# NTSB MIA95IA243: Piper PA-28-161, N150ER, New Smyrna Bch, FL, September 10, 1995 - Type: NTSB incident investigation - Classification: Incident · No injuries · Incident investigation · Final report - Date: September 10, 1995, 17:00 local (21:00 UTC) - Place: New Smyrna Bch, FL - Coordinates: 29.019193, -80.920715 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.0192&lon=-80.9207&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 3 uninjured - Status: Completed, report February 28, 1997 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 37681 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA95IA243 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/37681/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA95IA243 ## Probable cause fatigue failure of the piston assembly (piston and piston pin). ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(partial) - mech failure/malf, climb - engine assembly,piston - fatigue (cause) - engine assembly,piston - failure (cause) - Forced landing, emergency descent/landing ## Analysis During an instructional flight, the flight instructor (CFI) retarded the throttle to idle to simulate an engine failure. The exercise was discontinued at about 500 feet with application of full power. While climbing through about 1,100 feet, the engine suddenly began to run rough, and the tachometer indicated 2,000 rpm. Attempts to restore engine power were unsuccessful. The CFI took the controls and landed uneventfully at a nearby airport. Examination of the engine revealed that a piston and piston pin in the #2 cylinder had failed. Metallurgical examination of the failed components revealed that both failed due to fatigue. The failed components had accumulated about 316.9 hours since installation during a major engine overhaul. ## Factual narrative On September 10, 1995, about 1700 eastern daylight time, a Piper PA-28-161, N150ER, registered to and operated by Embry- Riddle Aeronautical University, was not damaged during a forced landing at the New Smyrna Beach Municipal Airport, New Smyrna Beach, Florida. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan was filed for the 14 CFR Part 141 instructional flight. The certified flight instructor (CFI), pilot-rated student, and observer were not injured. The flight originated about 1 hour 12 minutes earlier from the Daytona Beach International Airport, Daytona Beach, Florida. The CFI stated that he reduced the throttle to idle to simulate a loss of engine power. The maneuver was discontinued about 500 feet mean sea level with application of power. While climbing through 1,100 feet, the engine suddenly began operating "rough" and the tachometer indicated 2,000 rpm. Attempts to restore engine power were unsuccessful. The CFI then took the controls and landed uneventfully at the New Smyrna Beach Municipal Airport. Disassembly of the engine by the operator revealed that a piston and piston pin both manufactured by Superior Air Parts, Inc., were failed in the No. 2 cylinder. The failed components and an intact piston pin from the same engine were sent to the NTSB Materials Laboratory, Washington, D.C., for metallurgical examination. Metallurgical examination of the failed piston and piston pin revealed that both failed due to fatigue. The surface and core hardness of the failed and intact piston pins were determined to be within the engineering specification. Review of the maintenance records revealed that the failed components had been installed when the engine was last overhauled on March 22, 1995. The components had accumulated 316.9 hours since manufacture. ## Aircraft - Registration: N150ER (not matched to a registry record) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28-161 - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 2841146 - Airframe hours: 6745 - Engines: LYCOMING O-320-D3G 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: No damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Registered owner: Embry-Riddle Aeronautical Univ - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility; Standard, Normal - Last inspection: AAIP, August 22, 1995, 24 hours before - Departed: 34J ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 23; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: right; flight hours: 682 total, 93 in this make and model, 578 as pilot in command, 27 in the last 90 days, 20 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 70° at 9 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 82 °F, dew point 73 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: DAB, 10 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). - [Incident 19950910038529I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19950910038529I), Sep 10, 1995: Piper PA28161, New Smyrna Beac, FL. Simulated forced landing. Unable full power on go around. Aborted take off NR2 piston pin failed. 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.