# NTSB WPR19LA011: Piper PA32R, N2920Q, Indianapolis, IN, October 21, 2018 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report - Date: October 21, 2018, 14:44 local (18:44 UTC) - Place: Indianapolis, IN - Coordinates: 39.894443, -86.304168 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.8944&lon=-86.3042&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: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 3 - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - NTSB case key (mKey): 98525 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR19LA011 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/98525/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=98525 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR19LA011 ## Probable cause A total loss of engine power due to displacement of the dual magneto’s internal camshaft, which resulted in the magneto’s inability to produce spark. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Ignition system: magneto/distributor](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057414): Aircraft › Aircraft power plant · Inoperative (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-32R-300, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057414/cases.md?model=7103213), [All aircraft, 101 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057414/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 (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-32R-300, 14 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=7103213), [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/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 The pilot reported that he was approaching his destination airport at 1,000 ft above ground level when the engine lost total power. After an unsuccessful attempt to restart the engine, the pilot performed a forced landing to a nearby parking lot, during which the airplane sustained substantial damage. A postaccident examination of the engine revealed that the single-drive dual magneto failed to produce spark due to the displacement of its camshaft. As a result, when the camshaft was positioned to neutral, the contact points were opened instead of closed, and when the camshaft was rotated approximately 8°, the points were closed when they should have been open. The magneto was then re-assembled to manufacturer specifications, tested, and found to produce spark on all ignition leads. The displacement of the camshaft resulted in the magneto not producing spark on any of its ignition leads, and a subsequent loss of engine power. It could not be determined if the displacement of the magneto camshaft was a result of an improper installation or if it moved in flight. ## Factual narrative On October 21, 2018, at 1444 eastern daylight time, a Piper PA-32R-300 airplane, N2920Q, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Indianapolis, Indiana. The pilot was not injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 91 personal flight. The pilot reported that he was about 4 miles north of his destination airport, at 1,000 ft above ground level (agl), when the engine experienced a complete loss of power. He attempted to restart the engine, but was unsuccessful, and chose to perform a forced landing in a parking lot. During the landing roll, the airplane struck a curb, and the wing impacted a tree. During examination of the engine, a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector manually rotated the single-drive dual magneto drive shaft, and the magneto failed to produce spark on any of its leads. Review of maintenance logbooks revealed that the magneto was overhauled and tested on February 8, 2018 and had accumulated 87 hours since the overhaul. The magneto was examined and tested, during which the impulse coupling was rotated by hand and the magneto timing was tested using a timing light. When the impulse coupling was rotated to neutral position, contact points were open when they should have been closed. When impulse coupling was rotated counterclockwise about 8° to the L mark, the timing light indicated that contact points were closed when they should have been open. The magneto camshaft was displaced when viewed through magneto timing port. When the cam was positioned to neutral, the points were opened instead of being closed. When the camshaft was rotated approximately 8°, the points should have opened, but they closed at that position. Such displacement of the camshaft would cause the magneto not to produce spark. The magneto was disassembled, inspected, and reassembled, with the cam shaft installed per the manufacturer’s specifications, and when subsequently tested, it produced sparks on all leads. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N2920Q](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N2920Q-2022-02-24), registration cancelled 2022-02-24, S/N 32R-7780266, built 1977 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Piper PA32R (300) - Registry model: [Piper PA-32R-300](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-32r-300) (registry code 7103213) (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: 32R-7780266 - Year built: 1977 - Airframe hours: 3788.9 - Engines: Lycoming TIO 540 300 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, March 18, 2018 - Departed: UMP, Indianapolis, IN - Destination: EYE, Indianapolis, IN - Equipment: Electronic multifunction display, Electronic flight bag or handheld device, Auto-pilot, Stall warning system, Satellite tracking device, Handheld GPS ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 70; injuries: none; flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review October 23, 2017; seat: front; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 5,046 total, 3,468 in this make and model, 4,821 as pilot in command, 34 in the last 90 days, 13 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 50 °F, dew point 28 °F - Altimeter: 30.29 inHg - Observed at: KEYE, 4 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 20181021020509A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20181021020509A), Oct 21, 2018: Piper PA-32R-300, Indianapolis, IN, Substantial damage. On October 21, 2018, at 1444 eastern daylight time, a Piper PA32R lance aircraft, N2920Q, landed off-airport following a loss of power in Indianapolis,… ## Docket (5 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on January 19, 2022, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=98525. 24.5 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 5.5 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=9894095&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=612_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Initial magneto exam at cmg (item 2, PDF, 6 pages, 863 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=9893600&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Initial%20Magneto%20Exam%20at%20CMG-Rel.pdf - Follow up magneto exam at cmi (item 3, PDF, 6 pages, 1.4 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=9893969&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Follow%20up%20Magneto%20Exam%20at%20CMG%20--Rel.pdf - Magneto testing (item 4, MOV, 16.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=9893609&FileExtension=MOV&FileName=IMG_2162-Rel.MOV - FAA maintenance records (item 5, PDF, 4 pages, 665 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13127470&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Maintenance%20Records_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.