# NTSB NYC08LA116: Diamond Aircraft Industries DA 20, N859MS, Key West, FL, March 1, 2008 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: March 1, 2008, 15:15 local (20:15 UTC) - Place: Key West, FL - Coordinates: 24.516666, -81.360557 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=24.5167&lon=-81.3606&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Enroute-descent: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report December 24, 2008 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 67652 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC08LA116 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/67652/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC08LA116 ## Probable cause A loss of engine power for undetermined reasons. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Not determined](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000): Not determined › Not determined · Unknown/Not determined (probable cause); cases with it: [Diamond Aircraft Ind DA20-C1, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md?model=2990001), [All aircraft, 2,247 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Enroute-descent: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) (defining event); cases with it: [Diamond Aircraft Ind DA20-C1, 12 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=2990001), [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md) - [Emergency descent: Ditching](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/441); cases with it: [Diamond Aircraft Ind DA20-C1, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/441/sequence.md?model=2990001), [All aircraft, 186 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/441/sequence.md) ## Analysis After maneuvering in the local area for approximately 15 minutes, the pilot initiated a descent, at idle power, to return to the airport. As he leveled the airplane in the traffic pattern (over water), he advanced the throttle to increase power; however, the engine did not respond. The pilot attempted, unsuccessfully, to restart the engine, and then prepared for a forced landing to the water, approximately 6 miles off shore. After the airplane came to rest, the pilot egressed and entered the life raft he had in the airplane. The airplane sank after about 5 minutes and was not recovered. The pilot purchased the airplane new approximately 2 years prior to the accident and no recent maintenance had been performed. Fuel records indicated the airplane was last refueled approximately 1 month prior with 13.8 gallons of fuel. According to the pilot, he last flew the airplane approximately 2 to 3 weeks prior to the accident, and prior to the accident flight, he departed with "just under full fuel," approximately 20 gallons. ## Factual narrative On March 1, 2008, at 1515 eastern standard time, a Diamond DA 20, N859MS, was presumed to be substantially damaged during a ditching in the Atlantic Ocean, near Key West, Florida. The certificated private pilot was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed for the flight, which originated at the Florida Keys Marathon Airport (MTH), Marathon, Florida, at 1500. The personal flight was destined for the Key West International Airport (EYW), Key West, Florida, and was conducted under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. According to the pilot, after departure he climbed the airplane to an altitude of 8,000 feet and practiced steep turns. He then flew toward EYW, where he intended to practice touch-and-go landings. The pilot reduced the power to idle, and initiated a descent. When the airplane reached the traffic pattern altitude of 850 feet, the pilot leveled-off the airplane. He advanced the throttle to increase the power; however, the engine did not respond. The propeller continued to turn momentarily and then stopped completely. The pilot completed the emergency checklist; however, he could not restart the engine. He reported a "mayday" to air traffic control and gave his position, which was approximately 6 miles south of the Big Pine Key shoreline. The pilot performed a forced landing to the water, and after the airplane came to rest, the pilot opened the canopy and inflated the life raft he had in the airplane. He entered the life raft and watched the airplane float for approximately 5 minutes, before sinking. Approximately 90 minutes later, a fisherman picked up the pilot and brought him to shore. The pilot purchased the airplane new in April 2006. He reported the airplane and engine logbooks were in the airplane at the time of the accident. The next annual inspection was due in May 2008, and no recent maintenance had been performed on the airplane. The pilot reported he last flown the airplane approximately 2 to 3 weeks prior to the accident. He estimated the airplane had "just under full fuel," (approximately 20 gallons), prior to departure. According to fuel records provided by the Fixed Base Operator (FBO) where the airplane was based, the airplane was last refueled on February 6, 2008, with 13.8 gallons of fuel. As of the date of this report, there were no plans to recover the airplane from the Atlantic Ocean. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N859MS](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N859MS-2010-06-28), registration cancelled 2010-06-28, S/N C0366, built 2006 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Diamond Aircraft Industries DA 20 - Registry model: [Diamond Aircraft Ind DA20-C1](https://openairdocs.org/model/diamond-aircraft-ind-da20-c1) (registry code 2990001) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental IO-240-B](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-io-240-b) (registry code 17177, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: C0366 - Airframe hours: 88 - Engines: Continental IO-240-B 125 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Robert Snider - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility - Last inspection: Annual, April 1, 2007 - Departed: MTH, Marathon, FL - Destination: EYW, Key West, FL ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 48; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; last flight review February 1, 2007; seat: rear; flight hours: 570 total, 120 in this make and model, 540 as pilot in command, 10 in the last 90 days, 1 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 30° at 13 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 79 °F, dew point 59 °F - Altimeter: 30.15 inHg - Observed at: EYW, 15 nm away 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.