# NTSB NYC03LA184: Piper PA-38-112, N2550A, Pawtucket, RI, August 29, 2003 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: August 29, 2003, 11:00 local (15:00 UTC) - Place: Pawtucket, RI - Coordinates: 41.920555, -71.491111 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.9206&lon=-71.4911&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report June 30, 2004 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 57814 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC03LA184 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/57814/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC03LA184 ## Probable cause A loss of engine power for undetermined reasons. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power, approach - vfr pattern - final approach - reason for occurrence undetermined (cause) - Forced landing, descent - emergency - In flight collision with object, descent - emergency - object - tree(s) ## Analysis The student pilot was on final approach for a touch and go landing when he reduced the throttle slightly and the engine lost power. The airplane was about 350 feet above the ground, and he performed a forced landing into trees. The airplane came to rest inverted, about 1/2 mile from the airport. Examination of the airplane and engine did not reveal any mechanical malfunctions. ## Factual narrative On August 29, 2003, about 1100 eastern daylight time, a Piper PA-38-112, N2550A, was substantially damaged when it collided with trees, after experiencing a loss of engine power while landing at the North Central State Airport (SFZ), Pawtucket, Rhode Island. The certificated student pilot was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan had been filed for the flight that departed the Theodore Francis Green State Airport (PVD), Providence, Rhode Island. The solo instructional flight was conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. The student pilot reported he intended to perform touch and go landings at SFZ, which was located about 12 miles north of PVD. He entered the traffic pattern for runway 23, a 5,000-foot-long, 150-foot-wide, asphalt runway; however, while on final approach, the pilot reduced the throttle slightly and the engine quit. The airplane was about 350 feet above the ground, and the pilot performed a forced landing into trees. The airplane came to rest inverted, about 1/2 mile from the airport. The airplane and engine were examined by a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector. Inspection of the engine fuel, intake and ignition systems did not reveal any mechanical malfunctions. Visual examination of the spark plugs revealed they were all light gray in color, except the number 2 top spark plug, which was oil soaked. The student pilot reported 63 hours of total flight experience, all in the same make and model as the accident airplane. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N2550A](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N2550A-2003-11-04), registration cancelled 2003-11-04, S/N 38-78A0751, built 1978 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Piper PA-38-112 - Registry model: [Piper PA-38-112](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-38-112) (registry code 7103812) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-235 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-235-series) (registry code 41505, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 38-78A0751 - Airframe hours: 12352 - Engines: Lycoming O-235 112 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Registered owner: Lincoln Flight Center Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, August 16, 2003, 16 hours before - Departed: PVD, Providence, RI - Destination: SFZ, Pawtucket, RI - Airport: SFZ, North Central State, runway 23, 5,000 × 150 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Student pilot; age 38; injuries: none; student; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 63 total, 63 in this make and model, 7 as pilot in command, 24 in the last 90 days, 1 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 210° at 4 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 73 °F, dew point 55 °F - Altimeter: 30.17 inHg - Observed at: SFZ ## 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 20030829020759A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20030829020759A), Aug 29, 2003: Piper PA38112, Pawtucket, RI, Destroyed. (-23) Aircraft was on short final for runway 23, for north central airport. Power reduced, at approximately 400 ft above AGL, over rising terrain the pilot… 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.