# NTSB LAX08LA098: North American T-28C, N9022N, Kingman, AZ, April 11, 2008 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: April 11, 2008, 07:30 local (14:30 UTC) - Place: Kingman, AZ - Coordinates: 35.210556, -113.875556 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.2106&lon=-113.8756&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Enroute-cruise: Powerplant sys/comp malf/fail](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/340) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor, 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report May 6, 2009 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 67807 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX08LA098 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/67807/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX08LA098 ## Probable cause A total loss of engine power during cruise flight due to an undetermined catastrophic internal engine failure. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Power plant](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057100): Aircraft › Aircraft power plant · Failure (probable cause); cases with it: [North American T-28C, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057100/cases.md?model=6402507), [All aircraft, 198 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057100/cases.md) - [Terrain: rough terrain](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021015): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome; cases with it: [North American T-28C, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021015/cases.md?model=6402507), [All aircraft, 442 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021015/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Enroute-cruise: Powerplant sys/comp malf/fail](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/340) (defining event); cases with it: [North American T-28C, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/340/sequence.md?model=6402507), [All aircraft, 820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/340/sequence.md) - [Enroute-cruise: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341); cases with it: [North American T-28C, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=6402507), [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md) - [Emergency descent: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440); cases with it: [North American T-28C, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=6402507), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md) ## Analysis About 15 minutes after takeoff, during cruise flight, the pilot observed the engine oil pressure drop and the temperature increase, followed by a total loss of engine power. The pilot made an intentional gear-up forced landing on rough terrain. A partial teardown examination of the engine revealed ferrous and non-ferrous metal in the oil screens. The number 3 connecting rod was found bent, and the number 4 and number 5 cylinders were damaged. Numerous pieces of metal were observed in the crankcase that were associated with the number 4 and number 5 cylinders and pistons. The internal engine component that initially broke at the beginning of the sequence was not identified. ## Factual narrative On April 11, 2008, about 0730 mountain standard time, an experimental North American T-28C, N9022N, experienced a total loss of engine power while cruising about 5 miles east-southeast of the Kingman Airport, Kingman, Arizona. The pilot made a forced landing on open, rocky, desert terrain, and the airplane was substantially damaged. The private pilot was not injured, and the passenger sustained minor injuries. The airplane was owned and operated by the pilot. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the personal flight, and no flight plan was filed. The flight was performed under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91, and it originated from Kingman about 0715. The pilot reported to the National Transportation Safety Board investigator that the engine started running rough while cruising about 5,000 feet mean sea level (about 2,000 feet above ground level). The pilot checked the engine gauges and observed that the oil pressure was decreasing and the oil temperature was "maxing out." According to the pilot, the engine then lost all power and he made an intentional gear up landing because the tricycle gear airplane likely would have nosed over during rollout on the soft terrain. The propeller continued to rotate throughout the mishap. The pilot stated that his airplane's Curtis Wright model 1820-86B engine had been operated about 175 hours since receiving an overhaul. At the direction of the Safety Board investigator, a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) airworthiness inspector oversaw an examination of the accident engine. In pertinent part, the FAA inspector reported finding "an excessive amount of ferrous and non-ferrous" material in the oil screens. The number 3 cylinder was removed from the crank case and exhibited a bent connecting rod, along with "major damage to its piston and cylinder skirt." Also, numerous pieces of metal were observed in the crankcase that was associated with the number 4 and number 5 cylinders. The internal engine component that initially broke was not identified. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N9022N](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N9022N), registered now, S/N 140666, built 1956 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: North American T-28C - Registry model: [North American T-28C](https://openairdocs.org/model/north-american-t-28c) (registry code 6402507) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming R-1820 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-r-1820-series) (registry code 41570, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 140666 - Airframe hours: 7000 - Engines: Curtis Wright R-1820-86B 1425 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Condition, October 1, 2007 - Departed: IGM, Kingman, AZ - Destination: Kingman, AZ ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 44; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review December 26, 2006; seat: front; flight hours: 2,800 total, 700 in this make and model, 2,650 as pilot in command, 45 in the last 90 days, 20 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 50 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 64 °F - Observed at: IGM, 5 nm away 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.