- Date
- June 29, 2001, 17:45 local (21:45 UTC)
- Place
- Findlay, OH
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Initial climb
- Aircraft
- N40782Piper J3F-65
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report February 20, 2002
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- Parties
- FAA FSDO-07
- FAA report
- 20010629026389A
- Case key
- 52588
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
Two chafed ignition switch leads, which resulted in a failure of the ignition system and subsequent total loss of engine power.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
Shortly after takeoff, the engine lost all power, and the pilot performed a forced landing to a soybean field. Examination of the wreckage revealed that when the magneto switch was in the "BOTH" position, an ohmmeter showed the connection as grounded. Further examination revealed that two ignition switch leads were chafed, and grounded against a screw. The airplane was manufactured in 1941, and the chafing appeared to have occurred over a long period of time.
Factual narrative
On June 29, 2001, about 1745 eastern daylight time, a Piper J3F-65, N40782, was substantially damaged during a forced landing after takeoff from Priebe Airport (7D5), Findlay, Ohio. The certificated commercial pilot was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed for the local personal flight conducted under 14 CFR Part 91.
The pilot stated that he was departing on runway 21, and shortly after takeoff, the engine suddenly quit. The airplane descended, struck a utility pole, and came to rest in a soybean field. The pilot further stated that he added 5 gallons of fuel to the airplane prior to takeoff.
Examination of the wreckage by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector revealed that both wings were folded downward, and the fuselage was buckled. The inspector found fuel in the fuel tank and carburetor, and it was absent of contamination. The inspector then rotated the propeller by hand, but did not observe a spark from any of the ignition leads. He then disconnected the P-leads, rotated the propeller again, and observed spark.
The inspector then connected an ohmmeter to the magneto switch. When the switch was in the "BOTH" position, the ohmmeter showed the connection as grounded. Further examination revealed that two ignition switch leads were chafed, and grounded against a screw. The inspector added that the airplane was manufactured in 1941, and the chafing appeared to have occurred over a long period of time. Additionally, the chafing occurred in an area within the left-side wall of the cockpit, not normally viewed during an annual inspection.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N40782
- Reported as
- Piper J3F-65
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 7496
- Airframe hours
- 5,573
- Engine
- Continental A-65-8, 65 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- Hal Durbin
- Registered owner
- Faar Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · April 16, 2001 · 10 hours before
- Departed
- 7D5 · Findlay, OH
- Destination
- 7D5 · Findlay, OH
- Airport
- 7D5 · Priebe Airport, runway 21, 2,110 × 18 ft, asphalt
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 20
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Last flight review
- July 17, 1999
- Seat
- Rear
- Flight hours
- 545 total · 384 in this make and model · 292 as pilot in command · 14 in the last 90 days · 8 in the last 30 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 240° at 10 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 84 °F, dew point 64 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.02 inHg
- Observed at
- FDY, 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.
Other investigations on N40782 · 2
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.