# NTSB MIA08LA036: Piper PA-28-161, N109ND, Miami, FL, January 6, 2008 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: January 6, 2008, 10:10 local (15:10 UTC) - Place: Miami, FL - Coordinates: 25.623888, -80.57389 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=25.6239&lon=-80.5739&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Approach: Loss of engine power (partial)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report March 31, 2008 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Miami FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 67346 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA08LA036 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/67346/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA08LA036 ## Probable cause A loss of engine power due to inadequate maintenance inspection resulting in a worn throttle housing going undetected and failing. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Engine fuel and control: fuel controlling system](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057320): Aircraft › Aircraft power plant · Failure; cases with it: [Piper PA-28-161, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057320/cases.md?model=7102803), [All aircraft, 59 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057320/cases.md) - [Inspection: scheduled/routine inspection](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061520): Personnel issues › Task performance · Maintenance personnel (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-161, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061520/cases.md?model=7102803), [All aircraft, 167 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061520/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Approach: 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) ## Analysis According to the certified flight instructor (CFI), they had departed Tamiami-Executive Airport (KTMB) at 0800 en route to the training area. He stated that they were at the training area for about 30-minutes, at 2000 feet above ground level (AGL), practicing steep turns. After the training lesson they were returning to their destination for a full stop landing. They contacted the tower 10-miles west of the airport at 2000 feet AGL and were instructed to report 4-miles away from the airport on a straight in approach for runway 9L. At 1500 feet of altitude about 6 miles out the engine lost power. The CFI stated that he immediately took the flight controls and set up for best glide speed. Several unsuccessful attempts were made to restart the engine. The CFI contacted the tower and declared an emergency. Examination of the throttle linkage found the throttle cable housing lower sleeve detached from the upper housing. When the throttle in the cockpit was moved from idle to full power the carburetor throttle arm could be held in idle with little force with one finger. ## Factual narrative On January 6, 2008, at 1010 eastern standard time, a Piper PA-28-161, N109ND, collided with the ground during a forced landing following a loss of engine power, in the Everglades, near Miami, Florida. The Certified Flight Instructor (CFI) and Student Pilot reported no injuries. The airplane sustained substantial damage. The flight was operated by Silver Express Company under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91, as an instructional flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed for the local training flight. According to the CFI, they had departed Tamiami-Executive Airport (KTMB) at 0800 en route to the training area. He stated that they were at the training area for about 30-minutes, at 2000 feet above ground level (AGL), practicing steep turns. After the training lesson they were returning to TMB for a full stop landing. They contacted the tower 10-miles west of the airport at 2000 feet AGL. We were instructed to report 4-miles away from the airport on a straight in approach for runway 9L. We were at 1500 feet of altitude at about 6 miles out when the engine quit. The CFI stated that he immediately took the flight controls and set up for best glide speed. Several unsuccessful attempts were made to restart the engine. The CFI contacted the tower and declared an emergency. The CFI picked out an off airport landing site which looked smooth, but as they approached the ground there were swamp and rocks. During touch down the nose and left main gear sheared off. After the airplane came to a complete stop the CFI and student pilot exited through the cabin entry door. The CFI contacted the flight school and the chief pilot, and approximately 30 minutes after the accident, a Miami-Dade Fire Rescue helicopter arrived at the scene. The CFI and student pilot were transported back to TMB. Examination of the airplane by an FAA Inspector found the nose and left main landing gear separated, substantial damage to both wings and wrinkling of the engine firewall. Examination of the engine found that the magneto's produced spark, the cylinders had compression and the engine rotated easily. The fuel filters were clean and bright, fuel was observed at the carburetor. Examination of the throttle linkage found the throttle cable housing lower sleeve detached from the upper housing. When the throttle in the cockpit was moved from idle to full power the carburetor throttle arm could be held in idle with little force with one finger. The CFI stated to an FAA Inspector during a subsequent interview that the throttle felt loose, he said that the engine "momentarily" increased in power as they conducted the emergency checklist while moving the throttle following a change in the magneto switch position. However, it was a very brief and un-sustainable change in power, and they were forced to conduct the emergency landing. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N109ND](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N109ND-2013-07-01), registration cancelled 2013-07-01, S/N 2841329, built 1990 (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: 2841329 - Airframe hours: 7059 - Engines: Lycoming O-320-D1G 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Registered owner: Silver Express Co. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, November 1, 2007, 52 hours before - Departed: KTMB, Miami, FL ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Flight instructor; age 30; injuries: none; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review April 1, 2007; seat: right; flight hours: 1,008 total, 203 in this make and model, 263 as pilot in command, 259 in the last 90 days, 86 in the last 30 days, 5 in the last 24 hours - Student pilot; age 49; injuries: none; student; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; seat: left; flight hours: 66 total, 66 in this make and model, 27 as pilot in command, 9 in the last 90 days, 2 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 100° at 13 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 73 °F, dew point 59 °F - Altimeter: 30.29 inHg - Observed at: KTMB, 5 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 20080106014129A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20080106014129A), Jan 6, 2008: Piper PA28161, Miami, FL, Substantial damage. (-23) On January 06, 2008, about 1020 eastern standard time, a Piper PA-28-161, (N109ND), registered to silver express co. title CFR part 141 flight school,… 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.