# NTSB WPR15LA052: Nanchang CJ-6, N4350D, Mesa, AZ, December 2, 2014 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: December 2, 2014, 16:30 local (23:30 UTC) - Place: Mesa, AZ - Coordinates: 33.460834, -111.728332 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.4608&lon=-111.7283&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Takeoff: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 2 minor - Status: Completed, report September 6, 2017 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 90454 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR15LA052 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/90454/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=90454 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR15LA052 ## Probable cause The total loss of engine power during takeoff following a touch-and-go landing for reasons that could not be determined because postaccident examination of the engine did not reveal any anomalies that would have precluded normal operation. ## 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: [Nanchang China CJ-6A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md?model=056183N), [All aircraft, 2,247 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md) - [Object/animal/substance](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022000): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome; cases with it: [Nanchang China CJ-6A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022000/cases.md?model=056183N), [All aircraft, 224 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022000/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Takeoff: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) (defining event); cases with it: [Nanchang China CJ-6A, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=056183N), [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md) ## Analysis The airline transport pilot was performing touch-and-go landings. The preflight, run-up, and takeoff were all normal. The pilot reported that, after the first landing, she added power to take off, and once there was no usable runway remaining, she raised the landing gear. At 100 ft above ground level, the engine went silent. The pilot picked a clear area to fly toward and lowered the landing gear. Witnesses stated that the airplane landed hard, bounced, and then landed again. The airplane subsequently impacted a trailer and a large pole and then came to rest inverted. During the accident sequence, the right wing was separated from the fuselage. Postaccident examination of the airframe and engine did not reveal any anomalies that would have precluded normal operation. ## Factual narrative On December 2, 2014, at 1630 mountain standard time, a Nanchang CJ-6A, N4350D, lost engine power and landed hard at Falcon Field Airport, Mesa, Arizona. The airplane was registered to Lang Aviation Support Services, LLC, and was operated as a 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 local personal flight. The airline transport pilot and single passenger received minor injuries, and the airplane sustained substantial damage. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed. The pilot stated that she intended to perform touch-and-goes in the landing pattern. The preflight, run up, and takeoff were all normal. After the first landing, she added power to takeoff, and once there was no usable runway remaining, she raised the landing gear. At 100 feet above ground level, the engine went silent. The pilot picked a clear area to fly towards and lowered the landing gear. Witnesses stated that the airplane landed hard, bounced, landed a second time, impacted a trailer, a large pole, and then came to rest inverted. During the accident sequence the right wing was separated from the fuselage. First responders shut off the fuel and magneto switches. On December 16, 2014, a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector and a certified airframe and power plant mechanic examined the airplane and engine. The engine crankshaft was rotated, and the carburetor, fuel pump, and spark plugs were examined. The fuel pump and carburetor contained fuel. Nothing that would have precluded normal engine operation was identified. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N4350D](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4350D-2016-10-19), registration cancelled 2016-10-19, S/N 2232013, built 1968 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: NANCHANG CJ-6 (A) - Registry model: [Nanchang China CJ-6A](https://openairdocs.org/model/nanchang-china-cj-6a) (registry code 056183N) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Amateur-built UNKNOWN ENG](https://openairdocs.org/engine/amateur-built-unknown-eng) (registry code 99999) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 2232013 - Year built: 1968 - Airframe hours: 3908.1 - Engines: Vedeneyev M-14P 360 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, June 2, 2014 - Departed: KFFZ, Mesa, AZ - Destination: KFFZ, Mesa, AZ - Airport: KFFZ, Falcon Field Airport, runway 22L, 5,101 × 100 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 49; injuries: none; airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; seat: front; restraint: 5-point; flight hours: 4,323 total, 182 in this make and model, 1,473 as pilot in command, 109 in the last 90 days, 19 in the last 30 days, 2.7 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 160° at 6 knots - Visibility: 40 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 20,000 ft overcast - Temperature: 66 °F, dew point 32 °F - Altimeter: 29.95 inHg - Observed at: KFFZ ## 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 20141202023489A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20141202023489A), Dec 2, 2014: Nanchang China CJ-6A, Mesa, AZ, Destroyed. Pilot flying in the front seat with a passenger in the back seat was performing touch-and-go landings on 22L reported that the engine went silent climbing out… ## Docket (5 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on July 17, 2017, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=90454. 4.7 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 4.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40454290&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Witness Statements (item 2, .PDF, 213 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40454291&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Witness%20Statements-Master.PDF - FAA Inspector's Email (item 3, .PDF, 93 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40454292&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=FAA%20Inspector%27s%20Email-Master.PDF - A&P Mechanic's Examination Report (item 4, .PDF, 204 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40454293&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=A%26P%20Mechanic%27s%20Examination%20Report-Master.PDF - Release of Aircraft Wreckage, NTSB Form 6120.15 (item 5, .PDF, 156 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40454294&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Release%20of%20Aircraft%20Wreckage,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.15-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.