# NTSB WPR18LA033: Piper PA 28R-201T, N5966V, Nipton, CA, November 17, 2017 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report - Date: November 16, 2017, 18:00 local (Nov 17, 2017, 02:00 UTC) - Place: Nipton, CA - Coordinates: 35.413055, -115.76194 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.4131&lon=-115.7619&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Enroute-cruise: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 3 - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: Continental Motors, Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 96337 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR18LA033 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/96337/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=96337 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR18LA033 ## Probable cause A loss of engine power due to the detonation of the No. 5 cylinder due to excessive leaning at high power settings, which resulted in a forced landing and the subsequent hard touchdown. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Engine (reciprocating): recip engine power section](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058520): Aircraft › Aircraft power plant · Failure (probable cause) ## Analysis About 40 minutes after takeoff and while the airplane was at a cruise altitude of 10,000 ft mean sea level, the pilot began leaning the engine mixture. After about 5 minutes, the pilot observed that the engine was running roughly, the No. 5 cylinder head temperature had spiked, and the airplane was unable to maintain altitude. The pilot could not restore engine power and subsequently made a forced landing on a highway. The airplane touched down hard, which resulted in substantial damage to both wings. A postaccident engine examination confirmed continuity to the accessory section. Spark was produced on all six top spark plug leads, and thumb compression was obtained on all cylinders except the No. 5 cylinder. The top spark plugs were removed, and all except the No. 5 spark plug exhibited dark-colored combustion deposits; the No. 5 spark plug exhibited a molten, metal-like substance around the electrode. Cylinder Nos. 1 and 3 exhibited minor signs of detonation. The No. 5 cylinder exhibited signs of detonation/preignition with material missing from around the circumference of the piston face, and the No. 5 cylinder exhaust and intake valves showed signs of mechanical damage. The detonation was consistent with excessive leaning at high power settings. ## Factual narrative On November 16, 2017, about 1800 Pacific standard time, a Piper PA-28R-201T, N5966V, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Nipton, California. The pilot and passenger were not injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The flight departed North Las Vegas Airport (VGT), Las Vegas, Nevada, about 1655, destined for Brackett Field Airport (POC), La Verne, California. The pilot reported that while en route at a cruise altitude of 10,000 ft mean sea level, he began leaning the engine mixture using the JPI-700 onboard engine data monitor; the procedure was routine and uneventful. The pilot stated that after about 5 minutes, both he and the passenger noted an abrupt engine roughness. About that time, the pilot observed that the No. 5 cylinder head temperature (CHT) had spiked, the airplane started slowing, and he was unable to maintain altitude. The pilot reported that during the descent, a slight acrid odor permeated the cockpit for about 1 minute and then dissipated. The pilot confirmed that the electric fuel pump was set to high and switched fuel tanks, but he noticed no change in performance. After the airplane lost about 500 ft in altitude, air traffic control contacted the pilot, who advised of engine trouble. The controller stated that an alternate airport was about 26 miles to the west, but the pilot determined that a highway was the safest landing point. During the descent, the pilot noted that the propeller was still turning but did not “feel” like it was producing power. The pilot stated that the touchdown was hard, and that his visual reference was inhibited by dust, vibration, and the moonless night conditions. The right main landing gear collapsed, and the airplane sustained substantial damage to both wings, with the right main landing gear strut pushed up through the wing. The onboard JPI-700 engine data monitor was sent to the National Transportation Safety Board Vehicle Recorder Laboratory for download of recordable nonvolatile memory data. Data showed a rise in CHT for the No. 5 cylinder just after 1740. Exhaust gas temperature (EGT) values for cylinder Nos. 1, 3, and 5 diverged about the same time, and the device calculated a disparity in EGT differential about the same time. Engine rpm started to drop from 2,400 about 1743:45, with rpm stabilizing shortly thereafter about 2,100. Rpm then began to drop off sharply about 1751:03, and the recording ended at 17:51:15. A postaccident engine examination was conducted, during which the crankshaft was rotated by hand using the propeller. Continuity to the accessory section was confirmed, and spark was produced on all six top spark plug leads. Thumb compression was obtained on all cylinders except the No. 5 cylinder. The top spark plugs were removed, and all except the No. 5 spark plug exhibited dark-colored combustion deposits. The No. 5 spark plug exhibited a molten, metal-like substance around theelectrode. The cylinders were examined with a lighted borescope. The No. 2, 4, and 6-cylinder combustion chambers, piston faces, and exhaust and intake valves exhibited normal operating signatures. The No. 5 cylinder combustion chamber exhibited signs consistent with detonation/preignition, with material missing from around the circumference of the piston face, and the exhaust and intake valves showed signs of mechanical damage. Cylinder Nos. 1 and 3 exhibited minor signs of detonation. ## 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 (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) (defining event) - [Emergency descent: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440) - [Landing-landing roll: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470) ## Aircraft - Registration: [N5966V](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5966V-2019-04-24), registration cancelled 2019-04-24, S/N 28R-7703172, built 1977 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA 28R-201T (201T) - Registry model: [Piper PA-28R-201T](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28r-201t) (registry code 7102813) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental TSIO-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-tsio-360-series) (registry code 17019, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 28R-7703172 - Year built: 1977 - Airframe hours: 5654 - Engines: CONT MOTOR TSIO-360-FB-1 200 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, March 11, 2017, 50 hours before - Departed: VGT, Las Vegas, NV - Destination: POC, La Verne, CA - Flight plan: IFR - Equipment: Handheld GPS, Onboard weather, Satellite tracking device, Stall warning system, ADS-B, Auto-pilot ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 60; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review March 12, 2016; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 1,379 total, 1,013 in this make and model, 1,375 as pilot in command, 9 in the last 90 days, 5 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/dark - Wind: 220° at 21 knots, gusting 26 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 10,000 ft - Temperature: 72 °F, dew point 39 °F - Altimeter: 29.87 inHg - Observed at: HND, 44 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 20171116021399A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20171116021399A), Nov 16, 2017: Piper PA-28R-201T, Yucca Grove, CA, Substantial damage. On Thursday, November 16, 2017 at approximately 1755 PST, a Piper PA-28R single engine airplane, on an IFR pleasure flight from north las vegas, Nevada to… ## Docket (6 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on January 5, 2021, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=96337. 9.8 MB in all. - Engine data monitor (edm) - specialist's factual report (item 1, PDF, 6 pages, 642 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=6058834&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=wpr18la033%20jpi%20report-Rel.pdf - Engine data monitor (edm) - specialist's factual report - attachment 1 (item 2, CSV, 60 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=6059308&FileExtension=csv&FileName=wpr18la033attachment1-Rel.csv - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 3, PDF, 9 pages, 1.8 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=11432001&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=NTSB%20pilot-operator%20accident%20report%20form_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Summary of engine examination (item 4, PDF, 5 pages, 453 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=11419579&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Summary%20of%20Engine%20Examination-Rel.pdf - Evidence control form (item 5, PDF, 2 pages, 4.7 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=11431267&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=NTSB%20Evidence%20Control%20Forms_redacted-Rel.pdf - Release of aircraft wreckage, NTSB form 6120.15 (item 6, PDF, 1 page, 2.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=11432322&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=NTSB%20Release%20of%20Wreckage%20form_redacted-Rel.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.