. The right-wing fuel tank contained about 17 to 18 gallons of fuel and the left tank was empty; however, the left tank was compromised by impact forces. The wreckage was recovered to an aircraft salvage facility for further examination. The engine crankshaft was rotated manually using the propeller; it rotated freely and no internal binding was noted. The engine appeared to be freshly painted and recently overhauled. The fuel and oil lines, spark plugs, the intake, and exhaust systems were in a like-new condition. The carburetor was fractured in half by impact forces. The top spark plugs were removed, and the propeller was rotated by hand; engine continuity was established through the engine drive train and the impulse couplings in the magnetos could be heard snapping. Compression was established on all cylinders. Other than the impact-damaged carburetor, the examination of the engine did not reveal evidence of a preexisting mechanical anomaly or failure.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N864LM](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N864LM-2024-06-09), registration cancelled 2024-06-09, S/N 28-8516063, built 1985 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER AIRCRAFT INC PA-28-161
- Registry model: [Piper PA-28-161](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-161) (registry code 7102834) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming O-320-D3G](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-320-d3g) (registry code 42156, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 28-8516063
- Year built: 1985
- Airframe hours: 13124
- Engines: Lycoming O-320-D3G 160 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Airborne Systems Inc.
- Registered owner: Growl Aircraft Inc
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, August 18, 2021, 5 hours before
- Departed: COI, Merritt Island, FL
- Destination: MKY, Marco Island, FL
- Equipment: ADS-B

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 19; injuries: minor; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; last flight review August 9, 2021; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 112 total, 112 in this make and model, 64 as pilot in command, 77 in the last 90 days, 54 in the last 30 days
- Pilot-rated passenger; age 28; injuries: minor; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; last flight review July 9, 2021; seat: right; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 267 total, 199 in this make and model, 168 as pilot in command, 6 in the last 90 days, 1 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: calm
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 82 °F, dew point 75 °F
- Altimeter: 30.04 inHg
- Observed at: MLB, 15 nm away
- METAR: ETAR KMLB 301253Z 00000KT 10SM CLR 28/24 A3004 RMK AO2 SLP173 T02830239

## 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 20210830015179A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20210830015179A), Aug 30, 2021: Piper Aircraft Inc PA-28-161, Kenansville, FL, Destroyed. A Piper PA-28 aircraft owned by 2 fly airborne in merritt island, was being flown by a private pilot, no instruction gaining flight time. A passenger, also on…

## Docket (6 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on July 26, 2023, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=103810. 88.2 MB in all.

- Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 6.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12889235&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=1%206120_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Pilot's written statement (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 1.6 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12888852&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=2%20Pilot%20Statement-Rel.pdf
- Passenger's written statement (item 3, PDF, 1 page, 1.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12888959&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=3%20Passenger%20Statement-Rel.pdf
- NTSB memorandum for record - FAA inspector statement (item 4, PDF, 3 pages, 286 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12889245&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=4%20NTSB%20Memorandum%20for%20Record%20-%20FAA%20Inspector%20Statement-Rel.pdf
- Investigative photographs (courtesy of FAA) (item 5, PDF, 21 pages, 78.6 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12889132&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=5%20FAA%20Photos-Rel.pdf
- NTSB examination summary (item 6, PDF, 3 pages, 360 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12888862&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6%20Examination%20Summary-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.

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