# NTSB LAX93LA330: Piper PA-28-180, N9533J, Showlow, AZ, August 19, 1993 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: August 19, 1993, 06:30 local (13:30 UTC) - Place: Showlow, AZ - Coordinates: 34.229686, -110.069427 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.2297&lon=-110.0694&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report August 1, 1994 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 28454 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX93LA330 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/28454/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX93LA330 ## Probable cause A total loss of engine power due to a separation of the mixture control balljoint assembly at the carburetor mixture arm and subsequent forced landing. ## 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, cruise - mixture control,linkage - separation (cause) - Forced landing, descent - emergency - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - roll - terrain condition - high vegetation ## Analysis THE ENGINE LOST TOTAL POWER WHILE AT CRUISE FLIGHT. THE FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR WAS UNSUCCESSFUL IN HIS ATTEMPT TO RESTART THE ENGINE. THE AIRPLANE'S NOSE WHEEL COLLAPSED AFTER IT COLLIDED WITH A BUSH DURING THE LANDING ROLL IN THE HIGH DESERT TERRAIN. INSPECTION OF THE ENGINE REVEALED THAT THE BALLJOINT ASSEMBLY THAT ATTACHES THE MIXTURE CONTROL CABLE TO THE MIXTURE ARM ON THE CARBURETOR HAD SEPARATED. AN ANNUAL INSPECTION WAS CONDUCTED 10 FLIGHT HOURS PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT. ## Factual narrative On August 19, 1993, about 0630 hours mountain standard time, a Piper PA-28-180, N9533J, crashed during a forced landing about 24 miles northeast of Showlow, Arizona. The airplane was being operated as a visual flight rules (VFR) cross country instructional flight to Tucumcari, New Mexico, when the accident occurred. The airplane, co-owned and operated by the pilot, received substantial damage. The certificated commercial pilot/certified flight instructor (first pilot) and a non-certified student pilot (second pilot) were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. A VFR flight plan was filed. The flight originated at Payson, Arizona, at 0510 hours. The first pilot reported that while in cruise flight at 11,500 feet mean sea level the engine suddenly began to run rough and then quit. The pilot adjusted the mixture control in an attempt to restart the engine; however, movement of the control did not produce any results. The second pilot, who was initially flying the airplane, selected a clear area of high desert terrain for a forced landing. Just before touchdown, the first pilot took the controls and completed the landing. During the landing roll, the airplane collided with large bushes and high vegetation and received damage to the nose, landing gear, and wings. Mr. John Eller, Airworthiness Inspector, Federal Aviation Administration, Scottsdale Flight Standards District Office, examined the mixture control cable. He reported that the balljoint assembly that attaches the control cable to the mixture control arm on the carburetor had separated. The assembly, part number 31747.00, was not recovered. The airplane and engine had accumulated a total time in service of 2,545.60 flight hours. Examination of the maintenance records revealed that the most recent annual inspection was accomplished on August 6, 1993, 10 flight hours before the accident. The engine had accrued 420.5 hours of operation since being overhauled. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N9533J](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N9533J), registered now, S/N 28-3660, built 1966 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28-180 - Registry model: [Piper PA-28-180](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-180) (registry code 7102808) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming O&VO-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-vo-360-series) (registry code 41514, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 28-3683 - Airframe hours: 2546 - Engines: LYCOMING O-360-A3A 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Dale Cornett - Registered owner: Charles Small - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, August 6, 1993, 10 hours before - Departed: E69, PAYSON, AZ - Destination: TCC, TUCUMCARI, NM - Flight plan: VFR ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 63; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: right; flight hours: 5,573 total, 500 in this make and model, 5,515 as pilot in command, 40 in the last 90 days, 23 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Visibility: 30 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 70 °F ## 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 19930819029829A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19930819029829A), Aug 19, 1993: Piper PA28180, Showlow, AZ, Substantial damage. Engine roughened and quit. Hit desert vegetation on forced landing. Ball joint on mixture control separated. 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.