# NTSB NYC96LA118: Piper PA-32R, N8186G, Williamstown, NJ, June 1, 1996 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: June 1, 1996, 16:30 local (20:30 UTC) - Place: Williamstown, NJ - Location: 39.6842° N, 74.9697° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Williamstown, NJ, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.6842&lon=-74.9697&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 3 uninjured - Status: Completed, report May 30, 1997 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 39190 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC96LA118 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/39190/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=39190 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC96LA118 ## Probable cause inadequate maintenance, which resulted in a failure of the magneto housing hold-down flange, a disconnect of the magneto from the engine, and loss of engine power. The obstruction (fence post) in the emergency landing area was a related factor. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(total) - mech failure/malf, cruise - normal - maintenance - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - ignition system,magneto - failure (cause) - ignition system,magneto - disconnected (cause) - Forced landing, emergency descent/landing - On ground/water collision with object, emergency landing - object - fence post (contributing factor) ## Analysis The pilot reported that while in cruise flight at 2500 feet '. . . just past the [Cedar Lake] VOR . . . there was a loud 'pop' from the engine compartment and an immediate loss of power.' During a subsequent forced landing, the aircraft struck a large fence post causing the right wing to separate. The aircraft rotated 90 degrees and the landing gear collapsed. Examination of the aircraft revealed the magneto had disconnected from the accessory gear box. An inspection disclosed the upper magneto hold down stud was intact and the associated hardware consisting of the nut, washer, lock washer, and hold-down clip were installed; however, the same pieces of hardware for the lower hold down stud were missing. Also noted was that a significant section of the magneto housing hold-down flange was fractured. ## Factual narrative On June 1, 1996, at about 1630 eastern daylight time, a Piper PA-32R, N8186G, was substantially damaged during a forced landing near Williamstown, New Jersey. The private pilot and two passengers were not injured. The personal flight originated from Kinston, North Carolina (ISO), at 1400 with Trenton, New Jersey as the intended destination. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident, no flight plan was filed. The pilot reported that while in cruise flight at 2500 feet "...just past the [Cedar Lake] VOR ...there was a loud 'pop' from the engine compartment and an immediate loss of power." The pilot said he trimmed the airplane for best glide speed, located the nearest airport with his Loran, and turned the airplane to the heading provided by the Loran. The front seat passenger announced over the Trenton tower frequency the engine power loss, aircraft location, and aircraft status throughout the forced landing sequence. The pilot explained that he chose a "...large pair of adjoining fields..." for landing when he could not visually confirm the airport cited by the Loran, and after he determined that all other airport options were outside of the airplane's gliding distance. He said, "We touched down near the end of the first field, which was separated from the second field by a barbed wire fence. Unfortunately, one of the posts was, as I learned later, a large railroad tie. The right wing struck the post at the location of the inner fuel tank, causing separation of the tank and other significant damage to the right wing. The impact turned the plane about 90 degrees, the landing gear collapsed, and the plane skidded on its belly to a stop in the middle of the second field." Examination of the aircraft revealed the magneto had disconnected from the accessory gear box. The inspection disclosed the magneto hold down stud was intact and the associated hardware consisting of the nut, washer, lock washer, and hold-down clip were installed; however, the same pieces of hardware for the lower hold down stud were missing. Also noted was a significant section of magneto housing hold-down flange was fractured. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N8186G](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8186G-2013-02-27), registration cancelled 2013-02-27, S/N 32R-8029079, built 1980 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Piper PA-32R - Registry model: [Piper PA-32R-301T](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-32r-301t) (registry code 7103220) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming TI0-540 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-ti0-540-series) (registry code 41533, turbo-prop) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 32R8029079 - Airframe hours: 2955 - Engines: Lycoming TIO-540-S1AD 300 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Philip R. Courter - Registered owner: Courter Films & Associates - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, July 1, 1995, 96 hours before - Departed: IS0, KINSTON, NC - Destination: TTN, TRENTON, NJ ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 53; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 2,106 total, 1,109 in this make and model, 1,903 as pilot in command, 32 in the last 90 days, 29 in the last 30 days, 5 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 170° at 13 knots - Visibility: 20 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 72 °F, dew point 43 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: MIV, 12 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 19960601044589A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19960601044589A), Jun 1, 1996: Piper PA32R301T, Williamstown, NJ, Substantial damage. Lost power en route. Overshot landing area. Wing hit fence post. Magneto had separated from engine block. ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on March 19, 1997, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=39190. 564 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 461 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40438951&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - FAA Record (item 2, .PDF, 104 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40064043&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=FAA%20Record-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.