# NTSB NYC04LA082: Socata TB-20, N163GT, Frederick, MD, March 7, 2004 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: March 7, 2004, 10:53 local (15:53 UTC) - Place: Frederick, MD - Coordinates: 39.417499, -77.374168 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.4175&lon=-77.3742&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 2 minor - Status: Completed, report March 30, 2005 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 58855 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC04LA082 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/58855/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=58855 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC04LA082 ## Probable cause Total 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(total) - nonmechanical, takeoff - initial climb - reason for occurrence undetermined (cause) - Forced landing, emergency descent/landing - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, emergency landing - terrain condition - soft ## Analysis During the initial takeoff climb, at an altitude of 400 feet, the pilot noticed the engine power decrease to 1,500 rpm and several seconds later, the engine lost complete power. The pilot then performed a forced landing to a field, during which the airplane was substantially damaged. The engine was test run on the airframe, after the accident. It started, and ran for several seconds without any anomalies, before being shut down. No pre-impact mechanical anomalies were noted with the airframe or engine. ## Factual narrative On March 7, 2004, at 1053 eastern standard time, N163GT, a Socata TB-20, was substantially damaged during a forced landing following a total loss of engine power, after departing from the Frederick Municipal Airport (FDK), Frederick, Maryland. The certificated private pilot and passenger received minor injuries. 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 performed a complete preflight inspection and noticed no abnormalities with the engine. During the initial takeoff climb from runway 30, at an altitude of 400 feet, he noticed the engine power decrease to 1,500 rpm, and several seconds later, the engine lost complete power. The pilot then performed a forced landing to a soft field, during which the wings and fuselage of the airplane were substantially damaged. A Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector performed a preliminary examination of the airplane after the accident. According to the inspector, he observed about 2-3 gallons of fuel in the left wing fuel tank; however, the tank was breached. The inspector reported there was "sufficient" fuel in the right tank. Examination of the cockpit throttle and propeller controls revealed they were in the full forward position, and the mixture control, which sustained impact damage, was in the 3/4 full forward position. The spark plugs were removed, and no anomalies were noted. The fuel servo displayed impact damage, and the fuel inlet line was separated from the inlet side of the servo. The engine was test run on the airframe with a replacement fuel injector and fuel line. The engine started, and ran for several seconds, without any anomalies, before being shut down. The National Transportation Safety Board's Metallurgical Lab examined pictures taken of the fuel injector inlet line, by an electron scanning microscope. According to the Metallurgical Lab, the damage to the fuel line was consistent with impact damage, and no evidence of cross-threading was noted. According to the operator of the airplane, it had been topped off with fuel the day prior to the accident, and had flown about 2.5 hours since then. A 100-hour inspection was performed on the airplane on March 2, 2004, and the airplane had flown approximately 8 hours since then. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N163GT](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N163GT-2005-06-17), registration cancelled 2005-06-17, S/N 2000, built 2000 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: SOCATA TB-20 - Registry model: [Socata TB-20 TRINIDAD](https://openairdocs.org/model/socata-tb-20-trinidad) (registry code 8680695) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming IO-540 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-540-series) (registry code 41530, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 2000 - Airframe hours: 1126 - Engines: Lycoming IO-540 250 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Frederick Flight Center - Registered owner: Delmarva Aviation Services Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, March 2, 2004, 8 hours before - Departed: FDK, Fredrick, MD - Destination: FDK - Airport: FDK, Frederick Municipal Airport, runway 30, 3,600 × 75 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 52; injuries: minor; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review July 12, 2003; seat: left; flight hours: 568 total, 430 in this make and model, 438 as pilot in command, 10 in the last 90 days, 3 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 280° at 8 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 57 °F, dew point 34 °F - Altimeter: 29.97 inHg - Observed at: FDK ## 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 20040307034439A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20040307034439A), Mar 7, 2004: Socata TB20TRINIDAD, Frederick, MD, Substantial damage. (-23) Pilot experienced some type of engine power loss immediately after take-off. The pilot could not maintain altitude and the aircraft came to rest in a… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on February 11, 2005, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=58855. 526 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 356 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40449032&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - FAA Statements (item 2, .PDF, 157 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40449033&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=FAA%20Statements-Master.PDF - Met Lab Findings (item 3, .PDF, 13 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40225687&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Met%20Lab%20Findings-Master.PDF 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.