# NTSB LAX02LA065: Piper PA-24-250, N328EJ, Oceano, CA, January 13, 2002 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: January 13, 2002, 14:37 local (22:37 UTC) - Place: Oceano, CA - Coordinates: 35.101387, -120.622222 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.1014&lon=-120.6222&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report September 29, 2004 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 54017 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX02LA065 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/54017/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=54017 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX02LA065 ## Probable cause A loss of engine power due to the separation of the mixture control cable from the mixture control arm of the carburetor. The mixture cable separation was due to maintenance personnel's failure to secure the mixture control cable away from the nose landing gear, which resulted in the cable snagging during gear extension. A factor in the accident was the airplane being overdue for an annual inspection. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(total) - mech failure/malf, approach - vfr pattern - downwind - maintenance - inadequate, other maintenance personnel (cause) - gear extension - initiated, pilot in command - mixture control,cable - not secured (cause) - mixture control,cable - snagged (cause) - maintenance,annual inspection - overdue, pilot in command (contributing factor) - Forced landing, emergency descent/landing - In flight collision with object, emergency descent/landing - object - fence ## Analysis The airplane lost engine power in the traffic pattern and collided with an airport perimeter fence when it landed short of the runway. The pilot reported that while on the downwind leg of the traffic pattern, he lowered the landing gear. He heard a loud bang from the firewall area, and the instrument panel caved in. The engine lost power, and he maneuvered the airplane towards the airport. The airplane touched down about 500 to 1,000 feet short of the runway, and collided with an airport perimeter fence. A post accident examination of the airplane revealed that the mixture control cable separated at the mixture control arm. The engine control bracket, part number 21189-00, was missing. Without the bracket, the mixture control cable hangs freely down below the engine, where the nose gear is located when in the retracted position. A kink in the mixture cable indicated that it became caught on a Zerk fitting located on the pivot point of the nose landing gear when the nose gear was extended to the down position. This resulted in the mixture control cable separating from the mixture control arm on the carburetor. Maintenance records revealed that the airplane was about 2 months overdue for an annual inspection. ## Factual narrative On January 13, 2002, at 1437 Pacific standard time, a Piper PA-24-250, N328EJ, lost engine power and collided with an airport perimeter fence when it landed short of the runway at Oceano County Airport, Oceano, California. The pilot/owner was operating the airplane under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91. The private pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured; the airplane sustained substantial damage. The personal local flight originated at Oceano about 1415. Day visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and a flight plan had not been filed. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector stated that the pilot reported that he was attempting to land on runway 29. While on the downwind leg of the traffic pattern, he lowered the landing gear. He heard a loud bang from the firewall area, and the instrument panel caved in. The engine lost power and he maneuvered the airplane towards the airport. The airplane touched down about 500 to 1,000 feet short of the runway and collided with an airport perimeter fence. The FAA inspector conducted a post accident inspection of the airplane. The examination revealed that the mixture control cable separated at the mixture control arm. The engine control bracket, part number 21189-00, was missing. The function of the bracket is to secure control cables away from the nose landing gear. Without the bracket, the mixture control cable hangs freely down below the engine, where the nose gear is located when in the retracted position. He found a kink in the mixture cable. He thought that this was an indication that it snagged on the nose landing gear hardware when the pilot extended the nose gear to the down position. The evidence suggested that the mixture control cable became caught on the Zerk fitting located on the pivot point of the nose landing gear. This resulted in the mixture control cable separating from the mixture control arm on the carburetor. The FAA inspector's review of maintenance records revealed that the airplane was about 2 months overdue for an annual inspection. The pilot's medical expired about 14 months prior to the accident. The owner/operator failed to file or return a Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report (NTSB Form 6120.1/2). ## Aircraft - Registration: [N328EJ](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N328EJ-2013-08-27), registration cancelled 2013-08-27, S/N 24-2356, built 1960 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Piper PA-24-250 - Registry model: [Piper PA-24-250](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-24-250) (registry code 7102404) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-540 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-540-series) (registry code 41532, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 24-2356 - Airframe hours: 5022 - Engines: Lycoming O-540 250 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, June 9, 1998 - Departed: L52, Oceano, CA - Airport: L52, Oceano County, runway 29, 2,325 × 50 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 45; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, expired; last flight review April 26, 2000; seat: left; flight hours: 619 total, 392 in this make and model, 8 in the last 90 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 300° at 13 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 66 °F, dew point 43 °F - Altimeter: 29.95 inHg - Observed at: sbp, 8 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 20020113000769A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20020113000769A), Jan 13, 2002: Piper PA24250, Oceano, CA, No damage. (-19) On January 13, 2002, about 1440 hours pacific standard time, a Piper PA-24-250, N328EJ, operated by the owner/pilot, lost engine power and landed short… ## Docket (1 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on July 16, 2004, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=54017. 49 KB in all. - Record of Conversation - FAA (item 1, .PDF, 49 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40209710&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation%20-%20FAA-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.