# NTSB WPR09LA327: Piper PA-28-140, N5957U, Taylor, AZ, July 6, 2009 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: July 6, 2009, 11:15 local (18:15 UTC) - Place: Taylor, AZ - Coordinates: 34.429393, -110.059768 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.4294&lon=-110.0598&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Initial climb: Loss of engine power (partial)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report November 9, 2009 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 74204 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR09LA327 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/74204/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=74204 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR09LA327 ## Probable cause The 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: [Piper PA-28-140, 27 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md?model=7102802), [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. - [Initial climb: Loss of engine power (partial)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-140, 47 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342/sequence.md?model=7102802), [All aircraft, 1,858 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342/sequence.md) - [Initial climb: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-140, 56 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=7102802), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-140, 137 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=7102802), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that after conducting a short field takeoff, "the aircraft was not getting enough lift from the engine." He observed power lines ahead and to the left and right of his position as he realized the airplane was not holding altitude. The pilot stated that "the engine was not producing enough power and there was a little sputtering." He initiated an off-airport landing in an open field. During the landing roll, the airplane struck a bush, which resulted in structural damage to the right wing. Examination of the engine revealed no mechanical anomalies that would have precluded normal operation. The engine was run uneventfully at various power settings for about two minutes before it was shut off using the mixture control lever. ## Factual narrative On July 6, 2009, about 1115 mountain standard time, a Piper PA-28-140, N5957U, sustained substantial damage when it struck a tree during a precautionary landing near Taylor, Arizona. The airplane was registered to, and operated by, the pilot under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. The commercial pilot and his passenger were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed for the personal flight. The cross-country flight was originating at the time, with an intended destination of Payson, Arizona. The pilot reported that after conducting a short field takeoff from runway 21 (a 7,000-foot long asphalt runway), "the aircraft was not getting enough lift from the engine." The pilot stated that he "could not find a mixture setting that would give additional power" and that the airplane was unable to hold altitude. The pilot observed power lines ahead and to the left and right of the airplane simultaneously with the stall warning light "flickering on," the pilot decided to initiate an off airport landing in an open field as he was "uncertain if I had enough power to turn around." The pilot stated that "the engine was not producing enough power and there was a little sputtering." During the landing roll, the right wing of the airplane struck a juniper bush. Examination of the airplane by the pilot revealed that the right wing was partially separated at the wing root. The engine was examined by the NTSB investigator-in-charge (IIC). The engine remained attached to the airframe via all its mounts. The left and right wings were removed by wreckage recovery personnel to facilitate wreckage transport. An external fuel tank was attached to the left wing fuel lines to facilitate an engine run. The engine was started and ran uneventfully at various power settings for about two minutes before it was shut off using the mixture control lever. A magneto check was performed at 1,700 rpm and a 100 rpm drop was noted for both the right and left magnetos. Examination of the engine revealed no mechanical anomalies that would have precluded normal operation. The closest weather reporting station was located at the Show Low Regional Airport (SOW), Show Low, Arizona, about 12 nautical miles southeast of the accident site. At 1130, the automated weather observing system reported wind from 250 degrees at 12 knots, visibility 10 statute miles, clear sky, temperature 28 degrees Celsius, dew point 3 degrees Celsius, and an altimeter setting of 30.25 inches of Mercury. Using recorded weather conditions, an airport elevation of 5,823 feet mean sea level (msl), the IIC calculated the density altitude to be 8,429 feet and a pressure altitude of 5,519 feet. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N5957U](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5957U-2013-02-08), registration cancelled 2013-02-08, S/N 28-26847, built 1970 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28-140 - Registry model: [Piper PA-28-140](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-140) (registry code 7102802) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 28-26847 - Airframe hours: 4050 - Engines: LYCOMING O-320 SERIES 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Robert Harbin - Registered owner: Robert Harbin - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, January 6, 2009, 50 hours before - Departed: TYL, Taylor, AZ - Destination: PAN, Payson, AZ - Airport: TYL, Taylor Airport ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 48; injuries: none; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; last flight review December 14, 2008; seat: left; flight hours: 1,200 total, 200 in this make and model, 1,100 as pilot in command, 90 in the last 90 days, 30 in the last 30 days, 5 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 250° at 12 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 82 °F, dew point 37 °F - Altimeter: 30.25 inHg - Observed at: SOW, 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 20090706013589A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20090706013589A), Jul 6, 2009: Piper PA28140, Taylor, AZ, Substantial damage. (-23) Pilot reported that he performed a short field takeoff from the airport and that following lift off, the aircraft did not seem to be performing as… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on September 15, 2009, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=74204. 581 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 560 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40318465&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Engine Run Exam Memo (item 2, .PDF, 22 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40318466&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Engine%20Run%20Exam%20Memo-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.