# NTSB NYC82DA100: Piper PA-38, N2363A, Punxsutawney, PA, May 17, 1982

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Final report
- Date: May 17, 1982, 14:50 local (18:50 UTC)
- Place: Punxsutawney, PA
- Coordinates: 40.869682, -78.720436 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.8697&lon=-78.7204&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report May 17, 1983
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 72325
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC82DA100
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/72325/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC82DA100

## 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, cruise - normal
  - ignition system,magneto - erratic (cause)
  - engine assembly,cylinder - low compression (contributing factor)
- Forced landing, descent
- Main gear collapsed, landing - roll
  - terrain condition - rough/uneven (contributing factor)
  - landing gear,nose gear - overload (contributing factor)
- Nose over, landing - roll
  - terrain condition - crop (contributing factor)

## Analysis

WHILE DESCENDING TO CONFIRM HIS POSITION BECAUSE OF ENCOUNTERING RAIN ON A CROSS COUNTRY FLIGHT THE STUDENT PILOT DISCOVERED AN ENGINE RPM LOSS. AFTER ATTEMPTING TO RESTORE POWER SEVERAL TIMES AN EMERGENCY LANDING WAS MADE INTO A PLOWED FIELD DURING WHICH THE NOSE GEAR COLLAPSED AND THE AIRCRAFT NOSED OVER. ENGINE EXAMINATION REVEALED LOW COMPRESSION ON THE NUMBER 2 CYLINDER DUE TO LEAD DEPOSITS FOUND BETWEEN THE EXHAUST VALVE AND THE VALVE SEAT. THE MAGNETOS WERE BENCH TESTED AND FOUND TO HAVE HIGH ACTIVATION SPEEDS AND ERRATIC SPARK THROUGHOUT THEIR OPERATING RANGES. UPON DISASSEMBLY IT WAS FOUND THAT CARBON DEPOSITS AND TRACKING EXISTED ON THE DISTRIBUTOR GEAR SUPPORT PLATE AND ITS BRUSH WAS SLIGHTLY MISALIGNED AND WORN. THE MAGNETOS USED WERE SLICK ELECTRO 4150 AND 4181 WHICH ARE SEALED UNITS REQUIRING NO FIELD MAINTENANCE. PIPER RECOMMENDS THAT THEY BE EXCHANGED AT THE END OF 900 HOURS IN SERVICE.TOTAL TIME IN SERVICE FOR THE SUBJECT MAGNETOS WAS 714 HOURS.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N2363A (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-38
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 38-78A0654
- Airframe hours: 714
- Engines: LYCOMING O-235-L2C 112 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Operator: Penn Air, Inc.
- Registered owner: Penn Air, Inc.
- Departed: PUNXSUTAWNEY, PA
- Destination: A00, ALTOONA, PA

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 34; student; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; flight hours: 31 total, 31 in this make and model, 9 as pilot in command, 7 in the last 90 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 30° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 6 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 5,000 ft broken
- Temperature: 167 °F
- Observed at: DUJ, 17 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).

- [Accident 19820517016279A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19820517016279A), May 17, 1982: Piper PA38112, Punxsutawney, PA, Substantial damage. Engine lost power, landed in a soft field. Airplane nosed over. Leak deposit under a valve. Fouled mags, carb ice.

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.

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