# NTSB WPR10LA051: Piper PA-32R-300, N2165M, Tucson, AZ, November 8, 2009 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: November 7, 2009, 17:00 local (Nov 8, 2009, 00:00 UTC) - Place: Tucson, AZ - Coordinates: 32.540832, -111.206665 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.5408&lon=-111.2067&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Enroute-cruise: Loss of engine power (partial)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report April 20, 2012 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 75036 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR10LA051 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/75036/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=75036 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR10LA051 ## 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: [Piper PA-32R-300, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md?model=7103213), [All aircraft, 2,247 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md) - [Object/animal/substance: sign/marker](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022015): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome; cases with it: [Piper PA-32R-300, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022015/cases.md?model=7103213), [All aircraft, 214 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022015/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Enroute-cruise: Loss of engine power (partial)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-32R-300, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342/sequence.md?model=7103213), [All aircraft, 1,858 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342/sequence.md) - [Emergency descent: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440); cases with it: [Piper PA-32R-300, 11 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=7103213), [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-32R-300, 32 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=7103213), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis While descending for landing, the engine lost partial power and the airplane could not maintain altitude. The pilot attempted to divert to a nearby airport; however, he was not able to arrest the airplane's descent and had to make a forced landing to a road. The pilot stated that about 20 feet above the ground, he believes the engine lost all power. The airplane landed hard, struck a road sign, departed the paved surface, and came to rest on the desert floor. A postaccident examination of the airplane and the fuel-injected engine revealed no mechanical anomalies that would have precluded normal operation. ## Factual narrative On November 7, 2009, at 1700 mountain standard time, a Piper PA-32R-300, N2165M, experienced a partial loss of engine power in cruise flight and made an emergency landing on a highway about 32 miles northwest of the Tucson International Airport (TUS), Tucson, Arizona. The owner/pilot operated the airplane under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulation Part 91, as a personal flight. The private pilot and one passenger were not injured. The airplane sustained structural damage to the fuselage after departing the highway and impacting a road sign and cacti prior to coming to rest upright. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the local area flight that departed Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport (IWA), Phoenix, Arizona, at 1616. No flight plan had been filed. According to the pilot's written statement, he had been cleared direct to TUS via global positioning system (GPS) at 6,500 feet mean sea level (msl). About 35 miles northwest of TUS, he started the descent to 4,500 feet msl. As the airplane passed through 5,000 feet, he configured the manifold pressure and rpm (24/2,400) per the airplane's pilot operating handbook (POH) for 4,000 feet at 75 percent power. Shortly thereafter, he felt the airplane 'lurch,' as if the engine had lost rpm's. He increased the engine power, the fuel mixture, and moved the propeller to the FULL in position in an attempt to get more engine power. The pilot stated that the engine continued to run, and the propeller was still spinning, it just was not enough power to hold altitude; he noted a 500-foot-per-minute descent that he was not able to arrest. The pilot radioed TUS to report a partial engine failure and his current position. TUS tower personnel gave him vectors to a closer airport; however, as he made the turn toward the airport, the airplane lost altitude too quickly and he knew that the airplane would not make the airport. The pilot stated that there was a road below the airplane and he attempted to land on the road. He believes that about 20 feet above the ground, the engine quit, and the airplane landed hard. Upon touchdown, he heard a 'thud' and ascertained that the airplane had departed the roadway and onto the adjacent desert floor. After the accident, the pilot reported that the airplane had struck a road sign. An engine inspection was performed by investigators from the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) and from Lycoming Engines. Under the supervision of the NTSB investigator, the cowling was removed. There were no obvious signs of a mechanical failure. All fuel lines were secure, and no fluid leaks were observed. The magnetos were secure and tight on their respective mounting pads. Manual rotation of the propeller produced thumb compression in all six cylinders. The servo plug remained in place and was secured by safety wire. No mechanical anomalies were noted that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N2165M](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N2165M-2010-05-07), registration cancelled 2010-05-07, S/N 32R-7880053 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA-32R-300 - Registry model: [Piper PA-32R-300](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-32r-300) (registry code 7103213) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 32R-7880053 - Airframe hours: 15362 - Engines: Lycoming Engines IO-540-K1G5 300 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, April 1, 2009, 23 hours before - Departed: IWA, Mesa, AZ - Destination: TUS, Tucson, AZ - Airport: TUS, Tucson International Airport ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 38; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; last flight review October 8, 2009; seat: left; flight hours: 121 total, 22 in this make and model, 30 as pilot in command, 33 in the last 90 days, 2 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 82 °F, dew point 27 °F - Altimeter: 29.87 inHg - Observed at: TUS, 32 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 20091107022299A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20091107022299A), Nov 7, 2009: Piper PA32R300, Marana, AZ, Substantial damage. On 7 nov. 2009, at approx 1653 mountain standard time, a Piper PA-32-R-300, N2165M, experienced a partial loss of engine power during descent into tucson… ## Docket (5 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on March 1, 2012, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=75036. 3.1 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 739 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40363192&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Record of Conversation (NTSB) (item 2, .PDF, 34 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40363193&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation%20(NTSB)-Master.PDF - FAA - Pilot Statement (item 3, .PDF, 184 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40363194&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=FAA%20-%20Pilot%20Statement-Redacted.PDF - Excerpt Airframe Logbook (item 4, .PDF, 1.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40363195&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Excerpt%20Airframe%20Logbook-Redacted.PDF - Excerpt Engine Logbook (item 5, .PDF, 1.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40363196&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Excerpt%20Engine%20Logbook-Redacted.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.